Thanks to the magic of the principles of the color wheel, an artist or crafts enthusiast can, in theory, combine any two primary colors (red, blue or yellow) to create the secondary colors of the rainbow (orange, green and purple) and all the hues in between. But mixing colors with paint doesn't always produce an acceptable result. Painters must follow a few guidelines to avoid mixing dull, "muddy" hues.
Instructions
1. Use "pure" primary colors. Avoid using "shades" (colors containing black) or "tints" (colors containing white) of primary colors. Instead, use hues of red, blue and yellow that are closest to the "ideal" primary color shown on the color wheel. For red paints the tube or jar will be labeled "Cadmium Red." Avoid "Magenta" because it is too close to the violet end of the spectrum. For blue paints "Cobalt" will be a true blue. Avoid darker, more "navy" shades of blue. In yellow paints look for "Cadmium Yellow" or the word "Zinc" in the name. If you use shaded or tinted hues, the result of any mixing of these primary colors will be more "muddy" or grayed. A red and a blue, for example, will produce a purple color, but use of a shade of blue and a tint of red will create a purple that is dull and gray.
2. Purchase the highest quality acrylic paint product you can afford. Cheaper acrylic products often contain impurities and the colors are engineered with cheaper chemicals. When cheap acrylic paints are mixed, the results will tend to be dull and muddy. Higher-priced paint is often worth it if you need true, vibrant, rich color for your project. High-priced paints mix with a more satisfying result and can save money in this manner.
3. Mix two primary colors gradually. If you want to produce a secondary color, such as green (red and blue), orange (red and yellow) or purple (red and blue), start with the "hottest" color (red or yellow) and place a full teaspoon of this color on your palette. Introduce the cooler color (blue or red) in small quantities: 1/8 tsp. then 1/4 tsp., then 1/2 tsp., mixing between additions. Mix the two colors thoroughly with a brush or a palette knife. Keep track of the amount of the second color introduced. When you produce the mixed color you want, you will have a good formula for mixing the color in a larger portion. Mixing in small test batches like this makes it possible to stop, if the result is dull or muddy, before wasting too much paint.
4. Shade or tint a mixed color using small amounts of a pure black, like "Mars Black," or pure white, like "Titanium White." Like the primary colors, blacks and whites can also vary according to formulas. Avoid blacks that are too "purple," and whites that are too "creme."
