Mixing your own black watercolor paint can add depth and vibrancy to your artwork compared to using pre-made black paints. Creating black from primary colors allows for more variation and control over the shade. In this post, we’ll explore different methods to mix a rich and dynamic black using watercolors.
Why Mix Your Own Black? Many artists avoid pre-made black watercolor because it can appear flat and lifeless. By mixing your own black, you can create a more natural and harmonious tone that complements the rest of your painting. Plus, different pigment combinations allow for subtle variations in temperature and undertones.
Primary Colors Method One of the best ways to mix black is by using the three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Here’s how:
- Start with equal parts of a warm red (such as Alizarin Crimson or Burnt Sienna) and a deep blue (such as Ultramarine or Phthalo Blue).
- Gradually add a dark yellow (such as Burnt Umber or Yellow Ochre) to balance the mix.
- Adjust the ratio to achieve the desired shade of black. More blue will create a cooler black, while more red or yellow can warm it up.
Complementary Colors Method Mixing two complementary colors—colors opposite each other on the color wheel—can also produce black. Try these combinations:
- Blue and orange (Ultramarine Blue + Burnt Sienna)
- Red and green (Crimson + Phthalo Green)
- Purple and yellow (Dioxazine Purple + Yellow Ochre) Each combination creates a unique, rich black with underlying tones that can enhance your painting.
Layering for Depth Instead of mixing colors on the palette, you can also layer washes of complementary colors directly on the paper. This technique gives a more complex and textured black, which can be useful for shadows and depth.
Experiment and Explore Every watercolor brand and pigment behaves differently, so take time to experiment with different combinations. Swatch your mixtures and test them in different lighting to see how they interact on paper. The paints that I’m using are from Windsor-Newton.
For a video on the process of mixing watercolor paint to make black click here.
Conclusion Mixing your own black watercolor allows for greater artistic control and depth in your work. Whether using primary colors, complementary pairs, or layering, you can achieve a variety of black shades suited to your painting’s needs. Experiment, have fun, and enjoy the creative process!