Turquoise is a bluish-green color that has long been prized for its striking appearance. Many people wonder if you can create turquoise simply by mixing blue and yellow paint or other pigments. The short answer is yes, combining blue and yellow can produce a color close to turquoise. However, getting the perfect turquoise tone requires careful mixing of just the right shades and proportions of blue and yellow. This article will explain more about the color turquoise, how to mix it using blue and yellow pigments, the proportions needed, and some additional tips for producing a true turquoise hue.
What Is Turquoise?
Turquoise is an opaque, light to medium tone of bluish-green. The name comes from the gemstone turquoise, mined in Persia, which commonly has a greenish-blue color. Turquoise sits between green and blue on the color wheel, made by mixing these two primary colors together.
The hex code or HTML color code for turquoise is #30D5C8. This refers to the mix of red, green, and blue light that makes up the turquoise color in web and digital design applications. Turquoise has a hue angle of between 170 to 180 degrees on most color wheels.
There are a few different shades of turquoise depending on how much blue or green is present:
- Blue turquoise contains more blue and less green
- Green turquoise contains more green and less blue
- Bright turquoise is more saturated and vivid
- Pale turquoise is softer and more muted
The exact mix needed to achieve a natural looking turquoise will depend on the starting shades of blue and yellow you are working with.
Mixing Blue and Yellow to Make Turquoise
In theory, you can make a turquoise color by mixing any shades of blue and yellow. This is because blue and yellow are considered complementary colors on the color wheel. Complementary colors are directly opposite each other and when combined, produce a neutralized gray or brown shade.
To make turquoise, you need to find the right proportions of blue and yellow that balance out to a pleasant greenish-blue instead of a dull muddy shade. Here are some tips:
- Use a primary or secondary blue. Good options are ultramarine, phthalo, or cobalt blue.
- Use a primary or secondary yellow. Options include cadmium, lemon, or golden yellow.
- Start with more blue than yellow for a deeper ocean turquoise.
- Use more yellow than blue for a lighter, greener turquoise.
- Mix a small amount and adjust as needed – adding more yellow for greenness or more blue for depth.
- Aim for 3 parts blue to 1 part yellow for a balanced bluish turquoise.
Recommended Blue and Yellow Pairings
Some combinations of specific blue and yellow shades that can blend well to create turquoise are:
| Blue | Yellow |
|---|---|
| Ultramarine blue | Cadmium yellow |
| Phthalo blue | Lemon yellow |
| Cobalt blue | Aureolin yellow |
Cobalt or ultramarine blue with cadmium yellow offer very mixable turquoise shades. Phthalo blue and lemon yellow also blend well. Mixing complements requires a delicate balance, so adjust in small increments.
Tips for Mixing Turquoise
Follow these tips when blending blue and yellow to achieve a natural turquoise:
- Make sure colors are opaque and not transparent for blending – acrylics work better than watercolors.
- Mix on a non-absorbent palette so colors don’t muddy.
- Add white to lighten and soften the tone.
- Start with heavy body paints and thin with water or medium.
- Alternate adding small amounts of each color.
- Test your mixed turquoise against a turquoise color sample.
- Adjust blue or yellow as needed for your desired hue.
It can take some trial and error to find the ideal turquoise. Going slowly and mixing small amounts gives you more control over the outcome.
Painting With Mixed Turquoise
Once you’ve created your custom mixed turquoise, you can use it just like any other acrylic paint. Here are some painting ideas that showcase turquoise:
- Turquoise skies – Use turquoise washes for creative skies.
- Tropical waters – Turquoise makes beautiful ocean scenes.
- Flowers – Glaze turquoise over purple or pink blooms.
- Abstract art – Layer turquoise with orange and violet.
- Geometric patterns – Use shapes of different turquoise tones.
- Textures – Add thicker turquoise paint with a palette knife.
Turquoise is a versatile color for painting. Mix it yourself from blue and yellow pigments to get just the shade you need for your creative project.
Other Ways to Make Turquoise
While combining blue and yellow is the traditional way to mix turquoise, there are a couple other options as well:
- Cyan and green – Since turquoise sits between blue-green and green on the color wheel, you can blend cyan (a blue-green) with green to create turquoise shades.
- Chromatic black – Adding a tiny amount of chromatic black (contains blue pigment) to a green hue will also darken it towards a turquoise color.
Adjustments can be made to these mixes by adding more blue or green components as needed. Usingprofessional grade paints will give you the most control over custom color mixing.
Readymade Turquoise Paints and Pigments
While mixing turquoise yourself can be rewarding, there are also many premixed turquoise acrylic paint options readily available. These paints come in a wide range of blue-green hues and offer convenience and consistency.
Some popular ready made turquoise paint colors include:
- Turquoise Blue by Liquitex
- Bright Aqua Green by Golden
- Bahama Blue by Winsor & Newton
- Caribbean Sea by DecoArt
- Verdigris Turquoise by Heavy Body Acrylics
There are also turquoise inks, watercolors, oil paints, gouache, and other pigments for any painting medium. So don’t worry if mixing turquoise from scratch isn’t for you – there are many great pre-mixed options!
Conclusion
Turquoise is a striking bluish-green color that can be mixed by combining blue and yellow pigments. While the theory is simple, choosing the right shades and proportions of blue and yellow takes practice to achieve the perfect turquoise tone. Aim for more blue than yellow for a deeper ocean turquoise or more yellow than blue for a lighter, greenish turquoise. Matching complements like phthalo blue with lemon yellow or cobalt blue with cadmium yellow can produce balanced hues. Adjust in small increments and take your time finding the ideal mix. With the right blues and yellows and some careful blending, you can create beautiful custom turquoise paints for all your artistic creations.
