Making the perfect shade of purple with paint can seem daunting, but with some basic color theory knowledge and the right supplies, anyone can mix up their ideal purple for any project. The key factors to keep in mind when trying to create that flawless purple are understanding color mixing principles, choosing the right paints and tools, and perfecting the proportions. Follow this guide to unlock the secret to mixing the most magnificent purples imaginable.
Understanding Color Theory Basics
Before you can become a purple paint mixing master, it’s important to understand some fundamental color theory. This gives you the foundation for combining paints purposefully to create the purple hue you envision.
On the basic color wheel, purple sits between red and blue. This means to make purple, you need to blend some amount of red and some amount of blue. The more red you add, the closer the purple will shift towards red/magenta tones. The more blue you include, the more the purple will take on a blue/indigo hue.
Additionally, the amount of white or black paint you add will affect the lightness or darkness of the purple. More white makes a lighter, brighter purple while more black makes a deeper, richer purple.
Understanding these fundamentals allows you to strategically mix your purples by selecting red and blue pigments and lightening or darkening as desired.
Choosing Paints and Tools
While theoretically you could mix any red and blue to make purple, some paint pigments will blend together better than others. When selecting paint:
- Aim for a cool blue and a warm red as your base pigments
- Use higher quality paints with strong pigmentation
- Consider investing in a purple pigment if you want deep purple tones
- Acrylic, oil, and watercolor paints all work for mixing
In terms of tools, you’ll need containers for mixing, paint brushes, and either a paint palette or nonporous surface for blending colors. Canvases, paint pads, or heavy paper are ideal for test swatches.
Perfecting Proportions
Now for the fun part – playing with paint mixing ratios to find your perfect purple! Use these tips:
- Always start with small amounts of paint – you can increase as needed
- Add very small amounts of your secondary color at a time
- Mix and test swatches as you go to track color changes
- Aim for the right consistency – not too thin or thick
- Take notes on ratios that achieve colors you like
Use the template below to guide your mixing tests. Adjust the ratios gradually until you love the purple you’ve created.
| Red | Blue | White | Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 part | 1 part | 0 parts | 0 parts |
| 2 parts | 1 part | 1 part | 0 parts |
Some suggested color combinations to try:
- Alizarin crimson + phthalo blue
- Cadmium red + ultramarine blue
- Quinacridone magenta + winsor blue
Don’t be afraid to really play with the proportions, adding small amounts of secondary colors until you achieve your perfect vision. Testing different reds and blues will also expand your options.
Mixing Tips for Specific Purple Hues
If you have a specific purple shade in mind, these tips can help:
Vivid Purple
For an intense, electric purple, use a warm blue like phthalo or winsor paired with a bright cool red like quinacridone. Add just a touch of white to brighten.
Pale Purple
Start with a white or light gray base, then add small amounts of violet and very little blue for a delicate pale purple.
Pastel Purple
Mix a sky blue with a bright pink like quinacridone or permanent rose. Add white to soften and lighten the pastel purple.
Royal Purple
Blend ultramarine or Prussian blue with alizarin or carmine red. Use more blue than red for a rich royal purple.
Deep Purple
Combine phthalo or Prussian blue with dioxazine purple and add black to create an intense deep purple.
Muted Purple
Start with light grey or beige, then add small amounts of violet and touch of black for a subtle, muted purple.
Troubleshooting Tricky Purples
With so many potential pigment combinations, you may need to troubleshoot to fix tricky purples:
- Muddy purple – Add more of the dominant pigment or white to brighten
- Dull purple – Incorporate a bright, intense pigment like quinacridone
- Too dark – Add white or lighten base color
- Too light – Add more blue or black to deepen the shade
- Too red/blue – Balance with more of the opposite color
- Chalky texture – Add medium or water to improve consistency
Don’t give up if your first few mixes don’t turn out. It takes practice to train your eye to recognize the right purple tones. Use these tips to troubleshoot and adjust until you nail down your perfect purple.
Testing Your Purple Paint Mix
Once you’ve created a purple hue you love, be sure to test it fully before using it in a painting. Here are ways to check your mix:
- Paint thick and thin swatches to see consistency.
- Let it dry completely to check dried color.
- Paint test strips to see if the color shifts over time.
- Cover with topcoat to see if it changes the color.
Make adjustments and remix as needed based on your tests. This helps ensure your perfect purple looks flawless when applied to your final painting.
Conclusion
Mixing that perfectly eye-pleasing purple may take some trials, but mastering color theory, choosing quality paints, dialing in ratios, and troubleshooting issues will help you achieve it. Use these tips and with some practice, you’ll be whipping up stunning purples in no time. So grab your paints and start mixing – your next favorite shade is awaiting!
