Mixing Greens with watercolors. How to mix the right greens for any subject. My four color method., by Joe Cartwright on YouTube. 17 min 55 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 55 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Put a warm yellow, a cool yellow, a warm blue and a cool blue on your palette. Keep each color in its own well so the mixes stay clean.
Load a clean brush with water, then pick up a little cool yellow and cool blue. Mix them on the palette to make a fresh, bright green for spring leaves.
For a warmer, natural green, mix warm yellow with warm blue. This suits olive leaves, dry grass and many landscape greens.
Test the mix on scrap watercolor paper. Add more yellow to lighten and warm the green, or more blue to cool and darken it.
To tone down a green that looks too bright, add a tiny touch of red or burnt sienna. Add it slowly so you do not turn the mix muddy.
For pale washes, add clean water to the mixed green. For strong, dark foliage, use less water and more pigment.
Paint a row of swatches and label each mix. Note the colors and proportions so you can repeat the greens you like.
Tips and common mistakes
Mix small amounts first because watercolor dries lighter than it looks when wet.
Rinse your brush between colors, especially before dipping into yellow.
Use artist quality paints where possible because student paints often contain less pigment and mix weaker greens.
Stop stirring once the green looks right so the separate pigments do not start to look muddy.
Questions
Why do my watercolor greens look too bright?
Tube greens and mixes with strong cool yellows can be very vivid. Add a little red, burnt sienna or a warm blue to make the green more natural.
Which colors make green in watercolor?
Green comes from mixing a yellow with a blue. A cool yellow and cool blue give a fresh green, while a warm yellow and warm blue give a more olive green.
Can I use the same method with acrylics or oils?
Yes. The same warm and cool yellow and blue mixing idea works with acrylics and oils, though drying times and opacity differ.
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.
