Mixing paint to achieve a desired color can seem daunting, but with some basic color theory and a systematic approach, anyone can become adept at color mixing. The three primary colors in painting are red, yellow, and blue. By varying the proportions of primaries, as well as adding white or black, an infinite array of hues can be created. Understanding how colors interact and influence each other is crucial for intentional, accurate mixing. With practice and an eye for color, you’ll be expertly mixing custom shades in no time.
Understand Color Basics
Before attempting to mix a specific color, it’s important to understand some color fundamentals. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These primaries can’t be created by mixing other colors, but combined in different ratios, they can form any other hue. Secondary colors are created by mixing two primaries: orange, green and purple. Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary with a secondary: red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple and red-purple. Finally, intermediate colors are created by mixing a primary with a secondary or two secondary colors: red-violet, yellow-green, etc.
The Color Wheel
The color wheel illustrates the relationships between different hues. Complementary colors sit opposite each other; these are color pairings like red and green or blue and orange. Analogous colors are adjacent on the wheel, like blue, blue-violet and violet. Color theory tells us that analogous harmonies are pleasing, while complementary colors intensify one another. The color wheel is a useful visualization when mixing paint. Understanding color relationships allows you to modify hues predictably.
Value
Value refers to a color’s lightness or darkness. Tinting with white or shading with black alters a hue’s value. Adding white makes a tint, black makes a shade. Generally, the more white added to a color, the higher its value. Higher value colors appear lighter. Lower value colors have more black added and appear darker. Manipulating value is key for mixing any desired color.
Saturation
Saturation or intensity refers to a color’s purity. Bright, vivid hues are highly saturated, while muted, greyish colors are unsaturated. Adding the complement of a hue reduces its saturation. For example, adding a little green to red makes a less intense, more earthy red. Adding white also slightly reduces saturation. Greys have no saturation. Managing saturation helps modify a color during mixing.
Approaches for Mixing Paint
Now that color theory principles are understood, it’s time to start mixing. Approaching color mixing systematically helps achieve accurate results. There are a few common approaches:
Matching a Sample
Matching a sample is the most straightforward mixing technique. Simply place a dab of the target color next to your palette. Then mix primaries while comparing to your sample, until the match is perfect. Start with estimated proportions, then gradually adjust the mixture until colors align. This method trains your eye to discern subtle value and saturation differences.
Mixing by Color Family
You can also mix by first determining the target color’s general family. For example, decide if you want a red, green or blue-based color. Next, visualize the approximate value and saturation of your desired hue. Mix the base color, then modify it by adding white, black or complementary colors until you achieve the right shade.
Starting from Neutrals
When mixing dark or muted colors, start with neutral greys or browns as a base. Add small amounts of brighter pigment until the desired saturation emerges. This allows you to better judge value, since muted colors read lighter against grey.
Using Color Swatches
Referencing printed color swatches helps identify undertones. Look at paint brand swatch cards to match hues that appeal to you. Study the sample colors to see if they lean yellow, orange or violet. Recreate the undertones in your own mixing. Commercial swatches also provide mixing formulas.
| Color | Mixing Formula |
|---|---|
| Lime green | Yellow + blue |
| Burnt umber | Red + black |
| Periwinkle | Blue + white |
Paint Mixing Techniques and Tools
In addition to approach, using proper techniques and tools will improve mixing success. Follow these tips for color accuracy:
Mix Thoroughly
Fully incorporate all pigments until uniform. Scrape the sides and bottom of your palette well when combining. Streaky mixtures lead to muddy colors.
Add Small Amounts
When adjusting color, add thin layers and minimal drops. Too much at once makes overshooting easier. Build up slowly until you land on the right hue.
Use a White Palette
Mix paint on a white surface like enamel, plastic or ceramic. This allows you to judge the true color of the mixture. Dark palettes distort the shade.
Work Quickly
Oil and acrylic paints start drying quickly once mixed together. Work fast to complete your color mixing before the paint dries out. Use wet brushes and plenty of medium.
Check Consistency
Be consistent with paint thickness and brand across your palette. Mixing watery and thick paint together also yields muddy results. Use limited brands and thin evenly as needed.
Clean Brushes
Rinse brushes fully between colors. Pigment residue left in bristles leads to cross-contamination and dull hues. Keep multiple brushes handy for mixing distinct colors.
Add Extender
Driers accelerate oil paint drying. For more working time, add an extender medium to slow the drying speed of your mixture. This prevents fast-drying layers from trapping wet paint.
Use a Palette Knife
Mix paint with a palette knife instead of brush. The blade fully incorporates pigment for smooth, streak-free mixing. Knives also prevent lingering brush color from skewing your shades.
Achieving Specific Colors by Mixing
These examples demonstrate how to mix common colors by modifying the primaries:
Yellow-Green
Start with a 3:1 ratio of yellow to green straight from the tube. Add more yellow for brightness or more green for an earthier olive tone. Adding white makes mint green. Add black for dark sage green.
Orange
Mix red and yellow in equal parts. Increase the red for scarlet or yellow for gold. Add white for peach. Intensify with more yellow. Neutralize with a touch of blue.
Violet
Combine equal parts red and blue. Shift towards red for warmer reds. Blend towards blue for cooler purples. For lavender, add lots of white. Intensify violet with extra blue or red in equal measure.
Turquoise
Mix 3 parts blue with 1 part green. Adjust ratios depending on warmth or coolness preferred. Add white for pale turquoise. Intensify with more green. Mute towards grey with black.
Magenta
Start with 1 part red to 2 parts blue. Red advances, so less is needed. Add white for pink. Intensify with extra red. Neutralize with green if too intense.
Tan
First mix raw umber and burnt sienna for a deep brown. Lighten with white, yellow ochre and burnt sienna for warm undertones. Add raw umber and white for cool undertones. Soften with yellow.
Achieving Tricky Colors
Some colors prove more difficult to mix accurately. Here are some challenges and solutions:
Bright Yellow
Bright yellow is one of the hardest colors to mix well. Lemon yellow pigment is opaque and challenging to recreate through blending. Mix cadmium yellow with a touch of titanium white. Adding too much white makes pastel shades.
Cobalt Blue
Genuine cobalt pigment has incredible tinting strength. It’s extremely difficult to simulate by mixing, requiring huge amounts of paint. Instead mix ultramarine and cerulean blue in a 7:1 ratio. Adjust with some white.
Bright Crimson
The purity of cadmium red is also tough to reproduce. Mix one part quinacridone red or rose madder genuine to two parts cadmium red light instead. Adding white produces pretty pinks.
Forest Green
Dark greens easily get muddy. For clearer forest green, use sap green and mix in small amounts of yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Keep black or umber low to retain vibrancy.
Neutral Greys
It’s tempting to just mix black and white for greys. However, this can deaden the color. Instead, use complementary colors like violet-green or blue-orange in varying ratios to create natural, luminous greys.
Special Techniques for Color Mixing
Certain painting styles rely on specific color mixing approaches. Here are some useful techniques:
Underpainting
For luminous layers, first paint a thin transparent underpainting in muted complements. Let dry before applying final colors. The underpainting unifies the composition while optically mixing with overlaying colors.
Wet Blending
For smooth blends wet-on-wet, ensure paints are very fluid. Quickly overlap wet colors before they dry; avoid overmixing. Use big soft brushes and plenty of medium for seamless results.
Dry Brushing
For textural effects like weathered wood, mix small amounts of thick paint. Wipe brush bristles on a cloth so almost dry. Skim brush over the surface leaving textured strokes. Build up transparency slowly.
Scumbling
Related to dry brushing, scumbling glazes over existing colors for atmospheric effects. Use a stiff brush loaded with thick paint. Lightly drag horizontally, allowing lower layers to peek through.
Pointillism
Pointillism relies on optical mixing, placing tiny dots of pure color next to each other to blend in the viewer’s eye. Mix color dabs on the canvas, rather than on your palette. Avoid mixing before applying.
Troubleshooting Color Mixing Problems
When paint mixing goes awry, here are some common issues and fixes:
Muddy or Dull
Overmixing colors causes greying. Ensure colors are thoroughly combined, but don’t excessively blend back and forth. Allow some visible brushstrokes to retain vibrancy.
Too Transparent
Hues that are too sheer may expose underlying colors. Make sure you are using opaque, not transparent pigments. Build up layers gradually. Mix with extra white to intensify tinting strength.
Too Opaque
If colors are overly dense, the surface can appear lifeless and chalky. Mix in recommended mediums to improve flow and transparency. Thin carefully with water or solvents.
Too Streaky
Incomplete mixing shows obvious strokes revealing the mix process. This results in a muddy canvas. Blend pigments together fully before painting with well incorporated mixtures.
Too Bright or Intense
Fluorescent, artificial colors signal amateur mixing. Tone down intensity by neutralizing with a complement. Tint with white or grey. Ensure values align with ambient light logic.
Conclusion
Mixing exact colors for painting is both a science and an art. By understanding color relationships, using proper tools and techniques, and practicing mixes, anyone can master combining colors. Key strategies like matching samples, starting from neutrals, mixing similar families and troubleshooting issues will refine your blending. With an observant eye and a few primary colors, your unique color mixes are endless.
