Can you make brown with colored pencils?

March 2, 2026 · caitlin

Yes, you can absolutely make brown with colored pencils by mixing other colors! It’s a fundamental color mixing technique that artists of all levels use. By understanding basic color theory, you can create a wide spectrum of brown shades.

Mastering Brown: A Colored Pencil Mixing Guide

Creating brown with colored pencils is an accessible and rewarding skill for any artist. Whether you’re a beginner looking to add realistic earth tones to your drawings or an experienced artist seeking to expand your palette, understanding how to mix brown is essential. This guide will walk you through the process, offering practical tips and techniques to achieve a variety of rich brown hues.

The Science Behind Brown: Color Theory Basics

Brown isn’t a primary color, meaning it can’t be found on a standard color wheel. Instead, it’s a secondary or tertiary color, created by mixing other colors. The most common way to create brown is by mixing complementary colors.

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. When mixed, they tend to neutralize each other, resulting in a muted tone. For colored pencils, this neutralization often leads to browns.

Primary Mixing Methods for Brown

There are several reliable ways to mix brown using standard colored pencils. Experimenting with these methods will help you discover your preferred approach and the specific shades you can achieve. The key is to start with light applications and build up color gradually.

1. Mixing Complementary Colors

This is the most direct method for creating brown. You’ll need a set of primary colors.

Red and Green: Mixing a red colored pencil with a green colored pencil is a classic way to produce brown. The intensity of the brown will depend on the specific shades of red and green you use. A warmer red and a cooler green, or vice versa, can yield different results.
Blue and Orange: Combining blue and orange also creates brown. Since orange itself is a mix of red and yellow, this method can produce warmer, earthier browns.
Yellow and Violet (Purple): Mixing yellow with violet is another effective technique. This often results in a cooler, more muted brown.

Tip: Start with equal parts of each color and adjust as needed. If the brown is too red, add more green. If it’s too green, add more red.

2. Three-Color Mixing (Subtractive Mixing)

You can also create brown by mixing all three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. This method requires a bit more finesse.

Red + Yellow + Blue: By layering these three colors, you can achieve a wide range of browns. The exact shade will depend on the proportions of each color used. This method is excellent for creating complex, nuanced browns.

Pro Tip: For a warmer brown, use more red and yellow. For a cooler brown, incorporate more blue.

3. Using Earth Tone Pencils

Many colored pencil brands offer pre-mixed earth tone colors. These are often labeled as "brown," "ochre," "sienna," "umber," or "sepia." While you can use these directly, they are also excellent bases for further mixing and customization.

Raw Umber: A dark, cool brown.
Burnt Umber: A warmer, reddish-brown.
Raw Sienna: A yellowish-brown.
Burnt Sienna: A reddish-brown, often with orange undertones.

These pre-made colors can be layered over each other or combined with other colors to create even more specific shades.

Practical Techniques for Mixing Brown

Achieving a smooth, convincing brown requires more than just knowing which colors to combine. The way you apply and layer your pencils makes a significant difference.

Layering and Blending

Light Layers: Always apply colored pencils in light, even layers. This allows you to build up color gradually and control the mixing process. Heavy pressure too early can make it difficult to blend and adjust.
Cross-Hatching: Use cross-hatching (drawing lines over each other in different directions) to blend colors. This technique creates optical mixing, where your eye blends the colors from a distance.
Burnishing: Once you have your base colors layered, you can use a white pencil or a colorless blender to burnish the surface. This smooths out the pigment, creating a more uniform color and a richer finish.

Adjusting the Tone

For Warmer Browns: Add more red, orange, or yellow. A touch of red can make a brown feel warmer and richer.
For Cooler Browns: Add more blue, violet, or green. Blue is particularly effective at cooling down a brown.
For Darker Browns: Layer darker colors like black, dark blue, or dark violet over your initial brown mix. Be cautious with black, as it can sometimes make colors look muddy. A mix of dark blue and a warm brown often creates a more natural-looking dark brown.
For Lighter Browns: Use lighter base colors or add more white to your mix. You can also simply apply less pressure when layering.

Common Brown Mixing Scenarios

Let’s look at some specific brown shades and how to achieve them.

Creating a Rich Chocolate Brown

To achieve a deep, rich chocolate brown, try mixing:

A base of burnt sienna and dark red.
Layer dark blue or violet over the top to deepen and cool the color slightly.
Burnish with a white pencil for a smooth finish.

Achieving a Sandy Beige Brown

For a light, sandy brown, consider:

Starting with a base of yellow ochre or raw sienna.
Adding a very light layer of light red or pale orange.
Gently blend with a white pencil or a colorless blender.

Making a Deep Forest Green-Brown

This earthy tone can be made by:

Mixing green and red with a significant amount of blue.
Alternatively, layer dark green over a burnt umber.
A touch of black can deepen it further, but use sparingly.

Troubleshooting Common Mixing Issues

Even with the best intentions, you might encounter some challenges. Here are a few common issues and how to fix them.

Muddy Colors: This often happens from over-blending or using too much black. Try lifting some pigment with a kneaded eraser or layering a cleaner, brighter color over the muddy area.
Too Green/Too Red: If your brown leans too heavily in one direction, simply layer the complementary color lightly over the top to neutralize it.
Uneven Application: Ensure you’re using light, consistent pressure. If the texture is too rough, try burnishing to smooth it out.