Color mixing is one of the most rewarding skills you can develop as a painter. But if you're just starting out, it can also feel overwhelming. There’s something so magical about learning to create the exact hue you imagined; without relying on a dozen tubes of paint.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to mix colors in acrylic with confidence, even if you’ve never touched a palette knife before. You’ll also discover the tools that make the process easier, the most common mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them), and a gentle first step you can take today.
Why Learn to Mix Colors Instead of Buying Every Tube?
Walk into any art supply store and it’s easy to be tempted by shelf after shelf of pre-mixed colors. But buying every shade can quickly become expensive—and it’s rarely necessary. With just a handful of thoughtfully chosen colors, you can create nearly every hue you need.
Learning to mix your own colors gives you creative control, saves money, and helps your paintings feel more harmonious. It also connects you more deeply to the process of painting. Instead of reacting to what’s already on your palette, you start making intentional decisions based on your vision.
I've personally found that the older I get and the more experience I gain, the fewer colors I need, and the better the results.
What You'll Need to Get Started
To mix acrylic colors, you don’t need a studio full of tools. Here are the basics:
• A limited palette of primary colors (I recommend starting with a warm and cool version of red, yellow, and blue, I'll list my favorites below)
• A palette surface or mixing tray
• Palette knife (optional but helpful)
• Acrylic painting paper or canvas pad for practice (I like to use my watercolor sketchbook)
• Water and a rag for cleanup
If this already feels like a lot, don’t worry. Inside my step-by-step color mixing course, I walk you through exactly which paints to buy and how to build your first palette without overwhelm.
Understanding the Basics: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors
Think of color mixing as a conversation between pigments. When you combine two primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—you get secondary colors like green, orange, and purple. Mix those together again and you get tertiary shades like olive green or brick red.
But here’s the part that trips most people up: not all reds, blues, and yellows behave the same way. Some lean warm (toward orange or red) and others cool (toward blue or green). This is called color bias, and it makes a big difference in the final outcome of your mixtures.
For more on this, you can check out my YouTube video, which covers this in detail:
Common Beginner Mistakes When Mixing Acrylic Colors
If you’ve ever tried to mix a beautiful purple and ended up with brown, you’re not alone. These are a few of the most common hurdles beginners face:
• Mixing paints with opposite color temperatures
• Overworking the paint, which can dull the color
• Using too much white to lighten a color (which can make it chalky)
• Forgetting to test mixes on scrap paper before applying them to the canvas
Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts aren’t perfect. Every great painter started exactly where you are, and I still wrestle with colors, even as a so-called professional.
A Gentle First Step You Can Take Today
Set aside just 20 minutes and try this simple exercise. Pick your two favorite colors (say, ultramarine blue and cadmium red) and mix them together in different ratios. Make a grid or line of swatches going from mostly red to mostly blue.
Notice how the balance shifts, and how even the smallest adjustment changes the feel of the color. This kind of practice builds muscle memory and trains your eye faster than you might expect.
My Personal Favorite Colors and Supplies
My go to palette is a split primary palette of a warm and cool of each primary, that I can then pare down to a limited palette with one primary each. Here are my favourites for each color:
- Reds: Quinacridone (either violet, magenta or red, this is the cool) and Cadmium Red Medium (warm)
- Yellows: Cadmium Yellow Light (neutral) and Cadmium Yellow Medium (warm), Cadmium Yellow Deep (my favourite for autumnal scenes in Golden Hour)
- Blues: Phthalo Blue (cool), Ultramarine Blue (warm - my absolute go to)
- Earths: Burnt Umber
- Titanium White
- Sketchbook: Stillman & Birn Zeta Series or Strathmore Watercolor Journal
Want to take this further? My Color Mixing with Acrylic course walks you through a beautifully organized system for building your own 26-page color mixing guidebook. You’ll finish with a personal reference tool you can use for years—and the confidence to mix any color you need, from vibrant florals to soft skin tones.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start mixing with joy, I’d love to welcome you into the course. You can learn more here.
By the way, if you're interested in learning more about acrylic painting, you can download my FREE ebook here, perfect for beginners. Or, if you'd like to take it a step further, you can enrol in my Painting Flowers in Acrylic course. I'd love to see you there!
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