How to Paint a Color Key

A color key is basically, okay, pretend this, okay? If you take a photo and with any digital camera, all you do is just blur everything out with no details. But in painting, you don't have the luxury of the other way. You start out with your dark tone, mid tone, and light tone. And then you try to work out the color and to be able to trust that your color will be able to express whatever story that you want to say. There is no different painting from photo reference or plein air.