The Powers of a Subconscious Palette

The grid goes up before the paint hits the wood.

I use these Pantone swatches as a tactical hack to anchor a new piece. Anywhere between five and nine squares get pinned to the studio wall. It’s a deliberate, conscious map of where the palette is supposed to go.

Then, the actual work begins, and the map gets abandoned. I look past these cards, forget they are there, and let the intuition of the panel take over.

Yet, more often than not, when the final layer dries and I step back, the painting mirrors the wall. The exact same tones have bled from the cards straight into the subconscious.

We think we need to constantly check the blueprint, sketch, study or anything else to stay on track. But the brain is already working ahead of us, holding the frequency in the dark. No need to stare at the plan. Simply trust the concept or colours to find their own way on the surface.