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Using color theory to make yellow paint or mix light to create yellow
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Have you ever wondered if you can mix two colors to get yellow? Yellow is a primary color which means you can’t mix other paints or pigments to get it. However, when it comes to mixing light, red and green light can make yellow! We'll explain everything you need to know below. Plus, we spoke with Figurative Artist Veronica Winters and Professional Painter Jeanine Hattas Wilson to find out how to create different shades of yellow paint.
How to Make Yellow by Mixing Colors
Yellow is a primary color, which means you can’t make yellow paint or pigment by mixing other colors together. However, you can make yellow by mixing light—combining red and green light cancels out the other hues out so only the yellow is visible.
Steps
Section 3 of 5:
Mixing Paint to Create Shades of Yellow
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Mix yellow with red or orange to create warmer yellow-based colors. Yellow pairs naturally with reds and oranges to make bright, warm colors. Many colors – like gold – are a complex mixture of warm hues with a few hints of cooler hues, like black or brown.
- Winters advises, “In general, the color gold consists of some brown paint – burnt sienna, burnt umber, yellow ochre or raw sienna – and white. All other colors, like cadmium yellows or reds, could be added depending on the reflections. Raw umber or ivory black could be added to the mix in the shadows.”
- Mix equal parts of red and yellow to create orange.
- Add more red to make the color a reddish-orange and more yellow to make the color a brighter orange. For example, mixing 2 parts of red to 1 part of yellow makes vermilion, and mixing 2 parts of yellow to 1 part of red makes amber.
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Combine yellow and blue to make cooler yellow-based colors. Yellow is notoriously difficult to mix with other colors. It’s such a warm, bright color that it’s very easy to add a little too much blue, and the nice, vibrant yellow turns a dull green or brown if there’s any other warmer color in the mixture. [5] X Research source Start with a yellow that leans to the cooler side of the spectrum when mixing with blues and greens.
- Mix equal parts of yellow and blue to make green.
- Combine 2 parts yellow to 1 part blue to make chartreuse, and 1 part yellow to 2 parts blue to make teal.
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Add black or white to make yellow lighter or darker. Mixing paint colors takes practice and some trial and error to get the exact color you want. It’s not always as simple as adding one color and mixing it with another. For example, white and black lighten or darken a color, but they will also make it more dull or muted, Hattas Wilson cautions.
- Mixing equal parts white and yellow will give you a lighter, less intense yellow color. Adding too much white will create a color that is almost white. For example, white paint with a small dab of yellow makes a smooth cream color. [6] X Research source
- Mixing equal parts yellow and black will most likely result in a dark olive-green color. However, a very small amount of black paint can darken yellow.
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Section 5 of 5:
Making Homemade Acrylic Yellow Paint with Turmeric
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Mix toothpaste, talcum powder, and white glue. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp (80 g) of talcum powder , 1 tbsp (14.87 mL) of white glue , and a pea-sized dab of white toothpaste . [8] X Research source Add a splash of water to help mix the ingredients if necessary.
- The proportions are more important than the order you mix in the ingredients. You may find it easier to mix the powders together first and then add the wet ingredients.
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Mix in turmeric powder to color the mixture yellow. Turmeric is a golden-yellow color. When you add the white glue and toothpaste, the color becomes lighter. Start by mixing in ½ tbsp of turmeric powder . If you want a more vibrant yellow, gradually add more to intensify the color.
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Add water to get the consistency of acrylic paint. Water thins the mixture to make it easier to paint with. This makes the paint more transparent, similar to watercolor paint. Start with 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of water and add more to get your preferred consistency. If you make the mixture too thin, add more glue or talcum powder to help thicken it again. When you have the consistency and color you want, the paint is ready to use or store in a sealed container. [9] X Research source
- Mix well to incorporate all of the ingredients.
- Remember, adding more white ingredients will lighten the color, so you may need to add more turmeric to get a truer yellow color. [10] X Research source
- Homemade turmeric paint can last up to 2 years if kept in a sealed container and not stored in extreme heat or cold.
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References
- ↑ https://online.maryville.edu/liberal-arts-degrees/the-art-of-color/
- ↑ https://www.ferrum.edu/downloads/academics/programs/school_of_art_divisions/dept_visual/art-color-systems-handbook.pdf
- ↑ https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~rcollins/242photojournalism/colortheory.html
- ↑ https://isle.hanover.edu/isle2/Ch06Color/Ch06ColorMixer.html
- ↑ https://www.color-meanings.com/what-color-black-yellow-make-mixed/
- ↑ https://www.color-meanings.com/what-color-yellow-white-make-mixed/
- ↑ https://online.maryville.edu/liberal-arts-degrees/the-art-of-color/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zvn2fk27Wbc?t=28
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zvn2fk27Wbc?t=132
About This Article
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