How to Mix Watercolor Paints

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Mix Colors On a Palette

1. Select primary paint colors - red, yellow and blue.

2. Imagine that your palette has a triangle on it. Squeeze a small amout of one of the primary colors onto the palette where each corner of the triangle would be.

Mix Colors On Paper

3. Dampen the area of the paper to be painted with clear water using a brush or sponge.

Mix Colors By Glazing

4. Dampen the area of the paper to be painted using a sponge or brush.

on 11/22/2005 1. Draw a circle and divide it into 12 equal parts.

2. Label every 4th space with one of the 3 primary colors (red, yellow and blue).

3. There should be three sets of three blank spaces remaining. Follow these labeling guidelines:

From red to blue label red violet, violet, blue violet.

From yellow to blue label yellow green, green and blue green.

From red to yellow label red orange, orange and yellow orange.

4. When painting the color wheel, it is best to follow the following order:

A) Primaries (red, yellow and blue)
B) Secondaries and intermediates (yellow orange, orange and red orange)
(yellow green, green and blue green)
(red violet, violet and blue violet)

Mix the lightest color (ex. yellow green) and gradually add small portions of the darker colors to create the other two.

Tips:

Always drag the brush towards you for optimal control.

Avoid adding water to the paint mixture.