Mixing colors can be an exciting experience, allowing artists to create new shades and hues. When it comes to mixing the colors purple and yellow, the resulting color blend generates an interesting effect. In this article, we’ll explore what happens when you mix purple and yellow, looking at the color theory and science behind this color combination.
The Basics of Mixing Purple and Yellow
Purple and yellow are secondary colors on the standard color wheel. Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors – in this case, purple is made by mixing blue and red, while yellow is a mix of red and green.
When it comes to mixing colors, the general rule is that mixing a color with its complementary color (the color opposite it on the wheel) will result in a brown or gray tone. However, purple and yellow are not direct complements. This means the color created won’t be a neutral mud color.
Instead, mixing purple and yellow results in various shades of violet, lavender, orchid, or lilac. The exact hue you get depends on the purple and yellow shades you start with and the proportions you use.
The Color Theory Behind Mixing Purple and Yellow
On the basic RYB (red, yellow, blue) color wheel used by painters, purple sits between red and blue, while yellow is between red and green. Looking at the wheel, purple and yellow are 90 degrees apart. Colors that are 90 degrees apart on the wheel are called tertiary colors.
When tertiary colors like purple and yellow are mixed, they create a harmonic, soft and vibrant secondary color. The mixture of these two colors produces a tone that is visually pleasing. This color relationship is described as harmonious and complementary in color theory.
While purple and yellow may initially seem like an unusual color pairing, the shades they make combine the vibrancy of yellow with the richness of purple. The yellow brightens the purple, making a lighter, warmer violet tone.
The Science of Mixing Purple and Yellow Pigments
On a scientific level, mixing purple and yellow paint or pigment creates a new shade because of how light interacts with the pigment molecules. All pigments absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others. The wavelengths that are reflected determine what color our eyes perceive.
Purple pigment molecules absorb green, orange and yellow light waves. They reflect back red and blue light to our eyes, creating the color purple. Yellow pigments absorb violet, blue and green light and reflect the longer red, orange and yellow wavelengths, making yellow.
When these two pigments are blended, the combined molecules absorb more green and reflect back red-violet wavelengths in the middle. This creates a vibrant orchid, lilac or light violet tone from the mixing of light waves.
Mixing Purple and Yellow Paint
Mixing purple and yellow paint allows you to experiment and discover the shades you can create. The exact color you get depends on the purple and yellow hues you choose. Here are some examples:
- Mixing a warm purple like quinacridone or dioxazine purple with cadmium yellow will make lavenders and lilacs.
- Combining phthalo or ultramarine blueish purples with hansa or lemon yellow creates soft violets.
- Mixing together complementary purples and yellows like red-violet and yellow-green results in more neutral purplish grays.
The mixing ratio also affects the end color. Adding more yellow will create a lighter, warmer orchid shade. Using more purple yields deeper, richer lavenders trending toward purple again.
It’s best to mix a small amount first, then adjust the proportions until you get the exact purple-yellow shade you want. Test mixes on a palette before applying to your artwork.
Mixing Purple and Yellow Colored Pencils
Blending purple and yellow colored pencils lets you draw new shades. Glide the pencils across the paper back and forth, one over the other. A linear motion works better than circular rubbing to evenly mix the colors.
Some lilac, violet and orchid shades you can create by mixing purple and yellow pencils include:
- Royal purple + canary yellow = wisteria purple
- Violet + lemon yellow = lilac
- Mulberry + aureolin yellow = heliotrope
Using light pressure and alternating between pencils creates a streaky textured effect. Increase the pressure to make a smoother, blended tone.
Start with a yellow base first. Purple layered on yellow stands out more than yellow on purple. Scrubbing yellow over the top unifies the two into a cohesive secondary color.
Mixing Purple and Yellow Markers
Blending markers allows you to smoothly gradient between purple and yellow. Some tips for mixing the colors:
- Lay down a base layer of yellow first, then color purple over the top.
- Make sure to use marker-friendly paper like sketch paper so colors don’t bleed.
- Overlap the edges of the purple and yellow, feathering between them.
- Work in sections, blending one area before moving to the next section.
Start with a middle tone purple and yellow rather than extreme dark or light shades when blending. This makes it easier to create gradations. Layering more of one color deepens the tone.
Digital Mixing of Purple and Yellow
Graphic design programs like Adobe Illustrator make mixing purple and yellow easy. You can preview colors before applying them, and use sliders to adjust the shade.
Try using the Gradient tool to fade between purple and yellow, creating a spectrum. Set the Gradient type to Linear for a direct cross-fade between the two colors.
The Blend tool also mixes a purple and yellow blend. Select colors as the front and back, then draw a stroke across the artboard. The program automatically blends them into a smooth fade.
Use the Color Picker tool to sample and mix colors. Click between a purple and yellow area to pick up a new blended color.
Mixing Purple and Yellow Dyes
Purple and yellow fabric dyes can be blended to create an array of lavenders, lilacs, violets and heliotrope shades. Some mixing tips for dyes:
- Mix dyes in a glass or plastic container using a spoon or whisk.
- Start with very small amounts of dye, test mixing on yarn or fabric scraps.
- Increase the intensity in increments by adding more dye.
- Mix the yellow dye into the purple rather than the reverse.
Using too much yellow can overwhelm the purple. Add only a little yellow at a time to gently influence the purple dye. Complementary yellow-purple shades like red-violet and yellow-green dye well.
Mixing Purple and Yellow Frosting and Icing
Cake decorators and candy makers can also mix custom purple shades using yellow coloring. A few tips:
- Mix gel, paste or powdered coloring into icing one drop at a time.
- Liquid food coloring is harder to control – add very small amounts with a toothpick.
- Fold coloring thoroughly into icing to distribute evenly.
- Increase intensity gradually until you reach the desired shade.
Test colors on an icing spatula or piece of wax paper before coloring large batches. Blue-based purples like grape juice or purple combine well with lemon or goldenrod yellow.
Recommended Mixing Ratios
As a general guideline, start mixing purple and yellow in a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio. This provides a good balance where the yellow brightens the purple without overpowering it. Adjust the proportions as needed.
Here are some suggested starting ratios for mixing different shades of purple and yellow:
| Purple Shade | Yellow Shade | Mixing Ratio |
| Royal purple | Lemon yellow | 4:1 |
| Violet | Cadmium yellow | 3:1 |
| Orchid purple | Aureolin yellow | 3:1 |
| Deep lavender | Goldenrod | 4:1 |
After mixing, make adjustments to the color by adding more purple or yellow paint as desired.
Tips for Mixing Purple and Yellow
Follow these tips when blending purple and yellow to create vibrant secondary shades:
- Always add yellow to purple, not the reverse.
- Use a toothpick or paddle to mix dyes and food coloring.
- Test colors on scrap paper or spoons before applying to projects.
- Increase the intensity slowly – a little yellow goes a long way.
- Blend in a 3:1 or 4:1 purple to yellow ratio, then adjust.
- Mixing blue-toned purples with lemon or goldenrod yellow works well.
Mixing colors is an experimental process – have fun discovering the new shades you can create by blending purple with yellow!
Conclusion
While purple and yellow may seem like an odd couple, combining these two colors results in vibrant secondary shades. Mixing the two produces orchid, lilac, heliotrope and wisteria purples. The color theory and science show that these tertiary colors blend well together.
The exact hue depends on the purple and yellow used and the ratios mixed. In painting, colored pencils, markers, digital programs, dyes, frosting and more, purple and yellow can be blended to form a palette of fresh new colors.
Following some guidelines for mixing and experimenting with different shades will allow you to discover the perfect purple-yellow tone for your needs. So don’t be afraid to get mixing!
