Three is all You Need.

I have worked out a system for using only 3 colours, because, as we all know, any colour can be mixed from those. The printing industry has been doing this for years. So my thing was to choose colours closest to the process colours of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow (CMYK). And of course, I don't/ won't use black, because it's yucky. Of course, CMYK is used for optical mixing, but....

So for me it is: Manganese Blue, Permanent Rose (Quinacridone Red), and Windsor Lemon. This is not Windsor & Newton's recommended 3 colour system, but what do they know? ;)

The Mang. Blue is actually a copper phthalocyanine pigment, because they discontinued the actual manganese-based pigment due to toxicity and cost. But it is pretty close. The yellow--I just special ordered 4 tubes from the friendly gals at Opus. Had to come all the way from the big warehouse in Old Blighty.

So here is the paintings I have done so far in this system. It's been super fun, and I often wonder why I don't paint exclusively this way.....

"Still Life with Orange and Spoon" This little gem was done back in '96. Still can't do that soft, gritty paint textures anymore. Something to do with brushes and canvas priming. I thought at the time that this one was just an experiment. But now it is a constant inspiration. Not for sale.

"Two Apples" Done late last year. Flirting with realism here. Dad has this piece now.


"Courier Bag" The faithful man-purse in which I pack groceries, tools, paintbox supplies, smoking equipment, clothes, papers, etc. every single day of my boring little life. Custom-ordered from Timbuk 2 in the three colours. It is also the national flag of Romania. Painted really fast, wet-into-wet.

"Island Wine" Has something of a Old-Masters feel (but not execution). This baby needs a big gilt frame and to be hung in an ornate, late Georgian drawing room in James Bay above an old oak sideboard with a pipe rack and a cut-glass carafe :)

"Taste of Asia" Thanks to friend Clau for the Dragon Fruit and pears, and to Anna for the avocados. A bit weak, this piece, but cheerful.

Been working hard today and grinding out to Romanian techno-pop:

"Alo... aalo...
Sunt eu, Picasso
Ti-am dat beep
Si sunt vonic
Dar sa stii, nu-ticer nimic

"Vrei sa pleci
dar nu ma, nu ma iei
nu ma, nu ma iei
nu ma, nu ma, nu ma ieie....."

(&c. With some footage of Bucharesti Otopeni airport.)

Time for bed.

c.