Mustard yellow is a bright, warm yellow color that resembles the condiment mustard. It’s a popular shade for painting and decorating, clothing, and graphic design. While you can buy premixed mustard yellow paint, dye, or other products, you can also mix up your own mustard yellow color using common household items. With a bit of color theory know-how, it’s easy to create a mustard yellow tone by blending together complementary colors in the right proportions. This article will provide tips on items to mix and methods to blend various ingredients to achieve the perfect mustard yellow for your project.
Mixing Paints
One easy way to make mustard yellow is by mixing together acrylic, watercolor, or oil paints. Here are some combinations you can try:
| Paint 1 | Paint 2 | Resulting Color |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Orange | Mustard yellow |
| Yellow | Brown | Mustard yellow |
| Lemon yellow | Cadmium orange | Mustard yellow |
The key is blending a warm yellow with an orangey or earthy tone. Start with more yellow than orange or brown at first. Add more of the secondary color slowly until you achieve the ideal mustard hue. Test colors on a spare canvas or piece of paper before applying to your main project.
Acrylics blend easily on a palette for color mixing. With watercolors, allow paints to diffuse into each other wet on wet on the paper. Mix oil paints on a palette knife or directly on the canvas.
You can also create custom mustard yellow paint by adding a few drops of orange or brown acrylic paint to yellow craft paint or tempera paint. Adjust colors gradually until you’re happy with the shade.
Mixing Food Coloring
For tinting icing, cookie dough, or Play-Doh, liquid food coloring allows you to easily mix up a mustard shade.
Try blending the following combinations in a bowl or resealable plastic bag:
| Food Coloring 1 | Food Coloring 2 | Resulting Color |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Orange | Mustard yellow |
| Yellow | Brown | Mustard yellow |
Start with about 10-15 drops total of food coloring. Add more yellow first, then add orange or brown a drop at a time until you reach the desired mustard color. Mix well between each drop for an even tone.
For a large batch of icing or dough, start with 1-2 teaspoons of yellow gel food coloring first. Then add a toothpick dip of orange or brown gel coloring gradually. Mix thoroughly after each addition for best results.
Mixing Dyes
To dye fabric, Easter eggs, or other porous materials mustard yellow, liquid dyes offer an easy blending option.
Try the following mixtures in enough warm water to fully dissolve and stir together:
| Dye 1 | Dye 2 | Ratio | Resulting Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Orange | 3:1 | Mustard yellow |
| Yellow | Brown | 3:1 | Mustard yellow |
Use more yellow than your secondary color to start. For a darker or more vibrant mustard shade, increase the proportion of orange or brown dye. Mix well and test colors on an extra scrap or paper towel before applying to your main project.
For fabric dyeing, simmer dyes in a pot of water to fully blend before adding your item to be dyed. For Easter eggs, mix dyes in cups or bowls before dipping eggs.
Mixing Icing Colors
To tint icing or fondant for cakes and cookies, powdered gel icing colors allow you to easily mix mustard yellow.
Try combining the following based on package instructions:
| Icing Color 1 | Icing Color 2 | Resulting Color |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon Yellow | Tangerine Orange | Mustard Yellow |
| Golden Yellow | Autumn Leaves Brown | Mustard Yellow |
Use more yellow icing color to start, then add small amounts of the orange or brown and mix thoroughly after each addition. Test on icing or fondant scraps first to perfect the shade before coloring a whole batch.
For deeper mustard tones, add more of the secondary color. For very pale mustard hues, use less brown or orange. Adjust to achieve your ideal shade.
Mixing Chalk or Pigment Powders
For a powdered mustard coloring option, chalk pastels or mica powder pigments can be blended.
Try mixing the following ratios in a bowl:
| Powder 1 | Powder 2 | Ratio | Resulting Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow chalk pastel | Orange chalk pastel | 3:1 | Mustard yellow |
| Yellow mica powder | Copper mica powder | 4:1 | Mustard yellow |
Use more yellow base powder first. Add the orange or copper powder little by little until the right hue develops.
Crush chalk pastels together between sheets of paper with a rolling pin for easier mixing.
For mica powders, stir together thoroughly with a whisk to evenly combine.
Test blended colors before using in your finished piece. Adjust powders added as needed for your perfect mustard tone.
Natural Items to Mix
You can also make mustard yellow color naturally by blending things from around your home:
| Item 1 | Item 2 |
|---|---|
| Turmeric powder | Paprika powder |
| Lemon juice | Carrot juice |
| Yellow onion skins | Coffee grounds |
For turmeric and paprika, blend more turmeric powder first and gradually add small amounts of paprika.
For liquids, strain a lemon juice base then slowly mix in small splashes of carrot juice until you reach the right tone.
Simmer yellow onion skins first to release their pigment, then soak coffee grounds in the strained liquid. The natural acids and plant compounds interact to produce a mustard color.
Test mixed natural dyes on cloth or paper before coloring your finished craft. Adjust ingredient ratios as needed to get your perfect homemade mustard hue.
Mixing Makeup/Beauty Products
For makeup looks and beauty projects, mix up mustard yellow by blending lipsticks, eye shadows, nail polishes or other cosmetics.
Try combining:
| Product 1 | Product 2 |
|---|---|
| Yellow eye shadow | Orange eye shadow |
| Yellow nail polish | Nude nail polish |
| Yellow lipstick | Brown lipstick |
Apply the yellow product as your base layer. Add thin layers of the orange, nude, or brown shade on top and blend together until you reach your perfect mustard tone.
You can mix eye shadows or lipsticks on your hand or a palette first. With nail polishes, layer them directly on nails for blending.
Adjust the ratio of colors as needed to get your desired mustard look. Add more yellow for a bright tone or increase the secondary shade for deeper mustard hues.
Making Mustard Yellow Paint with Primary Colors
While pre-mixed paint provides the easiest route to mustard yellow, you can also mix this color starting from just the primary colors red, yellow and blue.
Here’s a simple formula to blend primary acrylic or oil paints into a classic mustard tone:
| Paint | Parts |
|---|---|
| Cadmium Yellow Light or Lemon Yellow | 4 |
| Cadmium Red or Vermillion | 1 |
Mix 4 parts yellow paint with just 1 part red paint. The small amount of red will mute or dull the yellow to produce a mustard color.
Add more red for darker or browner mustard shades. Use less red for brighter, more golden yellow mustards.
With watercolors, allow yellow to diffuse into red on wet paper. Start with more yellow, letting the colors intermingle.
You can also add just a tiny touch of blue to dull the yellow further towards a more mature mustard color. But too much blue will make it appear green.
Conclusion
With a bit of color mixing know-how, you can easily whip up the perfect mustard yellow for any project using things you probably already have at home.
Whether you prefer blending paints, dyes, icing colors or other mediums, the key is combining yellow with a little orange, red or brown tone. Adjust the proportions and shades to create light, bright mustards or deeper, spicier hues.
So grab a few complementary colors from your craft supplies, kitchen or cosmetics and experiment with mixing up the trendy, vibrant mustard yellow you’ve been searching for.
