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Tuesday How-To's....

Writer's picture: Mark NorthcottMark Northcott

Choosing the Right Color Palette for Your Project


Bridging from Last Week’s Topic

Last week, we explored the phases involved in creating panels for comic storytelling, using the 8 Limbs of Sketchbooking as a strategic framework. We broke down the process from initial composition to refined layouts—each step building toward clarity and flow.

Now, it’s time to tackle a crucial step in finalizing any artwork: choosing a color palette.

At first glance, picking colors might seem like a straightforward decision. But if you’ve ever found yourself endlessly tweaking hues, second-guessing combinations, or struggling to bring harmony to your piece, you’re not alone. Many artists hit a wall here—unsure of how to balance artistic intent with color theory.



So, how do you efficiently choose the right colors for your work? The answer lies in understanding the role of color in storytelling, emotion, and visual impact—and yes, the 8 Limbs of Sketchbooking offer a valuable structure for mastering this process.




Applying the 8 Limbs of Sketchbooking to Color Selection

1. Yamas (Restraints) – Less is More

When it comes to color, restraint is a strength.

  • Instead of using every color at your disposal, limit your palette for better visual cohesion.

  • Strategy: Choose a monochrome, analogous, or triadic palette.

🔹 Example: Think of classic comics like Sin City (high-contrast black and white with a single accent color) or Studio Ghibli films (where muted earth tones create warmth and nostalgia).



2. Niyamas (Practices) – Building a Habit of Color Awareness

The more you observe and study color in nature, art, and media, the more intuitive your choices become.

  • Practice: Collect references. Create color mood boards.

  • Daily Exercise: Screenshot scenes from movies, analyze their color grading, and try to replicate the mood in your own sketches.

🔹 Example: Films like Blade Runner or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse use strong, deliberate color palettes to reinforce themes and emotions.



3. Asana (Structure) – Mastering Color Theory Basics

Just as strong poses create stability in yoga, color relies on balance and contrast.

  • Learn the foundations: Complementary, Split-Complementary, Tetradic, and Warm vs. Cool color schemes.

  • Think of color hierarchy—your dominant, secondary, and accent colors.

🔹 Example: A hero in a comic may have a bold, saturated palette, while the background uses desaturated colors to ensure clarity and focus.



4. Pranayama (Energy & Flow) – Using Color to Control Mood

Color directs attention and guides the eye through an illustration.

  • Warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) create intensity, movement, and energy.

  • Cool colors (blues, purples, greens) create calmness, mystery, or melancholy.

🔹 Example: Horror comics often use deep blues and purples to create eerie tension, while adventure comics use bright, contrasting hues to energize the scene.



5. Pratyahara (Control) – Avoiding Overwhelm in Your Palette

Ever felt like your colors weren’t working, but you kept tweaking instead of stepping back? This is where control comes in.

  • Limit yourself to a maximum of 5 colors.

  • Pre-select your palette before finalizing your piece.

  • Use digital tools (Coolors.co, Adobe Color, or Procreate’s harmony tool) to generate a palette before you start painting.

🔹 Example: Many animation studios predefine strict color keys before production begins to maintain visual consistency.



6. Dharana (Focus) – Color as a Storytelling Tool

Every color should have intent. Ask yourself:

  • What emotion am I trying to evoke?

  • Which colors support my story’s theme?

  • Do my colors help guide the viewer’s eye to the right focal points?

🔹 Example: Batman: The Animated Series used a limited noir-inspired palette to create a timeless, moody atmosphere, reinforcing Gotham’s dark storytelling.



7. Dhyana (Deep Practice) – Refining Your Color Sense

The best way to train your eye for color is through deep, intentional practice.

  • Do color studies from master paintings, photography, and film stills.

  • Experiment with different palettes in quick sketch exercises.

  • Challenge: Take an old black-and-white drawing and color it three different ways to see how color shifts the mood.


8. Samadhi (Mastery) – Reaching a Confident Color Workflow

At this stage, you’re no longer guessing. Your color decisions feel intentional and flow effortlessly into your process.

  • You can build palettes quickly and apply them effectively across different projects.

  • Your choices reinforce emotion, storytelling, and readability.

  • You trust your instincts because you’ve built a strong foundation.

🔹 Example: Professional illustrators and comic artists develop personal “signature palettes” that make their work instantly recognizable.



Final Takeaway: A Simple Exercise to Try

Want to improve your color instincts? Here’s a quick challenge for the week:

1️⃣ Pick a mood (Adventure, Horror, Nostalgia, Mystery, etc.).2️⃣ Select 3-5 colors that best represent that mood.3️⃣ Create a small sketch using only those colors.

Drop your results in the comments—let’s compare palettes and see how color transforms a scene!



What’s Next?

Next Tuesday, we’ll continue building our creative toolbox by exploring the tools you might be using for your art—another essential step in bringing your artistic visions to life.

Until then, keep sketching, keep experimenting, and most importantly—trust your creative instincts!

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