How to Mix Basic Colours to Get the Shades You Want

Colour Mixing

So what if you don't have the exact shade you want in your paint box? Mix your own. Here are some basic rules to get you started.

1.      Red + Yellow = 1:1 = Orange

2.      Red + Yellow = 1:3 = Chrome yellow

3.      Yellow + Blue = 1:1 = Green

4.      Yellow + Blue = 2:1 = Light Green

5.      Red + Blue = 1:3 = Violet

6.      Red + Green = 1:1 = Brown (Reddish)

7.      Red + Black = 1:3 = Brunt Sienna

8.      Red + White = 1:3 = Pink

9.      Black + White = 1:1 = Grey

10.  Lemon Yellow + Black = 3:1 = Olive Green

11.  Red + Black = Brown

12.  Yellow + Black = a shade of brown

13.  V. Red + Blue = Brown

14.  Crimson Red + Blue = Purple

15.  Ultramarine Blue + Red = Purple

16.  Lemon Yellow + Blue = green

17.  Yellow Ochre + Red = Earthy colours like brown & Terracotta.

18.  Burnt Umber + Blue = Black

19.  Prussian or Cobalt Blue + Yellow = Greens

20.  White + any colour = Pastels

While mixing colours, it is advisable to mix the entire quantity required for the project in one go and store it in air tight bottles. (Don't throw away empty paint bottles.) It is extremely difficult to get the exact same shade again.

Black & Grey

• We tend to use black to darken a colour. Black does darken it; but the result is a dull shade. Try this instead. Ultramarine blue + burnt umber = black. Use this to get a darker shade.
•   You don’t need black to make grey either. For light grey, mix blue with white and then add a tiny blob of yellow and vermilion. 

Skin Tones

•   It is a good idea to cut out the exact shade of the skin tone you want from a magazine and try to match it.
• Mix a little red with white. Now add a little yellow and a little blue until you get a perfect match.

Greens

Here are some tips for getting the shades of green you want.

1.   Mix together some lemon yellow and some cobalt blue for a bright green.
2.   Now add different amounts of red to this to get different shades of green.