The color created when blue and purple are mixed together is commonly referred to as a shade of violet or lilac. While both blue and purple are primary colors, combining them creates a secondary color that sits between the two on the color wheel. The exact shade that results depends on the ratio of blue to purple used in the mixing process.
The Basics of Mixing Blue and Purple
In color theory, blue and purple are considered two of the three primary colors, along with red. The primary colors cannot be created by mixing other colors together and are used as the basis for generating all other colors through mixing.
Blue and purple sit next to each other on the color wheel. When placed adjacent to each other, they create a range of colors that blend blue into purple. These colors are known as violet or lilac.
As more blue is added to purple, the resulting colors shift toward a blueish purple or lavender shade. As more purple is added to blue, the mix leans toward shades of violet or mauve. By adjusting the proportions, infinite shades in between blue and purple can be created.
The Color Mixing Process
Mixing blue and purple requires having pigments, dyes, or other color mediums for both colors. Here is an overview of the general color mixing process:
- Start with a base color – either blue or purple
- Add small amounts of the second color gradually
- Mix thoroughly after each addition to fully incorporate the colors
- Continue adding the second color until the desired shade is reached
- Adjust color proportions as needed to tweak the shade
When working with paints, dyes, or other translucent mediums, the order and technique of mixing can impact the end result. Mixing a small amount of purple into a blue base will typically yield a subtler, cooler violet. Reversing the order creates a bolder, warmer purple-blue. Mixing methods also matter – thoroughly blending vs. swirling may create variations in tone and shading.
Resulting Color Shades
Mixing different ratios of blue and purple produces a wide spectrum of violet and lilac shades. Here are some of the most common variations:
| Color Name | Color Mix Ratio | Color Swatch |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender | 4 parts blue + 1 part purple | |
| Wisteria | 2 parts blue + 1 part purple | |
| Thistle | 1 part blue + 1 part purple | |
| Orchid | 1 part blue + 2 parts purple | |
| Eggplant | 1 part blue + 4 parts purple |
The variations extend far beyond these common examples. By tweaking the blue to purple ratio and using different pigment shades as the base colors, a wide gamut of violet and lavender hues can be mixed.
Uses for Blue and Purple Color Mixes
The colors created by mixing blue and purple together have many uses, including:
- Painting – Secondary violet shades are popular for creating depth and interest in painted works across mediums like acrylic, oil, and watercolor.
- Dyeing Fabrics – Violet dyes are extensively used to color fabrics like cotton, silk, wool, and other textiles.
- Cosmetics – Violet and lilac pigments are components in many eye shadows, lipsticks, nail polishes, and other cosmetic products.
- Art Supplies – Colored pencils, markers, crayons, and other drawing/coloring tools contain shades made by mixing blue and purple.
- Crayons – “Violet Red” crayons contain a mix of blue, purple, and red pigments to create a vibrant secondary color.
- Frosting/Icing – Violet food dyes are popular for cake frosting, buttercream, royal icing, fondant, and gum paste.
- Bath and Body – Violet shades are used for bath bombs, soaps, candles, cosmetics, and aromatherapy.
The resulting shades of violet have broad appeal and use across many creative disciplines and industries.
Mixing Other Colors with Blue and Purple
While blue and purple mix to make violet shades, adding other colors can create further variations:
- Blue + Purple + Red – Mixing a small amount of red into the blue/purple blend generates deeper, richer jewel tones.
- Blue + Purple + White – Adding white makes the violet lighter and softer, for pastel lavender shades.
- Blue + Purple + Yellow – Yellow mutes the violet, shifting it toward gray/brown plum tones.
- Blue + Purple + Black – Black darkens the mix, for deeper eggplant or wine-colored shades.
Nearly any color can be blended into the blue/purple mix to create new secondary and tertiary shades. This provides endless creativity and flexibility when mixing violet hues.
Using Complementary Colors
In color theory, complementary colors are those located opposite each other on the color wheel. The complements of blue and purple are orange and yellow.
Using small amounts of the complement color can make a violet mix pop. Adding a touch of orange makes it brighter and more vibrant. Mixing in yellow generates a more muted, earthy tone. Complements are great for fine-tuning the color.
Achieving the Perfect Violet Shade
Finding the perfect violet requires experimenting with different ratios of blue to purple. Keep these tips in mind:
- Use high quality blue and purple pigments for the clearest color representation.
- Start with a base color and add the second gradually until satisfied.
- Mix thoroughly between additions for an even tone.
- View color swatches in different lighting to test how it changes.
- Adjust ratios to achieve more warm/cool and bright/muted qualities.
- Complementary colors like orange and yellow can liven up the mix.
With some practice and tweaking, you can learn to mix signature violet shades through combining blue and purple creatively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What two colors make purple?
While purple is a primary color, you can mix shades of purple by combining blue and red pigments. Mixing more blue into the blend creates cooler purples, while more red makes warmer, pinkish purples.
What color results from mixing blue and purple paint?
Mixing blue and purple paint produces a range of violet or lilac shades. The specific shade depends on whether more blue or purple is used in the mix. Using more blue paint creates a blue-leaning lavender. More purple makes a richer, purple-toned violet.
What colors make violet?
Violet shades primarily result from mixing blue and purple. Adding a small amount of red can deepen and enrich the resulting violet color. White makes it lighter and softer. Black darkens it to deep eggplant shades. So blue, purple, red, white, and black are key colors for mixing different violet tones.
What color is created when you mix blue and red?
Mixing blue and red creates shades of violet or purple. However, because red lacks blue’s coolness, the resulting purple is warmer and more red-based compared to mixing blue with true purple. Adjusting the ratios results in many shades ranging from reddish purple to blueish purple.
What colors make lavender?
Lavender contains much more blue than true purple. Mixing a blue base with just a small amount of purple produces a light, soft, blue-leaning lavender tone. White can be added to lighten it further into a pale lavender shade.
Conclusion
Combining blue and purple creates a vibrant range of secondary colors between the two primary hues. With the right mixing techniques and an artistic eye for color, infinite beautiful violet shades can be produced. Experimenting with adding other colors like red, yellow, and white allows customizing unique lavender blends.
