What shade of brown can you get from red and yellow?

March 2, 2026 · caitlin

When you mix red and yellow, you create orange. If you want to achieve a shade of brown, you’ll need to add a complementary color to orange, such as blue, or use a different color mixing approach.

Understanding Color Mixing: Red and Yellow Create Orange

The fundamental principle of color mixing, particularly with subtractive color models like paint or pigments, dictates that combining red and yellow results in orange. This is a foundational concept in art and design.

The Primary and Secondary Colors

Primary Colors: Red, yellow, and blue are considered primary colors. They cannot be created by mixing other colors.
Secondary Colors: When you mix two primary colors, you create a secondary color. Mixing red and yellow produces orange.

Mixing red and yellow is a straightforward process. Start with your desired amounts of red and yellow paint. Gradually blend them together, observing the color change.

Achieving Orange

The exact shade of orange you get will depend on the specific shades of red and yellow you use. A warmer red with a yellow will lean towards a red-orange, while a cooler red with yellow will produce a more yellow-orange.

How to Get Brown from Orange (and Other Colors)

While red and yellow directly produce orange, achieving brown requires a different approach. Brown is essentially a dark, desaturated orange. To desaturate orange and make it darker, you need to introduce its complement.

Introducing Complementary Colors

The complementary color to orange is blue. By adding a small amount of blue to your orange mixture, you will neutralize the vibrancy of the orange and begin to create brown tones.

Red + Yellow = Orange
Orange + Blue = Brown

The amount of blue you add is crucial. Too much blue will turn your mixture muddy or even purple. Start with a tiny amount and gradually incorporate it until you achieve the desired brown shade.

Other Ways to Mix Brown

There are several other effective ways to mix brown colors without starting with red and yellow:

Mixing all three primary colors: Red, yellow, and blue, when mixed in the right proportions, will create a brown. This often results in a rich, earthy brown.
Mixing two complementary colors: Besides orange and blue, you can also mix red and green, or yellow and purple, to create various shades of brown.

Factors Influencing Brown Shade

The specific shade of brown you achieve depends on several factors:

The specific hues of the colors used: A burnt sienna red will yield a different brown than a cadmium red.
The proportions of each color: More yellow will create a lighter, warmer brown. More blue will result in a darker, cooler brown.
The type of pigment: Different paint brands and types (e.g., oil, acrylic, watercolor) can influence the final color.

Practical Examples and Tips for Mixing Brown

Let’s say you’re painting a landscape and need a rich soil color. You might start with a base of red and yellow to create a vibrant orange. Then, carefully add a touch of ultramarine blue.

Example Scenario:

Start with Orange: Mix a good amount of cadmium yellow with a touch of cadmium red.
Introduce Blue: Add a very small amount of ultramarine blue.
Observe and Adjust: You’ll see the orange become less bright and start to deepen. Continue adding tiny bits of blue until you reach a desired brown. If it gets too dark or muddy, you can add a little more yellow to lighten it.

If you want a lighter, more reddish-brown, use less blue and perhaps a warmer red. For a darker, cooler brown, increase the blue proportion slightly.

Using Pre-mixed Browns

Many artists opt for pre-mixed brown paints for convenience. Common pre-mixed browns include:

Burnt Umber: A dark, reddish-brown.
Raw Umber: A cooler, yellowish-brown.
Burnt Sienna: A warm, reddish-brown.
Raw Sienna: A yellowish-ochre brown.

These can be used on their own or further modified by mixing with other colors to achieve specific shades.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mixing Brown

### What color do you get if you mix red, yellow, and blue?

When you mix red, yellow, and blue in roughly equal proportions, you typically get a dark, neutral brown. The exact shade can vary depending on the specific hues and the ratios of each primary color used. This method is a classic way to create brown when you don’t have a pre-mixed brown available.

### Can you make brown without using blue?

Yes, you can make brown without using blue. One common method is to mix red and green. Since green is made from blue and yellow, mixing red (a primary) with green (a secondary) effectively combines all three primary colors, resulting in brown. Another way is to mix a dark orange with a dark red.

### How do I make a light brown color?

To make a light brown color, start with a base of orange (from red and yellow) and add a small amount of blue to desaturate it. To lighten the brown, you can add white or more yellow. Alternatively, mixing a raw sienna with white can create a good light brown.

### What is the complementary color of red and yellow mixed together?

The color you get from mixing red and yellow is orange. Therefore, the complementary color of red and yellow mixed together is the complementary color of orange, which is blue. Adding blue to orange is the key to desaturating it and creating brown.

Next Steps in Your Color Mixing Journey

Understanding how to mix colors is a fundamental skill for artists, designers, and even hobbyists. Experimenting with different combinations will help you develop an intuitive sense for color.

Consider exploring color theory further, perhaps by learning about the color wheel and how different color relationships (analogous, complementary, triadic) can be used to create specific moods and effects in your work.

To further enhance your understanding, you might want to read about:

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