An Experiment in Color (Part II): The Four-Pencil Challenge

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After the calm came the curiosity.

Once I’d settled into coloring as a form of rest, I wondered what would happen if I added one small rule: no more than four pencils.

I chose a coloring page I liked and limited myself to four rainbow-colored pencils — the kind that shift through multiple hues in a single stroke. Part of the fun is that you don’t fully control which shade appears next. You guide the motion, but the pencil brings its own surprises.

That constraint changed everything.

Instead of reaching for the “perfect” color, I slowed down. I layered more gently. I paid attention to pressure and direction. Unexpected blends showed up where I hadn’t planned them, and instead of correcting them, I let them stay. The challenge wasn’t about control — it was about cooperation.

What I loved most was how playful it felt. Limiting the palette didn’t shrink the experience; it expanded it. It reminded me that creativity doesn’t always need more tools, more choices, or more complexity. Sometimes it just needs a smaller sandbox and permission to explore.

The rainbow pencils I used came from a recent Vine test, and they turned out to be far more fun than I expected — smooth, vibrant, and full of personality. They feel less like traditional art supplies and more like an invitation to experiment.

This wasn’t about mastering color theory or producing something impressive.
It was about curiosity. Constraint. Surprise.

And letting the colors land wherever they wanted.