Crafting Rich Dark Reds: Acrylic Painting Guide

Mixing acrylic paints allows you to produce a unified progression of colour in your artwork. To create a rich dark red, you can start with a red paint that has an orange or yellow undertone, such as vermilion or crimson, and then darken it with black, blue or green. You can also use dark grey to create a softer tone. The amount of dark paint you add will determine the shade you create, so it's important to add small amounts at a time and mix evenly. You can use a sample sheet to compare the new value to the original colour. It's also important to note that the colours you use should not have any white in the mix and that your darkening colour is transparent. Through trial and error, you can find the exact complement to your red in the blue-green region of the colour wheel.

Start with a small amount of paint

Next, choose the colour you want to use to darken your paint. Add a tiny amount of this dark paint to your palette and gradually mix it into the red paint. Control the amount of dark paint you add so that you can test as many shades as possible. Take your time with this step, gradually building up the colour until you achieve the desired shade of dark red. Remember, you can always add more dark paint, but it's difficult to lighten the shade once you've added too much.

As you mix, continue to use your sample sheet to guide you. Each time you add more dark paint, take a small sample of the new shade and make a mark on your paper next to the previous one, so that the edges meet. This will create a gradient of shades, allowing you to see the progression and choose the exact shade you want.

If your paint starts to dry up while mixing, you can add a little water to it to rehydrate it. However, be cautious not to add too much water as it may dilute the paint too much. It's always a good idea to have extra paint on hand in case you need to adjust the shade.

By starting with a small amount of paint and gradually adding the darkening colour, you'll have more control over the mixing process and be able to achieve the perfect rich, dark red acrylic paint for your artwork.

Use the colour wheel

The colour wheel is a useful tool for mixing paints. It can help you determine the best red to start with if you have a variety to choose from. The starting value of your red paint will determine the result after mixing. For example, darkening a red with orange undertones will result in a colour closer to brown than black.

The colour wheel can also help you identify analogous colours, which are colours next to each other on the wheel. For red, the analogous colours are purple, blue-red, orange-red, orange, and yellow-orange. Using analogous colours to darken your red paint can make the final colour dynamic and unique. For example, mixing in some blue will darken and mute your red. Start by mixing one part blue with ten parts red, and adjust from there, being careful not to add too much blue, or your red will turn purple.

You can also use the colour wheel to identify complementary colours, which are colours opposite each other on the wheel. Red and green are complementary colours, and a small amount of green added to red will deepen it. However, greens are the complement of reds, so be careful, as they can dull your colours if you're not precise with your mixing.

You can also use the colour wheel to identify triadic colour schemes, which are three colours equally spaced around the colour wheel. A triadic scheme including red could also include blue and yellow, or green, orange, and purple.

Choose a darkening colour

To mix a rich dark red, you will need to choose a darkening colour to add to your red paint. The most common way to make any paint darker is to mix it with another colour. You can use a colour wheel to determine the best red to start with if you have a variety to choose from. The starting shade of red will determine the result after mixing, so keep this in mind when choosing your darkening colour.

When choosing a darkening colour, you can use black or another dark colour. Colours such as blue, green, grey, and brown will darken red. However, you must be careful with these colours as they can dull your red or turn it purple. To avoid this, you can use a single pigment green such as Viridian or Sap Green. You can also use a blue shade such as Phthalo Turquoise or Phthalo Blue GS. Artist Renée Plevy suggests adding a little green to red that is too bright. You can also add a yellow underpainting and layer reds to create deeper colours.

If you want to avoid your dark red turning purple, you can use brown or brownish colours. You can also use a blue-red, orange-red, orange, or yellow-orange as these are analogous colours to red. These colours are next to each other on the colour wheel and will create a dynamic and unique shade.

You can also darken your red paint by mixing it with a darker shade of red. Ensure that the paint is the same brand and type to avoid an inconsistent texture or colour. You can add maroon, burgundy, or crimson to a light red and mix it thoroughly.

Mix carefully

To mix a rich dark red acrylic paint, you must be careful and precise in your approach. Here are some detailed step-by-step instructions to achieve the desired colour:

Start by selecting the red paint you want to use as your base. It is important to choose a red paint that is of the same brand and type, such as acrylic, as mixing different types of paint may result in an inconsistent texture or colour. The specific red shade you choose will also impact the final result, so consider whether you want to start with a crimson, vermilion, or another variety of red. Keep in mind that the darker the red, the less light it will reflect.

Next, decide on the colour you want to mix with your red paint to achieve a darker shade. You can use black, but this may cause the red to take on a brownish hue. Instead, consider using a dark blue or green, as these colours are complementary to reds and will help create a rich, dark red. However, be cautious when mixing with green, as too much can dull the colour. A small amount of green, such as Viridian or sap green, can help darken the red without changing it to purple. Additionally, using a single pigment green can help prevent the colour from turning grey.

Now, it's time to begin mixing. Add a small amount of your chosen darkening colour to your red paint and mix it thoroughly with a mixing stick or brush. It is important to add just a little at a time, as it is easier to add more than to lighten the colour again. Mix the paints together until they are fully combined, ensuring there are no streaks of colour remaining.

As you mix, use a sample sheet to track the progression of shades. Take a small sample of the new colour and paint it next to the original shade, so that the edges meet. This will allow you to compare the new shade to the original and help you determine if you need to add more darkening colour. Repeat this process until you achieve the desired dark red shade.

Finally, if your paint starts to dry up while mixing, you can add a small amount of water to rehydrate it. Remember, it is always better to start with a smaller amount of paint and add more as you need it to avoid waste.

Test and compare

Testing and comparing your paint shades is an important part of achieving the right colour. It is recommended to use a paintbrush to take a small sample of the starting value and make a thin stroke of paint on a piece of paper. You will use this paper to track the progression of shades and tones as you alter the original colour. Each time you add more dark paint to the original colour, take a sample of the new value and make a mark on the paper next to the previous one so that the edges meet. This will allow you to compare the new value to the original colour and see the progression of shades.

It is important to note that the starting value of your red paint will determine the result after mixing. For example, darkening a red value with an orange undertone will result in a value closer to brown than black. Therefore, it is suggested to use the colour wheel to determine the best value of red to start with if you have a variety to choose from.

When testing and comparing, it is also crucial to consider the amount of dark paint you are adding. Controlling the amount of dark paint allows you to test as many values as possible and achieve the desired shade. You can add a little water to the paint if it starts to dry up while you are mixing.

Additionally, the choice of darkening colour is essential. You can use black or another dark colour such as blue or green, but be cautious as too much blue can turn the red into purple. You can also try brown or brownish colours to make the red darker. It is recommended to experiment with different colours and compare the results to find the exact complement to your red.

Through testing and comparing, you can find the right balance of colours to achieve the rich dark red acrylic paint you desire.

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