How to Mix ANY Color - No Talent Method - oil painting instruction, by Draw Mix Paint on YouTube. 29 min 25 s.
- Video length
- 29 min 25 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Place a small amount of each primary paint on your palette: a red, a yellow and a blue. Keep them spaced apart so they do not mix by accident.
Look at the color you want and decide its hue family first: is it closer to red, orange, yellow, green, blue or violet? This tells you which two primaries to start with.
Mix the two neighboring primaries to make the base hue. For orange use red and yellow, for green use yellow and blue, for violet use red and blue.
Adjust the hue by adding a tiny amount of the third primary or a neighboring color. Add small dabs and mix fully before adding more.
Change the value by adding white to lighten or a dark color to deepen. Mix thoroughly and compare against your target.
Lower the saturation if the color looks too bright by adding a little of its complementary color, the one opposite on the wheel.
Test the mix on a scrap surface next to the object or reference. Let it dry slightly if using oil paint, since colors shift as they dry.
Write down or keep a swatch of any mix you like so you can repeat it later. Note the paint names and rough proportions.
Tips and common mistakes
Add dark colors in tiny amounts, since a little goes a long way and it is hard to lighten a mix again.
Keep your palette and brushes clean between mixes so leftover paint does not muddy new colors.
Use the same brand and type of paint when possible, because pigments vary between brands.
Oil paints can be harmful if swallowed or absorbed, so work in a ventilated room and keep them away from children.
Questions
Can I use this method with acrylic paint?
Yes. The same color wheel logic works with acrylics. Just work a little faster, since acrylics dry quickly, and keep a spray bottle handy to slow drying.
Do I need exactly red, yellow and blue?
A warm and cool version of each primary gives you more mixing range. Start with one of each and add more as you learn how your paints behave.
Why does my mixed color look dull?
You probably mixed in some of the third primary or a complementary color. That lowers saturation. Start again with a cleaner two-color mix and add the third color only in tiny dabs.
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.
