How to Mix Colors on a Palette

Materials Needed:

• Palette (wooden, plastic, or glass)
• Paints (acrylic, oil, watercolor, etc.)
• Palette knife or brush
• Water (for water-based paints) or solvent (for oil paints)
• Paper towel or rag

Steps:

1. Prepare Your Palette:

   • Squeeze small amounts of each primary color (red, yellow, blue) onto your palette, leaving space between each color.
   • Add secondary colors (orange, green, purple) and any other colors you plan to use, keeping them separated.

2. Clean Your Palette Knife or Brush:

   • Before mixing, ensure your palette knife or brush is clean to avoid contaminating the colors.

3. Start with Primary Colors:

   • Use your palette knife or brush to take a small amount of one primary color and place it in a clean area of the palette.
   • Add a small amount of a second primary color next to it.

4. Mixing Colors:

   • Use the palette knife or brush to mix the two colors together in a circular or back-and-forth motion until they are fully blended.
   • Adjust the ratio of colors to achieve the desired hue. For example, more yellow and less blue will create a lighter green.

5. Create Secondary and Tertiary Colors:

   • Mix primary colors to create secondary colors (e.g., red + yellow = orange).
   • Combine primary and secondary colors to create tertiary colors (e.g., blue + green = blue-green).

6. Test Your Colors:

   • Test the mixed color on a scrap piece of paper or canvas to see how it looks when dry. Adjust as needed by adding more of one color.

7. Lighten or Darken Colors:

   • To lighten a color, add small amounts of white (or water for watercolors).
   • To darken a color, add a bit of black or a darker complementary color.

8. Keep Colors Clean:

   • Clean your palette knife or brush between mixes to prevent colors from becoming muddy.
   • Use a separate area of the palette for each new mix.

9. Store Mixed Colors (Optional):

   • If using a palette with wells or compartments, you can store mixed colors for later use by covering them with plastic wrap or placing them in an airtight container.

10. Experiment and Practice:

    • Mixing colors takes practice. Experiment with different combinations and ratios to understand how colors interact and achieve your desired results.

By following these steps, you can effectively mix colors on a palette to create a wide range of hues for your artwork.