How do you mix red, yellow, and blue to get a new color?

March 3, 2026 · caitlin

Mixing primary colors is a fundamental art technique that unlocks a world of new hues. By combining red, yellow, and blue in varying proportions, you can create a spectrum of secondary and tertiary colors. Understanding these basic color theory principles allows for endless creative possibilities in painting, design, and more.

The Magic of Primary Colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue

The foundation of color mixing lies with the primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. These colors are called primary because they cannot be created by mixing other colors. They are the building blocks from which all other colors can theoretically be derived.

How to Mix Secondary Colors

When you mix two primary colors together, you create a secondary color. These are the next step in the color spectrum and are essential for expanding your palette.

Red + Yellow = Orange: A warm and vibrant color, orange can range from a bright, fiery hue to a softer, more muted tone depending on the ratio of red to yellow.
Yellow + Blue = Green: This mix yields a versatile color found abundantly in nature. More yellow creates a lime green, while more blue results in a deeper forest green.
Blue + Red = Purple (or Violet): A rich and often dramatic color, purple can lean towards red for a reddish-purple or towards blue for a bluish-purple.

Creating Tertiary Colors

Tertiary colors are formed by mixing a primary color with a secondary color that is next to it on the color wheel. This process further expands your color options and allows for more nuanced shades.

For example:

Mixing yellow and orange creates yellow-orange.
Mixing blue and green creates blue-green.
Mixing red and purple creates red-purple.

These tertiary colors are crucial for achieving realistic tones and subtle variations in your artwork.

Understanding Color Theory for Better Mixing

Beyond simply combining colors, a basic understanding of color theory significantly enhances your mixing abilities. This includes concepts like the color wheel, complementary colors, and warm versus cool tones.

The Color Wheel: Your Mixing Guide

The color wheel is a visual representation of colors arranged in a circle. It shows the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

Primary Colors: Red, Yellow, Blue
Secondary Colors: Orange, Green, Purple
Tertiary Colors: Yellow-Orange, Blue-Green, Red-Purple, etc.

Using a color wheel helps you predict the outcome of your mixes and understand how colors interact with each other.

Warm vs. Cool Colors

Colors are often categorized as either warm or cool. This distinction impacts the mood and feel of your compositions.

Warm Colors: Reds, oranges, and yellows tend to advance and feel energetic. They are often associated with sunlight, fire, and passion.
Cool Colors: Blues, greens, and purples tend to recede and feel calming. They evoke feelings of water, sky, and tranquility.

When mixing, consider whether you want to create a warm or cool version of a color. Adding a touch of blue to orange, for instance, can make it a cooler, more subdued orange.

Practical Tips for Mixing Red, Yellow, and Blue

Achieving the perfect shade often requires a bit of practice and experimentation. Here are some practical tips to help you master color mixing.

Start with Small Amounts

It’s always best to start by mixing small amounts of paint. You can always add more color to achieve your desired shade, but it’s difficult to remove excess color once mixed.

Clean Your Brushes Thoroughly

If you’re working with paints, especially acrylics or oils, ensure your brushes are clean between color mixes. Even a small amount of residual color can alter the hue of your new mixture.

Consider the Medium

The type of paint you are using (e.g., watercolor, acrylic, oil) can affect how colors mix. Watercolors tend to be more transparent, while oils are more opaque. This influences the vibrancy and depth of your mixed colors.

Don’t Forget Black and White

While red, yellow, and blue are the core, black and white are essential for adjusting the value (lightness or darkness) and saturation of your colors.

Adding White: Creates tints (lighter versions of a color).
Adding Black: Creates shades (darker versions of a color).
Adding Gray (Black + White): Creates tones (desaturated versions of a color).

Experiment with Saturation

Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color. To desaturate a color, you can mix a small amount of its complementary color into it. For example, adding a tiny bit of red to green will make the green less vibrant.

Common Color Mixing Challenges and Solutions

Even experienced artists encounter challenges when mixing colors. Here are a few common issues and how to overcome them.

Muddy Colors

One of the most frequent problems is creating "muddy" or dull colors. This often happens when too many colors are mixed together, or when complementary colors are mixed without care.

Solution: Stick to mixing only two or three colors at a time. If you need to desaturate a color, use its direct complement sparingly.

Unpredictable Hues

Sometimes, the resulting color might not be what you expected. This can be due to the specific pigments used in your paints, as different brands can have slightly different formulations.

Solution: Always test your mixes on a scrap piece of paper or canvas before applying them to your main project. Keep notes on your successful mixes for future reference.

Achieving Specific Shades

Getting that exact shade of teal or a particular earthy brown can be tricky. It requires understanding how the primary colors and their derivatives interact.

Solution: Break down the desired color into its components. For example, teal is a blue-green. To make it, you’ll need blue and yellow to create green, then adjust with more blue for the teal shade. You might also need a touch of white for lightness or a hint of black for depth.