What a difference a tone makes

My palette consists of just 11 colors.   Here they are shown both on a white
background, and on the Cadmium Red background I always use.

I enjoy the warm glow that a Cadmium Red ground gives me.  When I first began painting, I'd paint directly on white primed canvas, but when I noticed that many other oil painters use a toned ground I decided to try it for myself.  At first, I used Burnt Sienna, but over time, began experimenting with warmer, brighter reds.  This underpainting, I now realize, helps unify the composition.