Mixing Purple Paint: Combining Red And Blue

Mixing purple paint may seem simple—just combine red and blue, right? Well, not exactly. While purple is indeed a secondary colour formed by mixing two primary colours, the specific shades of red and blue that you use will determine the purple hue that you get. For instance, using a warm-toned blue with a cool-toned red will yield a true purple. However, if your red paint has a yellow bias, you may end up with a brownish purple instead. To achieve a vivid, saturated purple, you need to introduce magenta into the mix, as it has the ideal balance of coolness and saturation to create bold purple tones.

Avoid using traditional reds—use magenta for vibrant purple

While purple can be made by mixing red and blue, the result is often a brownish or muddy purple. This is due to the presence of other pigments in the paint, such as yellow or green, which affect the final colour. To achieve a bright, vibrant purple, it is recommended to use magenta, a colour that sits between red and blue on the colour wheel.

Magenta, also known as red-purple, is a secondary colour in the RGB colour model, created by combining equal amounts of red and blue light. In colour printing, it is considered a primary colour, along with cyan and yellow. When mixed with these colours, it produces black. In the Munsell colour system, magenta is specifically referred to as red-purple.

The colour magenta was first produced in the mid-19th century during the industrial chemistry revolution. In 1856, William Perkin invented mauveine, the first synthetic aniline dye, which inspired other European chemists to develop new colours from aniline dyes. François-Emmanuel Verguin, a French chemist, created a reddish-purple dye called "fuchsine" in 1858 or 1859. Soon after, two British chemists, Edward Chambers Nicholson and George Maule, developed another aniline dye with a similar red-purple hue, which they named "roseine" in 1860, later changing the name to "magenta".

In the context of painting, magenta is essential for creating vibrant purple shades. Quinacridone Magenta, in particular, is recommended for achieving a bright purple when mixed with a warm blue like Ultramarine Blue. Other options include using Alizarin Crimson or Permanent Rose with Ultramarine Blue, but Quinacridone Magenta will result in the brightest purple. The specific shade of magenta used can vary depending on the brand and type of paint, with options like Quinacridone Pink or Permanent Rose.

When mixing purple, it is important to avoid traditional reds, as they may contain hints of yellow, which can lead to a brownish or muddy purple. Instead, using magenta, a cool red, with a warm blue will produce a vibrant purple. The pigmentation quality can differ between brands, so it is worth experimenting with different paints to find the desired purple tone. Additionally, the tone of the purple can be adjusted by adding white for softer hues or using more magenta for depth.

Combine a warm-toned blue with a cool-toned red for true purple

To mix a true purple, you need to understand the colour wheel and colour bias. Red is a warm colour on the wheel, but depending on where you place it on the wheel, it can appear warmer or cooler. Blues, on the other hand, are generally considered cool colours, but some blues can be warm. These warmer blues are lighter and have yellow or green undertones.

When mixing red and blue to create purple, the colours you choose must not have a yellow bias (or a green bias, since blue and yellow make green). If you mix a blue with a red that has yellow undertones, you are actually mixing all three primary colours, which will result in a muddy brown.

To test the colour bias of your paint, mix it with a little white. Red paint mixed with white should turn pink. If you get a peachy colour, there is a yellow bias. Blue paint mixed with white should turn light sky blue. If you get a greenish-blue or turquoise, there is a yellow bias.

To get a bright, vibrant purple, the best colours to mix are a warm-toned blue and a cool-toned red. For example, Ultramarine Blue (warm) and Quinacridone Magenta (cool) will give you a bright purple. You can also use Alizarin Crimson (cool) and Ultramarine Blue, or Permanent Rose (cool) and Ultramarine Blue, but the Quinacridone Magenta will give you the brightest purple.

Blue and red don't always make purple—it depends on colour bias

Mixing blue and red paint does not always result in purple. The outcome depends on the colour bias of the paint used. A colour bias refers to the hints of other colours in the paint. For instance, some blues have hints of red or yellow, while some reds have hints of blue or yellow. When mixing blue and red paint, if either paint has a hint of yellow, the result will be a brownish or greyish purple. This is because mixing all three primary colours—red, blue, and yellow—results in brown.

To achieve a bright purple, the best colours to mix are a warm blue and a cool red. Ultramarine Blue (warm) and Quinacridone Magenta (cool) is a good combination for a bright purple. You can also use Alizarin Crimson (cool) or Permanent Rose (cool) with Ultramarine Blue, but Quinacridone Magenta will yield the brightest purple.

To test for colour bias, mix the paint with a little white. Red paint mixed with white should turn pink. If you get a peachy colour, the red paint has a yellow bias. Blue paint mixed with white should turn light sky blue. If you get a greenish-blue or turquoise blue, the blue paint has a yellow bias.

It is also important to consider the placement of colours on the colour wheel when mixing paints. Colours that are at the "corners" or right across from each other on the colour wheel tend to mix better. For example, purple and orange are caddy corner across the colour wheel, and mixing them produces a chocolate brown aubergine colour.

Additionally, the shade of purple can be adjusted by mixing purple with other colours. Adding red and navy to purple results in a darker plum purple. Mixing purple with light blue creates a lavender colour, while combining it with dark blue produces a deep, rich dark purple. Using light teal or turquoise can lighten the purple, but adding too much green will result in a muddier colour.

To darken purple, add more blue; to warm it, add more red

Mixing blue and red is a great way to create purple paint, but the resulting shade can vary. The purple you create can be altered by adding more of one of the original colours. To darken purple, add more blue; to warm it, add more red.

The shade of purple you create will depend on the specific colours and proportions used. The more red you add, the warmer the purple will be, resulting in reddish-purple shades like rose red or deep magenta. Conversely, adding more blue will create a cooler, darker purple.

It's important to note that not all reds and blues will produce the same purple. Some combinations may result in a muddy brown or purple-black colour. This is due to the colour bias of the paint, which refers to hints of other colours within the paint. For example, some blues have hints of red or yellow, and some reds may have hints of yellow. When mixing blue and red, it's best to use colours with a strong colour bias towards each other, like a warm blue and a cool red.

To create a bright purple, use a warm blue like Ultramarine Blue and a cool red like Quinacridone Magenta. You can also experiment with different shades of red and blue to find the purple that suits your needs. For a darker purple, try using navy blue, and for a lighter purple, use light blue or teal.

By understanding the colour theory and adjusting the proportions of red and blue, you can create a range of purple shades to use in your artwork.

For lighter purple, mix small amounts of purple paint with white paint

Mixing purple paint from red and blue can be tricky, and the resulting colour can sometimes turn out dull or muddy. To get a lighter purple, you can mix small amounts of purple paint with white paint. This will give you pastel shades of purple.

Before you start mixing purple, it's important to understand colour bias. Some colours have hints of other colours, which can affect the final result. For example, some blues have hints of red or yellow, and some reds have hints of blue or yellow. To check for colour bias, mix your paint with a little white. Red paint mixed with white should turn pink, but if it turns peachy, it has a yellow bias. Blue paint mixed with white should turn sky blue, but if it turns turquoise or greenish-blue, it has a yellow bias.

Once you've checked for colour bias, you can start mixing your purple. The best colours to use for a vibrant purple are a warm blue, such as Ultramarine Blue, and a cool red, such as Quinacridone Magenta. Start with the blue and add small amounts of red until you get the desired shade of purple. Then, to make it lighter, add small amounts of white paint.

You can also create lighter purple shades by mixing white with pre-mixed purple paint, such as Dioxazine Purple. Gradually add small amounts of purple paint to the white to create lighter shades like lavender, wisteria, and soft purple.

Frequently asked questions