When it comes to mixing paint colors, brown and blue are an interesting combination to explore. Both are popular primary paint colors, so understanding how they interact when blended together is useful knowledge for any painting project.
The Basics of Mixing Paint
Before jumping into brown and blue specifically, it’s helpful to understand some fundamentals about paint mixing. Here are some key points:
- Paint color is created using pigments that absorb and reflect specific wavelengths of light. The wavelengths that are reflected determine what color our eyes perceive.
- Primary paint colors are those that cannot be created by mixing other colors. The traditional primaries are red, yellow, and blue.
- Secondary paint colors are created by mixing two primary colors. For example, mixing red and yellow makes orange.
- Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color. Blending blue and orange makes a tertiary color.
- Complementary colors are located opposite each other on the color wheel. They create a striking contrast when placed side-by-side.
Understanding these color relationships is important for predicting what color you’ll end up with when blending paints together. With that foundation, let’s specifically look at mixing brown and blue.
The Color Wheel
On the traditional painter’s color wheel, brown is a tertiary color found between the primary colors of red and yellow. Blue, on the other hand, is one of the primary colors.
Looking at the color wheel, we can see that brown and blue are complementary colors located opposite each other. This means they have very different light wavelengths when looking at the visible color spectrum.
In optical color theory, complementaries contrast strongly and create vivid visual effects when combined. This leads us to expect that mixing together brown and blue will produce a striking result.
Shades of Brown Paint
While brown may seem simple, it’s actually a complex color to create. There are many different shades of brown paint, each with their own unique mix of pigments. Here are some of the most common:
- Raw umber – A natural clay pigment that produces a medium, warm and earthy brown.
- Burnt umber – Contains iron oxide and manganese to create a rich, deep reddish brown.
- Raw sienna – Yellow-brown hue made from natural iron oxide clay.
- Burnt sienna – Darker, more orange cousin of raw sienna.
- Yellow ochre – Earthy golden brown pigment derived from mineral compounds.
- Mars black – Very dark, nearly black shade made with iron oxide.
The specific brown paint used in mixing will impact the end result. Warmer browns like burnt sienna or raw sienna will yield different colors than a cool mars black brown.
Shades of Blue Paint
Blue paint also comes in many shades, depending on its mineral and chemical makeup. Common blue paint pigments include:
- Ultramarine blue – Vivid, slightly purple blue derived from the mineral lapis lazuli.
- Cobalt blue – Brilliant medium blue made from cobalt salts.
- Cerulean blue – Cool, greenish blue pigment composed of cobalt and tin.
- Prussian blue – Very dark midnight blue hue containing iron ferrocyanide.
- Phthalo blue – Modern synthetic blue known for its intense coloring.
Prussian blue or phthalo blue will make for a very different brown mixture than pale ultramarine or cerulean blue.
Predicting the Mixed Color
Now that we know more about the component colors, we can make some predictions about mixing different browns and blues together before applying brush to canvas.
In general, mixing a warm brown like burnt sienna with a bright blue such as phthalo or cobalt will produce a muted greenish brown. This is because the orange undertones of the burnt sienna will neutralize the purple components of the blue, skewing the mix toward an earthy green side.
Combining a lighter brown like yellow ochre with a pale blue such as cerulean will likely result in a soft greenish tan. The lighter shades blend toward a subdued olive tone.
If using a very dark brown like mars black, mixing it with any shade of blue will produce a very dark, muted blue-grey color. The intensity of the blue will be dulled into a near black.
These predictions provide a helpful starting point, but the exact hue that results from mixing brown and blue paint depends on the specific pigments used and their ratios. Testing swatches is the best way to determine the blended color.
Mixing Tips
Here are some useful techniques for mixing brown and blue paint:
- Start with small amounts and slowly increase the ratio – this allows better control over the end result.
- Mix on a non-absorbent palette using a palette knife or brush – this keeps the colors truer.
- Add a third accent color like yellow, orange, red or white to modify the mix – provides more color options.
- Make plenty of swatches varying the ratios – helps match the desired hue.
- Stir and blend thoroughly to ensure an even, uniform secondary color.
- Check color accuracy under natural light – avoids distortions from artificial lighting.
Taking it slowly and gradually when blending brown and blue gives you time to achieve the perfect intermediate shade. Test mixes on spare canvases to match the needs of your artwork.
Unique Mixing Ideas
Blending brown and blue doesn’t have to result in simple muddy greens or grays. Get creative with paint mixing to produce more dynamic secondary hues:
- Mix burnt sienna and phthalo blue for a striking teal green.
- Combine raw umber with cerulean blue for an earthy slate color.
- Mix mars black and ultramarine blue for a deep space-like hue.
- Blend yellow ochre and cobalt blue for a verdant greenish-brown.
- Add white to lighten any brown/blue mix into a greyish pastel tint.
- Introduce red or orange paint to shift the mix away from green toward tan.
Don’t be afraid to test unorthodox color combinations and ratios when mixing brown and blue. It’s amazing the range of tones that can result.
Using Brown and Blue Mixes
The muted secondary colors created from brown and blue can serve many artistic purposes:
- Neutralize brighter colors in nature scenes – tones down vivid hues.
- Paint realistic shadows and shaded areas – adds depth and contrast.
- Create animals with earthy fur or skin – reindeer, deer, elephants.
- Paint rocks, trees, dirt and landscapes – captures outdoorsy feel.
- Mixing skin and portrait tones – adds vibrancy and warmth.
- Make duller vintage, rustic color schemes – fits retro styles.
The greenish, grayish hues produced by blending brown and blue are ideal for adding subtle interest without overpowering other vibrant tones. Use these blended secondary colors strategically when painting according to your artistic goals.
Potential Challenges
While brown and blue generally mix well together, there are a few potential challenges to keep in mind:
- Muddiness – Blending too forcibly can create an unappealing muddy color.
- Grey undertones – Some shade combinations skew very dark and gloomy.
- Color accuracy – Blues can take on a greenish tint next to the brown.
- Pigment bias – Opaque whites can dilute the purity of the mix.
Avoid these issues by taking it slowly, testing swatches, using high quality paints, and adjusting ratios as needed. Introducing accent colors like yellow or red can also help correct dull or muddy mixes.
Conclusion
Blending brown and blue paint produces a fascinating range of earthen secondary colors. With the right mixing techniques and an understanding of color relationships, you can achieve beautiful greenish-brown and blue-gray tones.
Be bold and creative exploring different pigment combinations. Brown and blue may appear dull on their own, but together they can form versatile mixes for all genres of painting.
| Brown Shades | Blue Shades | Mixed Color |
|---|---|---|
| Burnt Sienna | Phthalo Blue | Teal Green |
| Raw Umber | Cerulean Blue | Slate Color |
| Mars Black | Ultramarine Blue | Deep Space Hue |
Conclusion
This table summarizes some potential mixing combinations between different shades of brown and blue paint. The resulting secondary colors demonstrate the muted, earthy tones that these two primary colors can create together.
