Monochrome Painting Study in One Color

Acrylic paint in one color of your choice, plus white and black

Canvas board or thick paper

A palette or paper plate for mixing

Paintbrushes in various sizes

Cup of water

Paper towels

Choose one color of acrylic paint. Blue is a great choice for a first monochrome study because it naturally suggests mood and atmosphere.

On your palette, mix five values of this one color: pure hue, light tint (color plus white), medium tint, medium shade (color plus small amount of black), and dark shade.

Set up a simple subject — a still life with two objects, a landscape photo, or a view through a window.

Start painting the lightest areas first using the lightest tint. Then work toward the middle values and darks.

Paint the entire composition using only these five values. No other colors allowed. The discipline is the point.

Let each layer dry before adding the next. Acrylics dry fast, so this goes quickly.

Step back frequently and squint at the painting. Does it read clearly as a scene with depth? If an area is confusing, adjust the values — make shadows darker, highlights lighter.

Monochrome painting strips away the distraction of color mixing and forces you to focus purely on value — light versus dark. This is the foundation of all realistic painting.

Mix your five values before you start painting and keep them consistent. Mixing new values mid-painting leads to inconsistency.

The pure hue (middle value) is your most-used color. The lightest and darkest values should be used sparingly for highlights and deep shadows.

This exercise reveals how much depth and drama a single color can create. Some of the most powerful paintings in art history are essentially monochromatic.

Try the same subject in different monochrome colors — blue feels cold and atmospheric, red feels intense and dramatic, green feels natural and calm.