Cyan is a vibrant secondary color that is part of the primary color triad along with magenta and yellow. When mixing cyan acrylic paint, it’s important to understand color theory and know the right colors to combine to produce the perfect cyan hue. With some basic knowledge of color mixing and the right acrylic paints on hand, you can easily mix up cyan paint for all your artistic needs.
What is Cyan?
Cyan is a high-chroma color that falls between green and blue on the color wheel. It is one of the secondary colors formed by mixing two primary colors – blue and green. Cyan gets its name from the Ancient Greek word “kyanos” which means dark blue. While cyan is considered a green-leaning blue, its exact hue can vary depending on the ratio of blue to green pigments used in the mixture.
In the RYB (red, yellow, blue) color model, cyan is made by mixing the primary colors blue and green. In the RGB (red, green, blue) and CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) color models, cyan is considered a primary color along with red, green, and blue or magenta and yellow.
Cyan sits directly opposite red on the color wheel. These two colors are complementary which means they contrast strongly with each other. When placed side-by-side, cyan and red appear extra vibrant. Complementary colors are frequently used together in color theory to create eye-catching, high-contrast designs.
Basic Acrylic Paint Colors for Mixing Cyan
To mix cyan acrylic paint, you only need two colors – blue and green. Here are the best acrylic paint options:
- Blue – Ultramarine Blue, Pthalo Blue
- Green – Sap Green, Viridian Green, Phthalo Green
These green and blue tube acrylics offer very saturated pigments which help create brilliant secondary colors. Avoid cheaper student grade acrylics which often lack the pigment strength needed for clean color mixing.
Mixing Cyan Step-By-Step
Follow these simple steps to mix cyan acrylic paint:
- Choose your blue – Select a tube of ultramarine blue, phthalo blue or another pure blue acrylic paint. Stay away from colors like cerulean or manganese blue which have grayish undertones.
- Choose your green – Pick a tube of sap green, viridian or phthalo green. Avoid earthy greens like olive or forest green.
- Squeeze out a dab of each color – Place a pea-sized amount of blue and green acrylic paint onto your palette.
- Mix the paint – Use a palette knife to thoroughly blend the blue and green acrylics together until you achieve your desired cyan hue.
- Adjust the color – Add more blue for a cooler, green-leaning cyan or more green for a warmer, blue-leaning cyan. Mix until you are happy with the color.
Be sure to thoroughly blend the two colors together so no streaks of blue or green remain. The acrylics should combine into a uniform cyan with no hint of the starting colors.
Achieving Darker or Lighter Cyan
Once you’ve created your base cyan, you can easily adjust the shade by adding white or black acrylic paint:
- Add white to lighten cyan and create a pastel tint.
- Add black to darken cyan and create a deeper shade.
Add white and black sparingly and mix well to prevent dulling the vibrancy of the cyan. For mixing very precise colors, consider buying an acrylic mixing set with calibrated cylinders for measuring out paint.
Other Ways to Mix Cyan
While combining blue and green is the standard way to mix cyan, you can actually use other color combinations to achieve a cyan hue:
- Mix magenta and green.
- Mix cerulean blue and lemon yellow.
- Mix ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow.
These color combinations produce slightly different cyans ranging from brighter to more muted. Test mixing custom color recipes to find your perfect cyan for any painting.
Cyan Color Mixing Tips
Follow these tips when mixing cyan with acrylics:
- Use heavy body acrylics for easiest mixing. The thicker consistency makes blending colors simpler.
- Try a stay-wet acrylic palette to keep paint workable for longer.
- Stir in a pouring medium for transparent, watercolor-like cyan washes.
- Mix up extra cyan to keep on hand for maintaining color consistency across your painting.
- Clean brushes thoroughly between colors to avoid muddying your cyan mix.
Using Cyan in Painting
Once mixed, cyan acrylic paint is versatile for:
- Painting blue-green landscapes – Use cyan for water, trees, foliage.
- Coloring futuristic subjects – Sci-fi themes feature cyan and its complement red.
- Adding energy to abstract art – Cyan pops against black, white, and grays.
- Painting nighttime scenes – Deep cyan works for night skies and shadows.
Cyan pairs perfectly with its complement red as well as yellow, white, black, purple and blue green. It creates dynamic contrast and vibrancy in any painting.
Cyan Paint Recipes
Once you’ve mastered the basics, try mixing up these custom cyan shades:
| Cyan Recipe | Mixing Instructions |
|---|---|
| Turquoise | Phthalo or ultramarine blue + sap green |
| Blue-green | Ultramarine blue + viridian green |
| Bright cyan | Phthalo blue + lemon yellow |
| Teal | Pthalo blue + sap green + white |
Conclusion
With acrylic paints in just blue and green, you can mix up any imaginable cyan shade. Mastering color theory helps but experimenting and finding custom cyan recipes leads to endless possibilities. So grab your favorite blues and greens and starting mixing the vibrant cyan tones you’ve been seeking!
