How To Make the Color Tan in a Palette

Create the perfect shade of tan using only two colors.

When it comes to painting, most painters prefer to purchase primary colored paints and mix their secondary and tertiary colors themselves. Although mixing colors is not difficult, it can take some time to create the perfect shade. To create a tan color, first consider what the tan will be used for. For example, tan tones for skin, tree bark, wood and wheat all require the same two colors, but the colors will be mixed differently to make different hues.

Things You'll Need

• White paint
• Brown paint
• Paintbrush or mixing spatula

Instructions

1. Squirt a quarter-size drop of white paint onto your palette.

2. Squirt a dime-sized drop of brown paint onto your palette, but without touching the white paint.

3. Dip your paint brush or mixing spatula into the brown paint. You will only want a tiny dab of brown on the tip of your brush or spatula.

4. Mix the small amount of brown paint into your white paint using a swirling, circular motion.

5. Continue to add a little more brown paint, until the perfect shade of tan has been reached. If the tan shade is a little too dark, simply add a little more white paint to the palette, working it into the tan shade.

References

• Made Manual: How to Mix Paint Colors