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Hey there, painting pals and color explorers! Follow along as we uncover the secret to what colors make black acrylic paint. It may seem like a “who cares” moment but, I’m telling ya, black paint can take your artwork from “meh” to “WOWZA!”
I’m going to give you a ton of recipes, that you’re free to jot down and use in your own painting practice, while uncovering its incredible versatility. Black may seem like a boring non-color but it’s a superstar at bringing drama, ambience, and emotion to your artwork. I mean, there’s like a gazillion ways to make black paint which is awesome because it means you have options, friend!
Black paint can be made by mixing primary colors, complementary colors, the primary colors used for printing, and even by mixing brown with other acrylic paint colors. You can even make your black paint cooler or warmer depending on what other colors you mix with it. And, the best part, when you know what colors make black, you can fully customize it.
Before we get into the mixing and experimenting, we’ll talk about the black acrylic paint you can get straight from the tube, which is most popular, which is most transparent, what the darkest black paint is, and why you would even want to mix up your own if you can buy it premade.
Get ready to unleash the magic of black acrylic paint and let’s create art that’ll make the world go, “Oh, snap, that’s amazing!”
In This Article...
- What Is Chromatic Black?
- Why Make Black Paint?
- Choosing Black Paint Straight From The Tube
- Experimenting With What Colors Make Black
- How To Make Black From Primary Colors
- Making Black By Mixing Colors Made For Ink Printing
- What Colors Make Black When Mixing Complementary Colors
- How To Make Black Using Brown Paint
- Making Black Paint Even Darker…Or Not
- How To Make Warm Black Paint
- How To Make Cool Black Paint
- Using Color As A Substitute For Black
- YouTube Tutorial Recommendations
- Final Thoughts On Making Your Own Black Acrylic Paint
What Is Chromatic Black?
First thing’s first. You may have heard the term “chromatic black” kicking around in art circles and had no idea what it was.
Chromatic Black is made from mixing two or more colors together and the result is a black that can have many different undertones, depending on which paint colors you mix together.
In fact, the experiments we’ll be looking at today are all about making chromatic black mixes. We’re going to look at so many colors that you might want to think about grabbing paper and a pen to keep track of all your favorite recipes!
Why Make Black Paint?
Making black paint is just like mixing up any other color – totally optional. However, there are some really great reasons why you might consider looking into it instead of buying a tube.
- Save Money – If you can make black paint using colors you already have, why not? It’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll never run out and you can use the money you save to buy other paint colors.
- Create More Depth – As you’ll see, the black colors you can make from mixing other colors will have a richness and depth that you just can’t get from premade paint. It’s why I don’t use it when painting pet portraits. Chromatic black, which is what color mixes that make black are called, tends to have this deep richness that almost feels like you’re looking into a deep dark tunnel. It’s like the difference between baking a box cake mix and making one from scratch, if that makes sense.
- Complete Control – When you know what colors make black, especially using the colors you already have in your collection, you can control so many things! Everything from how cool or warm the black paint reads, to adding more of one color to the mix than the other.
For example, when I’m painting pets with black fur, I like to block it in first. I’ll decide where the highlights and shadows will be in the finished painting and I’ll paint the shadow parts in a cooled down version of my black mixture, while painting the highlights with a warmer version. As I continue through the painting process, I slightly change the undertone of the black paint mixture however I want. This creates harmony and balance within the fur so that, when you stand back and look at the whole painting, you can see the natural ebb and flow of light over the pet’s entire body.
If you want to know more about painting fur, make sure to stop by my painting a cat article where I share tons of tutorial recommendations to help you get started.
Choosing Black Paint Straight From The Tube
There is absolutely nothing wrong with going out and buying a tube of black paint. In fact, I have three different black acrylic paint colors myself.
So, if you’re really not interested in learning what colors make black paint when mixed together, this one’s for you!
Also, if you are curious about how to use black in your paintings, you should totally take a gander at my painting on black canvas article.
Different Names For Black Acrylic Paint
If you do some research, scouting for black paint, you’re going to see a lot of different names for it and there’s a reason for that.
Each different black color will have different properties. Some may be warm, some may be cool, and some may be transparent. We’ll dive deeper into that but, first, let’s just see the different names you may come across in the paint aisle.
- Mars Black (AKA Iron Oxide Black)
- Iron Oxide Black (AKA Mars Black)
- Ivory Black (AKA Bone Black)
- Bone Black (AKA Ivory Black)
- Lamp Black
- Carbon Black
The Most Popular Black For Beginners In Acrylic Painting
Obviously, this is going to be a matter of choice but I would have to guess that Mars Black, which is also called Iron Oxide Black, is going to be your best bet if you’re searching for a black that you can count on.
If you’re someone who follows along with a lot of YouTube painting tutorials you’ll see that the majority of instructors have Mars Black in the materials list. This is why I think starting with Mars Black will make you happiest as a beginner.
The Darkest Black Acrylic Paint
This actually isn’t a straightforward answer because it really has more to do with the tinting strength and other considerations.
That said, there’s actually a tie for first place and that has to do with the material each black paint is made from.
First place belongs to (drumroll, please!) Mars Black/Black Iron Oxide and Carbon Black!
To explain, Mars Black is a synthetic Iron Oxide that was created as a different option to natural pigments. Carbon Black is made with charcoal from natural gas or coal but it used to be made from plants.
Both Mars Black and Carbon Black have excellent tinting strength which means you need very little to get the job done.
Transparency Of The Different Blacks
Knowing whether a paint is opaque, semi-opaque, or transparent can be very useful. It means you can confidently choose the right paint for the job.
It’s not that you can’t use an opaque black paint for techniques like glazing but you’d definitely have to use a very small amount mixed with a glazing liquid medium. On the other hand, if you try to use a more transparent black where you need a very deep shadow, you’re going to end up using a lot of paint.
It’s good to remember that each paint manufacturer has their own recipe for each black paint color so use the list below as a starting point and make sure to check out each color through the manufacturer’s website.
That said, let’s take a look at the tinting strength of each black paint:
- Mars Black/Black Iron Oxide = Opaque
- Carbon Black = Opaque
- Ivory/Bone Black = Semi Opaque/Transparent
- Lamp Black = Semi Opaque to Opaque
Most times you can find this information on the tube of paint but if you’re not sure how to read all of the symbols and seals, and gobbledegook, take a look at my article that shows you how to read a paint tube.
Black Acrylic Paint With Warm Undertones
If you’re looking specifically for a black paint with warm undertones, you have two choices.
Both Mars/Iron Oxide Black and Ivory/Bone Black have lovely warm undertones. Having a black paint that leans more toward warm is great for creating warm shadows. For example, if you wanted to paint a very dark shadow under a rock on a bright sunny day in the middle of summer, you might consider one of these warm blacks.
Don’t forget the opacity of each black paint, though. If you’re looking for a black paint that has a high tinting strength and is opaque, you’ll want to go with Mars/Iron Oxide Black.
On the other hand, if you don’t want a black that will easily overpower other paint colors, the safer bet would be Ivory/Bone Black.
Black Paints With Cool Undertones
For black paint options with cool undertones, you, again, have two to choose from.
Carbon Black and Lamp Black are both good choices if you want a cool black. These black paint colors would be great to create deep shady areas in a winter landscape.
Again, keep in mind that the tinting strength of these two are very different.
Warning For My Vegan Painting Pals!
I never want anyone to feel badly during their painting process and, so, I want to let you know that if you’re vegan you’ll want to add Ivory/Bone Black paint to your list of things not to use and I think the name kind of gives it away.
Originally, Ivory/Bone Black was made from charred ivory but, thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Unfortunately, it’s now made by charring animal bones usually procured from a butcher….hence the name Ivory and/or Bone Black. Best to leave that one on the shelf if you don’t use animal products.
Experimenting With What Colors Make Black
Before we get into squishing paint together (AKA: the fun stuff!), I want to mention a few things that I tried to keep in mind.
First, I’ve chosen acrylic paint colors that I have on hand and that I have either seen used quite a bit in YouTube tutorials or I’ve heard people mention frequently.
Also, I am showing you everything, as always. So, if you see a recipe that doesn’t look exactly black, you’re not seeing things. I feel it’s important to show you what my results were, good, bad, or something in between, so that you can make an informed decision.
Lastly, I tried to keep the recipes as simple as possible. I made the decision to only add a maximum of five parts (I have one recipe where there are seven parts). Otherwise, you might end up making way too much paint for your needs.
Make sure to check out the conclusion to this article where I’ll share my overall observations. I’ll tell you which paints I wouldn’t bother using, which paint I think you absolutely should buy (if you don’t have it already), and which paint has a tendency to soften black without even trying.
But Before We Begin…
- Please be aware that your color mixes may vary from the ones shown in the experiments. This is due to several factors including using a different paint brand and display colors of devices. Screen colors can vary from one device to another due to pixels, display resolution, and other factors. When in doubt, experiment with what you have on hand
- I am just an everyday artist without the equipment to properly weigh each “part” of paint used in the mixes. I just eyeball it so your results may slightly differ from those shown
- I will list each recipe I make so you can feel free to add it to your own “recipe book”
- Each recipe is created by using “parts”. A “part” can be any size, shape, or weight as long as each “part” is equal (or very close to it). For example, if you have $1 in one hand and $1 in the other that would be a 1:1 ratio. If you have a dollar bill in one hand and two dollar bills in the other that would be a 1:2 ratio, and so on.
How To Make Black From Primary Colors
First up, we’re going to see what happens when you mix the primary paint colors. Thing is, there are a lot of different reds, blues, and yellows out there and each pigment will influence the end result.
The Experiment
- Each mixture is numbered for easy reference
- The mixture made is shown beneath three store bought blacks (L to R: Mars Black by Sennelier Abstract, Ivory Black by Liquitex Basics, Carbon Black by Golden)
- Under each mixture image are images of the paint colors used to create the black mix)
- All recipes are done using “parts” which I explain in the experiment disclaimer above
Colors Used
- Alizarin Crimson (Liquitex)
- Ultramarine Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Yellow Oxide (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Red Medium (Liquitex Basics)
- Cobalt Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Yellow Light (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Red Deep (Liquitex Basics)
- Phthalo Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Yellow Medium (Liquitex Basics)
Recipes
- Alizarin Crimson x 2 + Ultramarine Blue x 3 + Yellow Oxide x 1
- Cad Red Medium x 1 + Cobalt Blue x 4 + Cad Yellow Light x 1
- Cad Red Deep x 2 + Phthalo Blue x 3 + Cad Yellow Medium x 2
Important Take-Aways
- Cobalt Blue isn’t a strong pigment in this situation so go easy with the other colors
- Mixture made with Phthalo Blue has a definite blue undertone which means it’s really strong
- The best color mixture, in my opinion is #1
Making Black By Mixing Colors Made For Ink Printing
Now, what about using the primary colors that printers use? Printers use a combination of cyan, yellow, and magenta to make all the other colors. They also use black but we’re going to just be playing with the CMY part of the CMYK colors used by printers.
Before we get started, the color cyan is a blue green mixture but you’ll notice that I stick to using blue. That’s because I adjust the blue acrylic paint with the yellow to make a blue green. Just remember that cyan is more blue than green so don’t add too much yellow.
The Experiment
- Each mixture is numbered for easy reference
- The mixture made is shown beneath three store bought blacks (L to R: Mars Black by Sennelier Abstract, Ivory Black by Liquitex Basics, Carbon Black by Golden)
- Under each mixture image are images of the paint colors used to create the black mix)
- All recipes are done using “parts” which I explain in the experiment disclaimer above
Colors Used
- Quinacridone Magenta (Liquitex Basics)
- Cobalt Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Yellow Light (Liquitex Basics)
- Phthalo Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Primary Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Lemon Yellow (Arteza Premium)
- Benzimidazolone Yellow Light (Golden)
Recipes
- Quinacridone Magenta x 3 + Phthalo Blue x 1 + Lemon Yellow x 2
- Quinacridone Magenta x 2 + Cobalt Blue x 4 + Cad Yellow Light x 2
- Quin Magenta x 3 + Primary Blue x 3 + Benz Yellow x 2
Important Take-Aways
- The Cobalt Blue recipe has a noticeable green undertone to it
- The deepest black mixture is #6
What Colors Make Black When Mixing Complementary Colors
When looking at what colors make black acrylic paint, it just makes sense to try to use complementary colors.
Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel and typically make brown when mixed. If you’re interested in all things brown, take a look at my article on how to mix up your own brown paint.
Making Black With Diox Purple And Yellow
The Experiment
- Each mixture is numbered for easy reference
- The mixture made is shown beneath three store bought blacks (L to R: Mars Black by Sennelier Abstract, Ivory Black by Liquitex Basics, Carbon Black by Golden)
- Under each mixture image are images of the paint colors used to create the black mix)
- All recipes are done using “parts” which I explain in the experiment disclaimer above
Colors Used
- Diox Purple (Liquitex Basics)
- Ultramarine Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Yellow Oxide (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Yellow Light (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Yellow Medium (Liquitex Basics)
- Lemon Yellow (Arteza Premium)
- Benzimidazolone Yellow Light (Golden)
Recipes
- Diox Purple x 1 + Cad Yellow Light x 5 + Ultramarine Blue x 5
- Diox Purple x 2 + Cad Yellow Medium x 3 + Ultramarine Blue x 5
- Diox Purple x 1 + Yellow Oxide x 3 + Ultramarine Blue x 5
- Diox Purple x 1 + Benz Yellow Light x 2 + Ultramarine Blue x 2
- Diox Purple x 1 + Lemon Yellow x 2 + Ultramarine Blue x 1
Important Take-Aways
- Each mixture needed the extra Ultramarine Blue to change it from brown to black
- Both recipe #7 and #9 made a slightly smoky looking black
- Recipe #7 and #11 pull slightly toward green
- The truest black comes from recipe #8
Black Made With Blues and Oranges
Just like purple and yellow, blue and orange are across from each other on the color wheel which makes them complementary colors. This time, it was much easier to come up with blacks instead of brown so no other colors were needed to create the mixtures.
The Experiment
- Each mixture is numbered for easy reference
- The mixture made is shown beneath three store bought blacks (L to R: Mars Black by Sennelier Abstract, Ivory Black by Liquitex Basics, Carbon Black by Golden)
- Under each mixture image are images of the paint colors used to create the black mix)
- All recipes are done using “parts” which I explain in the experiment disclaimer above
Colors Used
- Phthalo Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Ultramarine Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Red Medium (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Yellow Medium (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Red Light (Liquitex Basics)
- Cobalt Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Prussian Blue (Arteza Premium)
Recipes
- Phthalo Blue x 1 + Cad Red Light x 6
- Phthalo Blue x 1 + Mix (Cad Yellow Medium x 2 + Cad Red Medium x 1) x 7
- Ultramarine Blue x 1 + Mix (Same as Above) x 1
- Ultramarine Blue x 1 + Cad Red Light x 2
- Cobalt Blue x 5 + Mix x 1
- Cobalt Blue x 1.5 + Cad Red Light x 2
- Prussian Blue x 1 + Mix x 1
- Prussian Blue x 1 + Cad Red Light x 3
Important Take-Aways
- Recipe #12 and #13 both lean toward green (most likely because Phthalo Blue is such a strong pigment)
- Recipe #16 has a blue undertone
- Recipe # 18 makes a great true black
Using Greens and Reds to Make Black
The Experiment
- Each mixture is numbered for easy reference
- The mixture made is shown beneath three store bought blacks (L to R: Mars Black by Sennelier Abstract, Ivory Black by Liquitex Basics, Carbon Black by Golden)
- Under each mixture image are images of the paint colors used to create the black mix)
- All recipes are done using “parts” which I explain in the experiment disclaimer above
Colors Used
- Alizarin Crimson (Liquitex)
- Cadmium Red Medium (Liquitex Basics)
- Cadmium Red Deep (Liquitex Basics)
- Quinacridone Magenta (Liquitex Basics)
- Phthalo Green (Liquitex Basics)
- Light Sap Green (Arteza Premium)
- Hooker’s Green (Sennelier Abstract)
Recipes
- Phthalo Green x 1 + Alizarin Crimson x 2
- Phthalo Green x 1.5 + Cad Red Medium x 1
- Phthalo Green x 1 + Cad Red Deep x 2
- Phthalo Green x 3 + Quin Magenta x 2.5
Important Take-Aways
- Even though the same green was used for each recipe listed above, every mixture is slightly different
- Recipe #21 has a slight green undertone
- Recipe #22 has a reddish undertone
- Recipe #23 leans toward blue
- The truest black comes from recipe #20
Recipes
- Light Sap Green x 5 + Alizarin Crimson x 1
- Light Sap Green x 5 + Cad Red Medium x 1
- Light Sap Green x 5 + Cad Red Deep x 1
- Light Sap Green x 5 + Quin Magenta x 1
Important Take-Aways
- Light Sap Green is not a very strong pigment so it’s not the best choice to try to make your own black
- All recipes pulled more toward brown
- Recipe #27 came closest to black
Recipes
- Hooker’s Green x 3 + Alizarin Crimson x 3.5
- Hooker’s Green x 2 + Cad Red Medium x 1.5
- Hooker’s Green x 3 + Cad Red Deep x 1.5
- Hooker’s Green x 2 + Quin Magenta x 2.5
Important Take-Aways
- All recipes lean toward brown but still make passable blacks
- The addition of a bit of Ultramarine Blue might make these recipes cooler which would tone down the brown
- The best mixture of the bunch is #28
How To Make Black Using Brown Paint
Out of all of the colors you can use to make black, the browns are my favorite and this is why I’ve mentioned above to add Ultramarine Blue to a paint recipe that turned more brown than black.
In fact, out of all of the blacks I’ve been able to make, I still love my tried and true, Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber. It’s my favorite because I find it really easy to make it cooler or warmer and the combination makes a beautiful deep black.
Let’s take a look at a bunch of brown paints and see what we can come up with.
The Experiment
- Each mixture is numbered for easy reference
- The mixture made is shown beneath three store bought blacks (L to R: Mars Black by Sennelier Abstract, Ivory Black by Liquitex Basics, Carbon Black by Golden)
- Under each mixture image are images of the paint colors used to create the black mix)
- All recipes are done using “parts” which I explain in the experiment disclaimer above
Colors Used
- Burnt Umber (Liquitex Basics)
- Burnt Sienna (Golden)
- Raw Umber (Stevenson)
- Vandyke Brown (Arteza Premium)
- Ultramarine Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Phthalo Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Cobalt Blue (Liquitex Basics)
- Prussian Blue (Arteza Premium)
Recipes
- Burnt Umber x 1 + Ultramarine Blue x 1
- Burnt Umber x 5 + Phthalo Blue x 1
- Burnt Umber x 1 + Cobalt Blue x 3
- Burnt Umber x 1 + Prussian Blue x 1
Important Take-Aways
- All of these recipes make great blacks
- Recipe #35 is a bit on the smoky side
- The best black recipe is a tie between #32 and #35
Recipes
- Burnt Sienna x 1 + Ultramarine Blue x 1
- Burnt Sienna x 4 + Phthalo Blue x 1
- Burnt Sienna x 1 + Cobalt Blue x 2
- Burnt Sienna x 1 + Prussian Blue x 1
Important Take-Aways
- Again, all of these mixtures make fantastic blacks
- Recipe #38 is a bit smoky
- The best black is recipe #36
Recipes
- Raw Umber x 1 + Ultramarine Blue x 1
- Raw Umber x 3 + Phthalo Blue x 1
- Raw Umber x 1 + Cobalt Blue x 1
- Raw Umber x 2 + Prussian Blue x 1
Important Take-Aways
- All recipes make black easily
- Recipe #40 is a cool black
- Recipe #41 and #43 are warm blacks
- The truest black is recipe #42
Recipes
- VanD Brown x 1 + Ultramarine Blue x 1
- VanD Brown x 5 + Phthalo Blue x 1
- VanD Brown x 1 + Cobalt Blue x 1
- VanD Brown x 3 + Prussian Blue x 1
Important Take-Aways
- All make amazing blacks
- Recipe #46 is slightly smoky
- The truest black is a tie between recipe #44 and #47
Making Black Paint Even Darker…Or Not
When it comes to painting, making a dark color look even deeper is all a matter of perspective, specifically depth.
I mean, the definition of black is that it’s an achromatic “color” that either has no light or absorbs all light. Achromatic means it has no hue/color. So, how can you make black paint even darker? It doesn’t make sense, dammit!
Well, we don’t actually make the pigment darker, we create the illusion of a darker black by using colors that help it to appear as if it has more depth.
The best possible paint colors to achieve this would be dark cool blues or purples. Cool blues and purples will cool down the black and make it seem as if it’s darker and deeper.
My personal favorites are Diox Purple and Ultramarine Blue but Prussian Blue is also a great option.
How To Make Warm Black Paint
Sometimes, you need a black with a warm undertone and if you don’t have a tube of Mars Black or Ivory/Bone Black, you may be wondering how to easily make your own.
After you’ve chosen your favorite black recipes from above, play around with adding brown or a warm red. You could try adding:
Just your warm paint a little at a time so you don’t end up with brown. Make a swatch of your black paint color before adding a warm paint and then keep swatching the warmed up black until the undertone is just right for you.
How To Make Cool Black Paint
On the other hand, if you want to make a cool black and you don’t have any Carbon or Lamp Black acrylic paint, you definitely have options.
In this case, your best bet is going to be to add either a deep cool purple or blue. Some colors to consider would be:
For more information about color in general, I highly recommend you take a look at my color wheel guide.
Using Color As A Substitute For Black
At some point, you may want to play around with using color instead of black in your acrylic paintings and it’s really simple to do.
In fact, one of the paintings I created for a family member has no straight black in it. For my shadows, I used purple instead and it gave that particular painting more visual interest while still helping the different elements feel grounded.
Some of the mixes from the above experiment are obviously not black. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be used in place of it. The main thing to remember is the value levels of all elements (how light and dark everything is compared to each other). As long as your black replacement color is darker than everything else in the painting, you’re good to go!
YouTube Tutorial Recommendations
Now that you know which colors make black and you’ve chosen a few potentials, the best way to make a final decision is to take them for a test drive.
Here are a few of my favorite YouTube tutorials featuring black and white:
A Walk In The Rain – Painting With Jane
This is a great little black and white painting tutorial that’s quick and easy. Jane uses a couple of different palette knives to create this moody painting but if you don’t have any, don’t let that stop you. You can use an old plastic card, or even just use what paintbrushes you have. It’s really very impressionistic so let your perfectionism go and just have fun experimenting with your new black paint recipes.
Simple Black And White Landscape Painting – Ray Grimes
Ray Grimes is an absolute whiz with turning blobs of paint into beautiful landscapes. In this tutorial, he uses plenty of black and white paint on a dampened canvas, with a scruffy brush (reminds me of a bristle pastry brush) and a palette knife. He strategically places blobs of paint on the canvas, uses the brush to spread it out, and finishes with bright white highlights added using the palette knife. There is no commentary in this video but you can certainly give it a go by slowing down the speed of the video.
Cabin In The Country – Joni Young Art
In this quick tutorial, Joni shows you how to use black and white paint to create a sweet painting of a distant cabin beside a winding stream. Joni uses filberts to paint this scene but you could totally use whatever paintbrushes you have. This tutorial goes pretty quickly because Joni is working on paper so my suggestion is to watch it through first and then give it a try. Also, notice how Joni holds her brush pretty far back. That helps her to keep things loose and impressionistic.
Final Thoughts On Making Your Own Black Acrylic Paint
And there you have it, our exhilarating exposé into what colors make black acrylic paint has come to an end. We’ve unlocked the secrets, embraced the sheer magic of this versatile non-color, and laughed in the face of darkness (*insert evil laugh here*).
Here are my personal recommendations based on the above experiments:
- If you can at all avoid it, try to use a different blue than Phthalo. It’s just such a strong pigment that it takes a bit more work to whip it into shape
- Ultramarine Blue is your bestie for so many different reasons but it especially makes a beautiful deep black when mixed with other colors (if you don’t already have a tube, I highly recommend this versatile color)
- Be aware that Cobalt Blue has a tendency to create a smoky black (at least, the Liquitex Basics Cobalt Blue)
- Light Sap Green is really not the best color to make black (it’s not a very strong paint color)
- Trying to make black from mixing purple and yellow may require the addition of Ultramarine Blue (otherwise, you’ll only be able to make brown)
Remember, even if you don’t want to make your own black acrylic paint, you now can confidently stride into your local art store, grab the best black acrylic paint for your project, whip out your cash, and work that runway as you strut out the door. Work that drama…well, maybe save that drama for your canvas, m’kay?
Don’t Miss These Other Epic Color Mixing Experiments With Recipes
- Green Paint Mixes For Grass And Trees
- Purple Mixing Recipes For Flowers
- Hot Pink Color Mixing…’Cause, Why Not?
- Magenta Color Mixing Recipes
- Navy Blue And Dark Blue Free Recipes
- Coral Paint Mixes
- Turquoise Color Mixing Recipes For Summer Vibes
- Orange Paint Mixes For Sunsets
- Green and Purple Color Mixes (Some Interesting Results)
Meet Sara, a seasoned veteran in the world of art. With a knack for mixing paints to unveil breathtaking new hues, she’s adorned countless commissions and independently captivated art enthusiasts with her creations. Having spent over a decade immersed in the realm of art gallery management, Sara’s insight into the intricacies of the art scene shines through her work.
But don’t let her impressive résumé fool you – Sara’s approach to art is as lively as her palette. Known for her wit and humor, she infuses her passion for painting with a playful spirit, making every stroke a delightful adventure. As a dedicated mentor, she’s committed to guiding her fellow artists towards success, always staying ahead of the curve with the latest techniques and trends.