Lesson 7: Simplifying the Background with Minimal Colors and Maximum Impact

In this lesson, we shift focus from the intricate details of the horse to the background, where simplicity and strategic color choices will be imperative for creating a loose, abstract backdrop in the finished piece. Choosing the right shades for background areas helps to accentuate the primary subject—in this case, the horse—by creating contrast and balance without overwhelming the viewer. Here’s a deep dive into how to mix the ideal background hues with just a few colors, maintaining harmony and visual interest.

Crafting a Dark Base with Sap Green and Cadmium Red

To start, I chose a deep, earthy mix for the darker areas near the bottom of the reference, since I know I want the highlights on the horse’s muzzle to pop. Using equal parts of Sap Green and Cadmium Red is a wonderful shortcut for the exact color I want to have available for the background. In the painting’s final composition, this dark area around the muzzle will help the bright highlights pop, drawing the eye directly to the main subject.

Choosing a Mid-Tone

For a painting like this, I don’t want to spend a long time detailing the background, so I need to pull out one mid-tone that will compliment both my underpainting and the shadow shade that I mixed previously. The midtone you choose will depend on what your underpainting looks like. You want the mid-tone to be a noticeably different value when you hold it next to your underpainting; this way you maximize the visual interest in the final piece while minimizing the amount of colors you need to mix for the background as a whole. 

Embracing Premixed Green

Some artists avoid pre-mixed greens, insisting on mixing from scratch to achieve the exact hue. While this is a worthwhile skill, I find sap green invaluable as a shortcut. Its versatility allows me to save time since I know it compliments all the other colors on my palette. 

In this lesson, less was more: with only three colors, I was able to mix up all the background colors I needed. By keeping the palette simple and purposeful, the background can fall back into a supportive role, leaving the horse as the undisputed focal point.

Watch my MasterDemo to learn more.