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Find the perfect shade of pink for your next painting project
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No color palette is complete without pink. While you can buy premade pink paint, it’s just as easy to mix your own. Plus, you’ll be able to adjust the formulation to get the exact shade you want. In this article, we’ll go over how to make a variety of beautiful pinks for whatever project you’re working on, whether you're looking for a muted rose or a vibrant hot pink. Keep reading for everything you need to know!
What colors make pink paint?
Red and white make the color pink. To mix your own pink paint, place some red and white paint on a palette. Start by adding a small amount of red to the white, then mix until it’s completely combined. Keep adding small amounts of red paint to the mixture until you reach your desired shade of pink.
Steps
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Add a small amount of red paint to white paint, then mix well. Start by placing small dollops of red and white paint onto your palette. Next, add a little bit of red to the white, and mix it together thoroughly. Keep adding tiny amounts of red at a time until you reach the shade of pink you want to use for your work. [1] X Research source- Always start by adding small bits of red paint to white paint, not the other way around. Adding white to red will take more time and use up lots of paint.
- For the best results, choose an opaque white (such as Titanium White ). More transparent shades (like Zinc White) may only lighten the red without creating a true pink. [2] X Research source
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Experiment with different red hues to create specific shades of pink. Each shade of red will produce a different shade of pink, so you may need to experiment to find the right shade for your work. For example, professional painter Jeanine Hattas Wilson explains that Alizarin Crimson , which is a reddish magenta color, will give you “more of a vibrant pink” than other reds will. [3] X Expert Source Jeanine Hattas Wilson
Professional Painter Expert Interview. Here’s some more info on the shades of pink you’ll get from various reds:- Cadmium reds (light, medium, and deep) will produce a slightly orangey pink.
- Scarlet Lake will make very bright pink.
- Alizarin Crimson will produce brilliant pinks with hints of blue and purple.
- Rose Madder is a transparent hue that will make thinner pinks.
- Naphthol Red will produce bright, slightly transparent pink.
- Quinacridone will produce a very bright pink.
- Earthy reds (including Indian Red and Venetian Red ) will create more muted, natural-looking pinks.
William F. Powell, Portrait ArtistTo make a bright pink, start with a pure red like cadmium red light. Slowly add small amounts of titanium white while mixing until you achieve the desired pink tone. For a more muted pink, use an earthy red like Venetian red as your base instead.
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Add a complementary color to change the shade of your pink. Darker shade variations are technically created by adding black to a color. However, many painters find that using a complementary color instead of black creates better-looking shades. You can try adding a direct complementary color (a shade of green) to your pink paint mixture, but using a neighboring color like blue can also create nice results. [4] X Research source
- Start by adding just a little of your complementary color. Mix well, then assess to see how close the pink is to the shade you’re going for.
- Keep adding a very small amount of the complementary color at a time until you get the shade you want.
- To make your pink lighter, add more white to make a brighter shade.
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Select a reddish watercolor shade as your base color. There are a number of readily available watercolor hues that can be used to create beautiful pinks. You can usually use these colors as they are, just thinned out with a bit of water to lighten them to your desired shade. Choose a base color such as: [5] X Research source
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Dilute your base color with water to lighten it. Watercolors work by allowing the white of the paper to reflect light through the transparent layers of paint applied to them. To create a lighter pink, all you need to do is dilute your base color with water, so that the layer becomes more transparent.
- Experiment by diluting your paint with various amounts of water on your tray before applying it to your paper. This will give you a feel for the kinds of pink you can make.
- You can also thoroughly wet your paper first, then apply a small amount of your red to create a pink wash.
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Add an alternate color to create different shades of pink. Try painting a wash of a color like cobalt blue over a layer of pink to create a cooler-toned pink shade. [6] X Research source Using an alternate color (rather than black) will result in richer, more vibrant pink hues.
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Add a warm color to brighten the pink. Applying an underwash of a warm color before painting a layer of pink will make the hue warmer and brighter. A yellow underwash can be especially effective for this. [7] X Research source
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Add red to deepen the pink. If your base color isn’t as rich as you would like it to be, try adding in a deeper red. Mix it with some of your pink on your palette or tray, then thin the mixture to your desired saturation with water. [8] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I make a greyish pink?Tove AskhamCommunity AnswerWhite with a little red and a little ocher will make a beautiful, pale grey-pink.
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QuestionHow do I make a golden color?Community AnswerYou could mix orange paint, yellow paint, and a shimmering white paint. This should make relatively golden paint.
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QuestionHow can I make dark pink from poster colors?Community AnswerMix red and white poster colors, and you'll get pink. You can try adding a touch of blue or green to make it darker.
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Tips
- If you need a large amount of pink as a house color, you may want to order it from a professional mixer. It can be very hard to get an exact match on your own if you run out before you finish your job. [9] X Research sourceThanks
- Some color combinations can make a pinkish hue without the use of white. For example, Quinacridone and Hansa Yellow mixed together can make a salmon color. Experiment to see if you can develop a pink you like. [10] X Research sourceThanks
- In general, the same principles for mixing acrylics or oils apply when mixing house paints as well.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://startstudioarts.si.edu/2013/11/tips-and-techniques-getting-started-with-oil-painting.html
- ↑ https://willkempartschool.com/how-to-choose-the-right-white-for-your-acrylic-painting/
- ↑ Jeanine Hattas Wilson. Professional Painter. Expert Interview.
- ↑ https://willkempartschool.com/how-to-mix-the-perfect-pink-paint-with-acrylics/
- ↑ https://www.dorisjoa.com/paint-pink/
- ↑ https://www.dorisjoa.com/paint-pink/
- ↑ https://www.dorisjoa.com/paint-pink/
- ↑ https://www.dorisjoa.com/paint-pink/
- ↑ https://www.housepaintingtutorials.com/custom-paint-colors.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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To mix oil or acrylic paint to make the color pink, place red and white paint on your palette. If you want a natural pink, start with an earthy red, choose a bluish red for very bright pinks, or pick a cadmium red for a pink with hints of orange. Gradually add the red paint to the white, stirring with a stick, spoon, or palette knife, until you get the shade of pink you want. If you need to tone down your pink, add a little green, blue, or black paint to the mixture. If you want to learn how to mix watercolor paints, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "It helped a lot to see how the colors changed when they put on to or added to the color before. I experimented with several paints. Had colors linen white, a medium pink, a white and a buttermilk yellow. Wanted to make a rose gold. Thank you-I did it!" ..." more
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"It helped a lot to see how the colors changed when they put on to or added to the color before. I experimented with several paints. Had colors linen white, a medium pink, a white and a buttermilk yellow. Wanted to make a rose gold. Thank you-I did it!"
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