From childhood art classes, we’re taught the simple equation: red plus blue equals purple. Just as yellow and blue create green, and red and yellow mix to form orange, the combination of red and blue seems straightforward. However, many artists, both beginners and experienced, often encounter a frustrating problem: mixing red and blue paints doesn’t always yield a vibrant, clean purple. Instead, the result can be muddy, dull, or just… not quite purple. Have you ever wondered why your red and blue mixtures fall flat? You’re not alone!
For years, art instructors have heard the same complaint: “I can’t mix a good purple!” Painters often resort to buying pre-mixed purple paints, only to find even those don’t quite capture the desired vibrancy. This struggle can be incredibly discouraging, especially for creatives drawn to the beauty of purple.
The secret to achieving a beautiful purple from red and blue isn’t about luck, but about understanding color bias. This concept, crucial for color mixing success, explains why some reds and blues create stunning purples, while others lead to disappointing results. Once you grasp the nuances of color bias in your paints, you’ll unlock the door to mixing a spectrum of purples, from deep and rich to bright and delicate, all from simple red and blue.
Yes, red and blue do make purple. The key lies in selecting the right red and blue paints – those that possess the specific color biases needed to create the purple hue you envision. Let’s dive into the world of color bias and discover how to mix the perfect purple every time.
When you look at tubes of red and blue paint, you might see a seemingly endless variety. Consider these common red paint names: permanent rose, magenta, thalo red, cadmium red, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson hue, quinacridone magenta, naphthol red medium, pyrrole crimson, scarlet, pyrrole red, vermillion, and many more. The blue options are just as extensive: phthalo blue (red and green shades), cerulean blue, cobalt blue, Prussian blue, ultramarine blue, permanent blue, Antwerp blue, turquoise, manganese, etc. This vast selection exists across various painting mediums like acrylics, watercolors, and oils, although names may slightly differ.
Faced with this array of reds and blues, choosing the right combination for purple can feel overwhelming. The color swatches above hint at the complexity, with each color representing different paint tubes and brands. So, why does mixing purple seem so complicated?
The Reason Red and Blue Sometimes Fail to Make Purple
The most common reason artists struggle to mix purple is due to unknowingly using reds and blues that contain yellow bias. In color theory, yellow is the complementary color to purple. When complementary colors are mixed, they neutralize or desaturate each other. Introducing even a small amount of yellow into a purple mixture will dull its vibrancy, leading to muddy or brownish tones.
The color chart above vividly demonstrates the effect of mixing yellow with purple. Notice how the combinations result in muted browns, grays, or near-black shades. This desaturation is precisely what happens when you mix a red and blue that both lean towards yellow in their color bias.
Another contributing factor is the typical artist’s palette. Many standard palettes include colors like cadmium red, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow medium (or new gamboge or Indian yellow), hansa yellow light (or cadmium pale or lemon yellow), ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, and cerulean blue. While versatile, this palette can hinder purple mixing.
Mixing purple effectively requires a red that leans strongly towards blue and is free from yellow bias. Cadmium reds, for example, inherently carry a yellow bias. Therefore, no matter which blue you pair them with, they will never produce a bright, clean purple. The example below illustrates this: cadmium red mixed with ultramarine blue results in a grayish, almost black-purple – far from vibrant.
Alizarin crimson, another popular red, also presents challenges. While it has a blue bias, it’s naturally a muted or desaturated red. Mixing it with blue can yield a purplish hue, but it will lack brilliance and clarity. This is why some artists avoid alizarin crimson for vibrant color mixing. As shown below, alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue create a muted, grayish purple, even when lightened with white.
Permanent rose, on the other hand, is an excellent choice for purple mixing. This “blue-red,” as it’s often called, was a favorite for watercolor artists seeking clean purples. Similarly, quinacridone magenta or primary magenta are blue-biased reds ideal for vibrant purple mixtures. The example below demonstrates the successful combination of permanent rose and ultramarine blue, resulting in a beautiful, clear purple.
Notice that ultramarine blue is consistently used in these successful purple mixes. This is because ultramarine blue has a red bias. It leans towards red on the color wheel, containing no yellow or green undertones. Conversely, experimenting with cadmium red and green-biased blues like phthalo blue or Prussian blue will further highlight the problem – these combinations will veer even further from purple due to the combined yellow biases. Again, red and blue combinations with yellow biases simply don’t make clean purple.
For an interesting variation, try mixing permanent rose (your blue-red) with a green-blue like cerulean blue. The result, as shown below, is a softer, grayer purple. While less vibrant, it still retains a purple hue, offering a different character. Experimenting with your own reds and blues and creating color charts is the best way to discover your favorite purple mixing combinations.
Which red and blue combinations have you tried? Which purples do you prefer? Share your experiences and discoveries! The world of color mixing is full of exciting possibilities – enjoy the journey of exploration!
