ColourMixer

How to mix dark brown

A darkest umber, mixed from three paints: Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red and Phthalo Blue.

The recipe

Drag a bar to change how much of that paint goes in, and watch the colour change at the top.

Cadmium YellowPY354 parts18%
Cadmium RedPR10814 parts61%
Phthalo BluePB155 parts22%

Parts are a ratio: a drop, a spoonful, whatever suits the amount you need.

Value3 / 10
TemperatureWarm
Leans towards red and yellow, so it comes forward.
AcrylicDries a little darker
Mix it a touch lighter than you want it.
Mix tipCadmium Yellow last
Cadmium Yellow is strong. Add it a little at a time.

Other dark brown shades

More brown colours

Your paints

The library and every recipe here are mixed from just these.

PY35Cadmium Yellow
PY3Lemon Yellow
PR108Cadmium Red
PR122Quinacridone Magenta
PB29Ultramarine Blue
PB15Phthalo Blue
PW6Titanium White