Mixing color shouldn’t feel like an unsolvable puzzle — but for so many artists, especially beginners, it does.
If you’ve ever stared at your palette wondering “Why does this look like mud?” — I get it. In fact, that exact frustration is what led me to create a comprehensive color mixing course for acrylic painters, because color is the #1 thing my students struggle with.
In this post, we’re diving into why color mixing with acrylic is so tricky...and what you can do to get dramatically better results.
If you're new to my blog, my name is Marianne, I'm a professional artist and educator, and if you'd like to watch the YouTube version of this, you can check it out below:
🔍 Why Is Color Mixing with Acrylic So Hard?
If you feel like your colors always come out wrong, here’s the truth:
🎨 Color is relative — and your eyes can be tricked.
What does that mean? The color you perceive on your palette or canvas is influenced by the three dimensions of color. All paints have these three dimensions, and when you're mixing color, you're going to be altering at least one, if not all three:
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The hue (actual color)
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The value (how light or dark it is)
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The saturation (intensity)
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And even the surrounding colors and lighting
So what looks like a perfect warm yellow in isolation might suddenly look greenish when placed next to a magenta. It’s not your fault — it’s just how color perception works.
The trick to figuring this out is to try and view colors in isolation before you mix. See if you can cover up any other colors in your reference photo that could be influencing your eyes, then go to mix the color.
🚫 The Biggest Beginner Mistake with Acrylic Paint
When I first started painting, I made this classic mistake:
“Red is red, right?”
“Yellow is yellow.”
“Blue is blue.”
Nope.
There’s no such thing as a single “true” red, yellow, or blue that can mix all the colors you need. Every pigment has a color bias — meaning it leans warmer or cooler — and this changes how it interacts with other pigments.
I bought 15+ tubes thinking I could "buy" my way into brighter color. I ended up with paint sets that clashed and confused me more.
The fix? A limited palette using split primaries — one warm and one cool of each primary — plus a few strategic extras. It’s budget-friendly and way more versatile.
My favourite limited palette picks: alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow light, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and titanium white. Those five colors alone will power you through most painting subjects.
🎓 Why I Built a Course on Color Mixing with Acrylic
After years of hearing students say, “I just can’t figure out how to mix my colors,” I realized that no one was teaching this properly — at least not in a way that sticks.
I originally thought I could simplify color into a quick 2-hour crash course. But color mixing isn’t a hack — it’s a skill set built from layers of knowledge.
That’s why I created a full 15 hour online course on color mixing with acrylic, complete with your own custom color mixing workbook you create as you go. It’s hands-on, intuitive, and lets you see and feel how your paints behave.
✨ This is the course I wish I’d had when I was learning to paint.
🎨 Common Challenges with Acrylic Paint (and What to Do About Them)
Here’s one of the weirdest things about acrylics:
The color you mix isn’t always the color you get.
Acrylic binders are milky when wet, which means that freshly mixed paint appears lighter than it really is. When it dries, the binder becomes clear — and the color looks darker.
🔧 What you can do:
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Mix colors slightly lighter than you think you need.
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Layer highlights once the first layer dries.
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Use a wet palette to keep your paints usable for longer. If you're not sure how to make one, you can check out the YouTube video below, where I walk you through the process:
This is not a flaw in you. It’s just how acrylics behave — and once you understand it, you can plan for it.
🧠 Mindset First: Be Kind to Yourself
If you're struggling with color, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad artist.
Color mixing takes time. Even now, as a professional painter, I still make mistakes. The difference is — I know how to fix them.
So here’s my best advice:
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Don’t rush.
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Don’t get discouraged.
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Every “wrong” mix is a learning opportunity.
On the other side of frustration is experience, and that’s where the magic lives.
Keep going, artists! I'm cheering you on!
If you liked this blog post, you should definitely download one of my FREE eBooks on Acrylic or Oil Painting. They've been read by 10K+ artists, and I'd love to send you your free copy! Grab your eBook here.
You can also check out a few of my other favourite blog posts:
How to Mix Colors in Acrylic: a Beginner Friendly Guide
Paintings or Photos?! How to Paint Realistic Landscapes with Acrylic Paint on Paper
You can also check out my Acrylic Color Mixing Guide for easy tips on mixing vibrant acrylic colors!
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