The Golden Rules of Mixing Acrylics

1. Watch Out for the “Drying Shift”
One of the most surprising things about acrylics is that they dry darker than they appear when they’re wet. Because the acrylic binder is milky when wet, your freshly mixed color will look a shade or two lighter. To avoid surprises, always mix your paint slightly lighter than your target color, or keep swatches on hand to test and see the true color once dried.

2. Avoid the Muddy Mix
Beginners often wonder why their beautiful, vibrant mixtures suddenly turn to “mud”. This usually happens by over-mixing or by combining colors that have opposing undertones (e.g., mixing a warm red with a cool blue). To keep your colors saturated, stick to mixing either all-warm or all-cool tones.

3. Choose Your White Wisely
You will be reaching for white a lot to lighten your paints. Titanium White is your best bet for solid, opaque coverage and bright pastel tones. If you want to create subtle, transparent glazes or soft highlights, reach for Zinc White instead.

Essential Mixing Techniques

• Use a Palette Knife: Ditch your brush for mixing! A palette knife ensures an even, consistent blend without wasting paint or muddying your colors.
• Go Slowly: Always pull from your lighter color first, and add the darker/brighter pigments in tiny increments. Strong pigments like Phthalo Blue or Quinacridone Magenta have incredibly high tinting strength, and a little goes a long way.
• Play with Mediums: Because acrylics dry incredibly fast, extending your wet-time is a lifesaver. Add an Acrylic Retarder Medium or flow improver to slow down drying and allow for smooth, oil-like blending on your canvas.

Create Custom Paint Palettes

You don’t need a massive drawer full of tubes to be a great painter. By starting with a split primary palette, you can mix over 90% of the colors you will ever need. Try a limited palette using the following core pigments:

• One Warm Red (e.g., Cadmium Red)
• One Cool Red (e.g., Quinacridone Magenta or Alizarin Crimson)
• One Warm Yellow (e.g., Cadmium Yellow)
• One Cool Yellow (e.g., Lemon Yellow)
• One Warm Blue (e.g., Ultramarine)
• One Cool Blue (e.g., Phthalo Blue)
• Titanium White