Creating a truly deep, captivating black in your paintings might seem straightforward – just reach for the black paint tube, right? But the world of color is more nuanced than that. While technically black is the absence of color, in the realm of painting, achieving a vibrant, rich black often involves mixing colors. Understanding which colors create black and why can elevate your art, adding depth and sophistication that tube black sometimes lacks.
The Problem with Tube Black Paint
It might seem counterintuitive to mix black when you can buy it readily available in a tube. “Why can’t I just use tube black?” you might ask. Of course, you can, but consider this: paint manufacturers can’t create true black, which is the absence of light and color. Instead, they produce paints that are extremely dark, leaning towards black. This means that every tube of black paint is inherently biased towards a specific undertone – be it cool or warm – which can sometimes appear flat and lifeless in your artwork.
Tube blacks, much like tube whites, can sometimes lack the vibrancy and depth you’re striving for. They can appear dull, especially when juxtaposed with mixed colors that possess more life and complexity. This is where the magic of mixing your own blacks comes into play, offering a richer, more dynamic result tailored to your painting’s palette.
Color Theory: The Key to Mixing True Black
To understand What Colors Make Black, we need to delve into basic color theory. In painting, black is considered a tertiary color. Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color, or in simpler terms, by combining all three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue.
While mixing all three primaries can yield a dark color, achieving the blackest black involves a more refined approach using complementary colors. Complementary colors are pairs that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple. When mixed together, complementary colors neutralize each other, moving towards a neutral gray or, with the right combinations and proportions, black.
Understanding Warm and Cool Colors
Furthermore, it’s important to recognize that within primary and secondary colors, there are warm and cool variations. For instance, a warm blue leans towards green, while a cool blue leans towards purple. These nuances significantly impact your color mixing.
When aiming for black, using transparent versions of your chosen colors is crucial. Transparent paints have a higher pigment concentration and less filler, allowing for richer, deeper mixes. Opaque paints, often containing white, will hinder your ability to achieve a true, dark black as white inherently lightens colors.
Complementary Colors for the Blackest Black
The secret to mixing the blackest blacks lies in selecting transparent complementary colors that are as close to opposite each other on the color wheel as possible. When you mix these complementary pairs, they effectively cancel each other out in the most intense way, resulting in a deep, rich black.
My Go-To Color Combinations for Mixing Black
Through years of painting, I’ve discovered a couple of color combinations that consistently produce exceptional blacks using Atelier brand acrylic paints. These combinations leverage the principles of complementary colors and transparency:
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Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna: This is a classic pairing. Ultramarine blue is a cool, slightly reddish blue, while Burnt Sienna is a warm, earthy red-orange. Their complementary nature, combined with their transparency, creates a deep, neutral black that is incredibly versatile.
Alt text: Mixing ultramarine blue (a cool blue) and burnt sienna (a warm red-orange) acrylic paints on a palette to demonstrate how to create black.
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Phthalo Turquoise and Naphthol Crimson: For a slightly cooler black, this combination is superb. Phthalo Turquoise is a vibrant, greenish-blue, and Naphthol Crimson is a deep, slightly bluish-red. This pairing also relies on complementary colors and transparency to yield a very dark, intense black with cool undertones.
Alt text: Mixing pthalo turquoise (a greenish-blue) and naphthol crimson (a bluish-red) acrylic paints on a palette showing the creation of a cool black color.
These combinations work effectively because they utilize complementary colors and transparent pigments. However, the specific colors in your paint set might differ. The key is to apply the principles discussed: choose transparent paints and experiment with colors that are as close to complementary pairs as possible.
When Tube Black Works: Not-So-Black Blacks
While mixing black offers unparalleled richness and depth for most scenarios, there are times when tube black or near-black colors are perfectly suitable, especially when you don’t require the absolute blackest black. These pre-mixed darks can be convenient and effective for creating shades, shadows, or softer blacks:
- Payne’s Grey: This is a popular choice for a softer, cooler black. Payne’s Grey is not a true black but a very dark, bluish-grey. It’s excellent for underpainting, creating atmospheric effects, or when a gentler dark tone is desired.
- Blue Black (Indigo): Similar to Payne’s Grey, Blue Black or Indigo leans towards blue. It offers a deep, moody dark that is less stark than a mixed black, ideal for night scenes or areas where a softer dark is needed.
Experiment and Find Your Perfect Black
Now that you understand the principles behind mixing black, I encourage you to experiment with your own set of paints. Explore different combinations of complementary colors, focusing on transparent versions. You might discover unique black mixes that become your signature for achieving depth and drama in your art.
The beauty of mixing your own black lies in its versatility and the nuanced blacks you can create, perfectly tailored to your artwork’s color palette and mood. Don’t hesitate to try out different pairings and observe the subtle shifts in color temperature and depth.
If you discover a color combination that yields an exceptionally black black, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to share your findings by reaching out via email. Happy painting, and may your blacks be rich and full of life!
