Brown isn’t typically thought of as one of our favourite colours but it is abundant and brings beauty all around us, from the bark on the trees to the colour of our loved ones eyes or the roasted morning coffee we brew. Brown is a complex that comes in endless varieties and is often described as a dark, earthy, or neutral hue. It is commonly associated with natural elements such as wood, soil, and stone.
But the big question here is, how do you mix brown paint? Brown can be created by combining complementary colours or by blending primary and secondary colours from the colour wheel. It can vary in shades from light tan to deep chocolate brown. Here, we’ll take you through all the steps to easily mix light, dark, warm and cool brown.
What Colours Should I Mix to Make Brown?
When mixing brown paint, the shade you create will depend on the exact hues of the colours you are using and the proportions in which you mix them. Try out some of the methods below and keep experimenting and adjusting the ratios until you achieve the brown shade you desire!
Primary Colours:
Primary colours are the foundation of all other colours in the beautiful rainbow spectrum. They are pure colours that cannot be created by mixing other colours together. In traditional colour theory, there are three primary colours, red, blue and yellow.
By mixing different combinations of these three primary colours, along with black and white, all other colours on the colour wheel can be created.
To create brown using the primary colours, mix together equal parts yellow, red, and blue paint.
Secondary Colours:
Secondary colours are created by mixing equal parts of two primary colours and are located between each of the primaries on the colour wheel. When you mix primary colours together, you get the following secondary colours:
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Red + Blue = Purple
- Blue + Yellow = Green
To make brown paint you can mix two of the secondary colours together:
- Orange + Blue Paint
- Red + Green Paint
- Purple + Yellow Paint
Complementary Colours:
Complementary colours are colours on the opposite side of the colour wheel to each other. Pairing these opposites results in a vibrant, high-contrasting combo that really pops!
The primary and secondary complementary pairs are:
- Red + Green
- Blue + Orange
- Yellow + Purple
You can create brown by mixing complementary colours together in equal parts. Each brown mixed from these colour combinations will create a different shade of brown, for example, blue and orange will create a brown with a green base, while purple and yellow will create a warmer brown with a yellow tint.
How to Mix Different Shades of Brown:
Now you have practised perfecting mixing brown paint, you can further adjust your colour to achieve the desired hue! Below you’ll find easy tips to create different shades of brown from scratch or how to refine your pre-mixed brown tones.
It’s a good idea to consider the temperature of your paint colours as this can affect the brown you create. Each of the primary colours come in a warm and cool version.
Paint Mixing Techniques and Tips:
Gradual Paint Mixing: Start with Small Portions
One of the best paint mixing tips you can follow is to start small! Mixing in smaller portions ensures you can adjust the colour easier and save a lot of wasted paint!
Adjusting Colour Temperature:
This one is pretty simple as long as you know your warm and cool colours! Adjusting the colour temperature in your paint mixing involves manipulating the balance between warm and cool colours to achieve the desired effect.
Warm: reds, oranges, yellows
Cool: blues, greens, purples
The perception of colour temperature can be influenced by the hues surrounding it, so it’s a good idea to mix your paint on a neutral surface like white. To adjust the colour temperature of your paint, add its opposite in small amounts until you achieve the desired result:
Too warm = add a cool colour
Too cool = add a warm colour
Mixing Styles:
Stirring:
Use a brush to stir the colours together, kind of like stirring your dinner on the cooker. This method is useful for blending small amounts of paint.
Folding:
Use a palette knife to fold the colours over each other. This technique helps mix the colours more thoroughly and can create interesting marbled effects.
Layering:
Apply one colour on top of another. This method is useful for creating glazes and translucent effects.
Working With Different Types of Paint:
Mixing Acrylic Paint:
- Gather Supplies:
- Acrylic paints
- Palette – any material
- Brushes or palette knife
- Water
- Squeeze Out the Paint:
Start by squeezing out the colours you want to mix onto your palette. Place them a few inches apart to give yourself space to mix in between.
- Start Mixing:
Use a clean brush or a palette knife to begin mixing the colours. Start with small amounts of paint, adding more as needed to adjust the colour.
- Observe and Adjust:
As you mix, observe the resulting colour and use the tips above to adjust.
- Add Water:
If your paint is feeling too thick you can add a little water to your paintbrush and mix it in so your paint flows easier.
Mixing Oil Paint:
- Gather Supplies:
- Oil paints – various brands often have different pigment concentrations and consistencies.
- Palette – wood, glass or acrylic.
- Painting Medium – Linseed oil, walnut oil, or other painting mediums to modify the consistency and drying time of your oil paint.
- Brushes and palette knife – have a set just for your oil paints
- Paint solvent – Turpentine
- Squeeze Out the Paint:
Start by squeezing out the colours you want to mix onto your palette. Place them a few inches apart to give yourself space to mix in between.
- Mix in the Medium:
Pour some of the medium on to your palette and mix a tiny bit in with your oil paints. Use a palette knife to mix the colours.
- Observe and Adjust:
As you mix, observe the resulting colour and adjust accordingly. Oil paints allow for subtle colour adjustments because they dry slowly, giving you time to work with the paint.
- Clean Tools Between Mixing – NO WATER!:
Clean your brushes and palette knife thoroughly with a suitable oil paint solvent before switching to a new colour, wipe dry with a clean rag.
Mixing Watercolour Paint:
- Gather Supplies:
- Watercolours – these come in tubes or pan sets
- Watercolour palette – specifically designed with deeper wells (sections) to hold and mix the paints.
- 2 x jars – 1 for cleaning and one for mixing
- Brushes: Watercolour brushes are made from gentle fibres with fine tips
- Squeeze out the Paint:
Ensure colours are in their own sections or wells.
2 Start Mixing:
Mix the paint on a flat area of the palette by gently stirring the colours together. Clean your brushes thoroughly between colours to avoid mixing unwanted hues. Rinse your brushes in clean water and gently blot them on a paper towel.
- Test the Colour:
Before applying the mixed colour to your artwork, test it on a scrap piece of paper to ensure it matches your desired shade.
- Keep Practising:
Watercolour mixing requires patience and practice. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore different combinations on scrap papers to achieve the desired mixes.
Can I Mix Different Types of Paint?
Mixing different types of paint can be done, but it’s important to understand the characteristics of the paints you’re working with to achieve the best results. Generally it’s best to stick to mixing paints within the same category (water-based with water-based, oil-based with oil-based) to ensure compatibility and stability.
Water-Based Paints:
Acrylic and watercolour paints are both water-based, so they can be mixed together without any issues. However, keep in mind that acrylic paint dries to a plastic-like texture, while watercolour can reactivate with water, even after drying. Mixing them might result in a surface that is not entirely predictable but can make for some beautiful and unique art.
Oil-Based Paints:
It’s generally not recommended to mix oil paints with acrylic. Oil paints dry through oxidation and have a different chemical composition. Mixing them can lead to issues with drying, adhesion, and stability over time.
Oil and watercolour paints should not be mixed. Watercolour is water-based and contains additives that allow it to dissolve in water, while oil paints repel water. Mixing these two types of paint will not produce a stable mixture.
Experimentation and Testing:
If you’re curious about mixing different types of paint, it’s a good idea to conduct small-scale experiments on a separate surface before applying them to your artwork. This way, you can observe how the paints interact and whether the mixture provides the desired result.
