Acrylic Painting TIPS for Beginners - How to MIX COLORS, by Easy Painting Vered on YouTube. 6 min 46 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 46 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Squeeze a small blob of each primary colour onto your palette: a red, a yellow and a blue. Keep them spaced apart so they do not run together.
Mix red and yellow to make orange. Add a little yellow at a time and stir until you get the shade you want.
Mix yellow and blue to make green. Start with more yellow for a bright green, then add blue for a deeper one.
Mix red and blue to make purple. Add blue slowly, since a little goes a long way and can swamp the red.
Test each mix on scrap paper. Acrylics dry slightly darker, so check the colour dry before you commit it to the canvas.
Make a warm and a cool version of each secondary. Use a red with orange in it for warm mixes and a red with blue in it for cool mixes.
Lighten a colour with white and darken it with a tiny amount of black. Add white or black in small dabs so you do not overshoot.
Mix a basic skin tone from red, yellow, white and a touch of blue. Adjust with more white for lighter skin or more red and yellow for warmer skin.
Keep your mixes clean by wiping the brush or knife between colours. Rinse the brush in water and blot it dry before the next mix.
Tips and common mistakes
Add dark colours a little at a time, because it is much easier to darken a mix than to lighten it again.
Keep a scrap of paper nearby and paint a small swatch of every mix so you can match it later.
Use separate water cups or rinse well between warm and cool mixes to avoid muddy colours.
Acrylics dry fast, so mist the palette with water or cover it if you need a break.
Questions
What paints do I need to mix all these colours?
A red, yellow, blue, white and black will cover secondary colours, warm and cool versions, and basic skin tones. You can add more shades later once you know what you like.
Why do my mixed colours look muddy?
Too much mixing or leftover paint on the brush usually causes it. Wipe or rinse the brush between colours and stop stirring as soon as the colour is even.
Can I use the same mixes for skin tones?
Yes, start with red, yellow and white, then add a tiny touch of blue to tone it down. Adjust with more white or red until it matches the skin you are painting.
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.
