Zorn Palette

I recently posted about the great Swedish painter Anders Zorn. A true virtuoso, Zorn is said to have accomplished all of his work with only four paint colors. Those four colors were a white, a yellow, a red, and a black. They are now known as the "Zorn Palette". Today, there is some difference of opinion as to exactly which of these hues are the ones actually used by Zorn, but most people agree that that they are Flake white, yellow ochre, vermillion (red) and ivory black. 

Painting by Anders Zorn

I am a huge fan of the limited palette. It makes the painter's job both easier and harder, in good ways. It is easier, because over time you come to know the colors extremely well. You
learn the traits of each, and how they work together. You don't have a multitude of paint tubes to deal with, or a lot of colors to take up space on your palette. 

Photo: Linden Hopwood

It is harder, because it forces you to break old habits of color mixing. Use of the limited palette requires very careful observation of colors in your subject, and very careful paint mixing to achieve subtle color differences. But these requirements are good things! Careful observation and mixing are the cornerstone of beautiful paintings. And just look at all the color variations that can be achieved with four tubes of paint!

Detail from "Omnibus"
Anders Zorn

Zorn is noted for his wonderful portraits, and the Zorn palette produces beautiful hues for skin tones. I have painter friends today who paint portraits using the Zorn palette, and they are gorgeous paintings. Some say that the Zorn palette is not as desirable for landscape painting, but Zorn painted beautiful landscapes as well. Skeptics say that Zorn also used other colors whenever he needed them, and that the "Zorn palette" is something of a myth. Hmmmph! As for me, I will accept the challenge and the benefit of the limited palette...