Introduction To Our Colour Mixing Series - How To Mix The Colours You Want, by Emma Jane Lefebvre (EmJ Watercolour Studio) on YouTube. 11 min 19 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 19 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Lay out your paints and pick a small set of primaries plus a few extras. A limited palette of around eight colours forces you to mix and keeps your paintings harmonious.
Squeeze or activate a small amount of each colour in separate wells. Keep the pure colours apart so you can dip into them cleanly.
Mix two primaries to make a secondary: yellow plus red gives orange, yellow plus blue gives green, and red plus blue gives purple.
Add water gradually with a clean brush to lighten a mix. More water gives a pale wash, less water gives a stronger, more opaque colour.
Test each mix on a scrap of watercolour paper and let it dry. Watercolour looks lighter when dry, so check the true shade before painting.
Adjust the hue by adding a little of a third colour. A touch of yellow warms a green, while a little purple cools it down.
Rinse your brush between colours and change the water when it gets muddy. Dirty water dulls every mix you make.
Write or paint a small swatch of each successful mix on a test sheet. Label it so you can repeat the same shade later.
Tips and common mistakes
Mix more paint than you think you need, because matching a shade again is hard.
Keep your palette clean and wipe wells dry before starting a new colour family.
Use two brushes, one for clean water and one for paint, to avoid contaminating your mixes.
Student grade paints are fine for practice, but strong pigments give cleaner secondary colours.
Questions
Do I need all eight colours to start?
No. A warm and cool version of each primary is enough to mix most shades. Add greens and purples later if you want them ready made.
Why do my mixes look muddy?
Too many colours in one mix usually cause mud. Stick to two pigments at a time and rinse your brush and water often.
How do I make a colour lighter without adding white?
Add water instead of white. Watercolour is transparent, so diluting the mix gives a lighter tint while keeping it clean.
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.
