Color palettes can look perfect in theory… and still fall flat in practice :(

In this class, you’ll learn why that happens and how value, not just hue or color, is often the missing piece. We’ll explore how value affects your color palettes, why some illustrations feel flat or unclear, and how to use a simple value checking method in Procreate to spot color problems early and fix them without having to change everything.

Instead of overthinking every color choice, you’ll learn how to see what your illustration actually needs.

If you’re not a Procreate user, don’t worry! I’ll also explain how you can apply this method to a traditional or mixed media workflow.

What You Will Learn

In this class, you’ll learn how to:

Understand what value is and why it matters in color palettes
Recognize why some color palettes look good in theory but feel flat in an illustration
Use a simple value checking method in Procreate
Spot color issues early before your illustration gets too complicated
Fix flat or unclear color palettes without starting over
Make stronger, clearer, and more intentional color decisions
Apply this method to digital or traditional art workflows

Why You Should Take This Class

Choosing colors can feel overwhelming, especially when a palette looks beautiful on its own but doesn’t work once you apply it to an illustration. When that happens, the problem is often not the hue itself, it’s the value relationships between your colors.

This class will give you a practical way to evaluate your palettes beyond guesswork. You’ll learn how to check whether your colors have enough contrast, whether your focal points are clear, and whether your illustration is readable before you spend too much time trying to fix it by instinct alone.

By the end of the class, you’ll have a repeatable workflow you can use anytime your colors aren’t quite working , whether you’re painting in Procreate, using traditional media, or planning palettes for future illustrations.

Who This Class is For

This class is ideal for illustrators, hobby artists, and Procreate users who love color but sometimes feel overwhelmed by it.

It’s especially helpful if you:

Struggle with color palettes that look pretty but feel flat
Want your illustrations to look clearer and more intentional
Tend to choose colors by instinct but want a more reliable method
Want to understand color beyond “this looks nice”
Are looking for a simple way to improve contrast and readability

You don’t need to be an advanced artist to take this class. A basic familiarity with Procreate will be helpful, but the method is simple and beginner friendly.

Materials & Resources

For this class, you’ll need:

An iPad with Procreate
An Apple Pencil or stylus
The provided illustration template
The provided surprise color palette
The value checking method shown in class :)

If you work traditionally, you can still follow along using your preferred materials. I’ll explain how to adapt the value checking process outside of Procreate too.

By the end of the class, you’ll paint a template illustration using a surprise value driven color palette and learn a practical method you can use whenever your colors feel flat, unclear, or not quite right.

I hope you have fun, and I can’t wait to see what you create!

CHRISTINE PARKER

@ChristineParkerCo

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