This issue begins another series illustrating ten color combinations that I use. Each month will feature one of my four-color combos from my abstract painting series. Here’s how it works for me - give it a try!

After I write my painting goals and intentions, I choose my color combination and put on my table ONLY those four colors, plus black and white. For this month’s color combo, I have selected Red as the dominant color.

First, paint the dominant color all over the surface. Paint this first step with a variety of the dominant color.

Here, red is dominant, along with other red colors. I’m not beholden to just one red color, so I will also include other reds such as Magenta, Rose Red, Crimson, etc. Let dry.

Next I see that my color wheel spinner points to the Focal Color - Blue Green. In a red field painting, the blue-green color stands out. It’s the focal point. Put the cleanest color at the focal point. If I want to continue to use the blue-green elsewhere on the painting, I mute it down with a small drop of its complementary color.

The two remaining colors are Spice Colors, placed near and around the pure Focal color. Used sparingly around the Focal point, they help to emphasize the blue-green focal color.

At this point I continue either abstractly or realistically. “Under all great paintings are first great abstract paintings.”