Paints and Pigments: Not Just Figments

Warm Underpainting: If you prime your canvas with a warm color before you start painting, it will make the overall composition more vibrant. The little bits of warm color peaking through the strokes of paint will make your colors pop.

This piece had a warm under painting. It brings the overall cold color scheme into the warmer hues.

Sky Panels: Sometimes painting alla prima (all in one go with everything wet on the canvas) doesn't work for pieces where the main focus is on the subject in the mid or foreground. In these cases, it can be easier to paint the sky first, let it dry and then add the rest after, keeping the subject crisp in detail. That technique uses what is called a sky panel for the background.

Limited Color Palettes: Just like going on a diet is healthy and beneficial for us, putting your piece on a "color diet" is also beneficial. Doing so can help your piece achieve better harmony and unity.