How to Mix Watercolors
Learn how to mix harmonious color palettes for your watercolor paintings.
A great watercolor painting often stands out because of its colors. But that doesn’t mean you need to buy a huge range of watercolor paints right away. The most important thing is to know how to mix them.
In this article, we’ll start with the basics. I’ll provide some beginner exercises and examples to show you how to mix colors. Once you understand how to do it, your watercolor paintings will look much better!
Basics of Mixing Watercolors
When painting with watercolors, it’s crucial to understand how to mix colors. This allows you to create different shades and hues, giving you a wider range of colors to work with. The right colors can add depth and dimension to your paintings.
Color Theory
Before diving into color mixing, it’s helpful to understand color theory and the concept of the color wheel.
When mixing watercolors, consider the mixing ratios and color saturation. Adding more water will make the color lighter and more transparent, while less water results in a stronger, more saturated color.
Color temperatures and contrasts are also important. They refer to the warmth or coolness of a color. For example, yellow and red are warm colors, while blue and green are cool colors. You can warm up green by mixing in a little yellow or red.
Using color contrasts can make your paintings more interesting. One type of contrast is “complementary contrast,” which involves using colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Try mixing these colors together—you’ll be amazed at the results.
Use a Mixing Palette
You need a palette to mix your colors. The inside of your watercolor box lid, a white plate, or a painting palette can work well. Avoid using wooden palettes as they dry out the watercolors too quickly. Make sure the palette is large enough to provide space for different color mixtures.
Guide on Mixing Watercolor Paints
Mixing watercolor paints can be challenging because there are no strict rules. It depends on your preferences and what you want to achieve.
Different Mixing Techniques
One technique is to mix the colors on the palette and then apply the new color to the paper. Another technique is to apply individual colors one after the other in layers on the paper, known as glazing, which is one of the watercolor techniques.
Mixing Watercolors for Beginners
For beginners, mixing watercolors can seem overwhelming at first. It’s important to practice with patience.
Try this exercise (it’s useful for advanced artists too):
- Take the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Apply them in a ring at equal distances from each other.
- Mix two of the primary colors together and apply the new color in between. Mix the colors in equal parts.
- Mix two of the base colors again, but this time in a ratio of 1:3. Apply this color next to the color that contributed the larger part.
This exercise helps you create your own color wheel and understand your watercolors better. It also familiarizes you with different mixing ratios. Isn’t it amazing how many colors you can mix with just three basic colors?
This exercise becomes even more interesting when you repeat it with different shades of red, yellow, and blue. For example, you could use a warmer yellow, a cooler red, and a greenish blue.
When you mix colors this way, they always look good in a painting. But if you add a pre-made color from a tube, it might look out of place.
Mixing Watercolors for Different Motifs
When painting with watercolors, consider which colors you want to use. Can you mix the colors you already have to get the ones you need? Adding water can make a color lighter or darker. Think about the mood you want to create with your colors.
Be careful not to mix too many colors together, or your painting might look muddled. Beginners should stick to the three basic colors. As you gain experience, you can add more colors to your collection and experiment with mixing them.
If you’re unsure which colors to use, try them out on a separate piece of paper first. This way, you can see how they look together and ensure they match. It’s always better to be sure before starting your actual painting!
Questions about Mixing Watercolors
Can I mix watercolors from different manufacturers and brands?
Yes, you can mix watercolors from different brands. However, pay attention to the pigment density. High-quality brands are usually more pigmented, while cheaper alternatives are less pigmented. This affects the mixing ratio, as you’ll need more of the weaker-pigmented paint to achieve a balanced mix.
How can I mix colors for shadows with watercolor?
Instead of just applying a darker or more intense color, try these methods:
- Use the complementary color of the surface for shadows. This makes the shadow more colorful and neutralizes the surface color.
- Use a specific color for all shadows in your image, such as purple. Apply this color over already colored surfaces, rather than leaving the areas white and then adding the shadow color.
How can I mix watercolors to achieve a specific color temperature?
Refer to Goethe’s color wheel: Yellow, orange, and red are warm colors, while green, blue, and violet are cool. However, you can also find warm greens or cool reds in nature.
The trick is to add a small amount of the opposite temperature to your color.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe: Color Wheel, 1810
How can I mix realistic skin tones with watercolors?
Check out my tutorial on mixing skin tones with watercolor. I explain how to mix different realistic skin tones using only three colors.
