The EASIEST color mixing charts for watercolor and gouache ✶ STEP BY STEP, by Sarah Burns on YouTube. 5 min 16 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 16 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick one main color and 8 to 12 partner colors you already own. Lay the tubes out in a row so you can see the order before you start painting.
Draw a grid on smooth hot pressed paper with a pencil and ruler. Keep the top row and the left column free for the pure colors.
Paint a full strength swatch of your main color in the top left corner. Add a paler version beside it to show how it looks with more water.
Paint each partner color pure down the left column. Rinse the brush and blot it on a paper towel between colors so the paints stay clean.
Mix a small amount of one partner color into the main color and fill the matching cell. Start with a mix that is mostly the main color.
Repeat that pair with an even mix, then with mostly the partner color. Three cells per pair show you the full range of the mix.
Work through every color pair the same way, rinsing and blotting the brush each time. Keep the mixes small so you do not waste paint.
Write the paint name and brand in pencil beside each row and column once the paint is dry. Pigment names matter more than color names here.
Keep the chart next to your painting and compare new mixes to it instead of guessing. It becomes a quick reference you can reuse for years.
Tips and common mistakes
Add pigment a drop at a time, because watercolor and gouache shift fast once more paint goes in.
Do not scrub the brush inside a cell, as overworking lifts the paper and turns the mix muddy.
Use cheap smooth paper for charts so your good sheets stay for finished paintings.
Label brands as well as colors, since two brands of the same color name can look quite different.
Questions
Can I use the same chart method for gouache?
Yes. The grid works the same way, but gouache mixes are more opaque, so add a little water and note how much you used.
How many colors should the chart have?
One main color plus 8 to 12 partners is plenty. A limited palette keeps the chart easy to read and quick to finish.
Does the paper type really matter?
Smooth hot pressed paper keeps the swatches even and flat. Rough paper makes small cells harder to paint and to label.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
