ColourMixer

How to mix gold

A deep yellow, mixed from three paints: Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue and Quinacridone Magenta.

The recipe

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

Cadmium YellowPY3543 parts94%
Ultramarine BluePB292 parts4%
Quinacridone MagentaPR1221 part1%

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

Value7 / 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 gold shades

Metallic gold needs mica or metal pigment; no mix will shine. This is the flat colour of gold, the base painters use under highlights.

More yellow 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