How to Mix Black Oil Paint
To mix black with oil paint, combine 8 parts Van Dyke Brown and 1 part Prussian Blue. A mixed black, sometimes called chromatic black, is a very dark blue plus a dark brown. It is richer than tube black and can be nudged warmer or cooler, and it lightens to beautiful greys.
Opens the free browser simulator with these colors on the palette. Squeeze them out and blend with the palette knife.
Step by step
- Put down 8 parts of Van Dyke Brown. It is the largest amount, so it is your base.
- Add 1 part of Prussian Blue. It is a strong tinter, so add it a little at a time and check the color as you go.
- Blend with a palette knife, folding the paint over itself until no streaks of the separate colors remain.
- Pull a thin smear out to the side. Thin paint shows the true color better than a thick pile.
Lighter versions of black
The same recipe with more and more titanium white mixed in, by volume:
#2B2B32
#595A68
#747784
#9497A3
#C4C7CB
Another way to mix black
With Van Dyke Brown and Indanthrene Blue: 6 parts Van Dyke Brown and 1 part Indanthrene Blue.
Tips for mixing greys and blacks
Greys look different next to other colors. A neutral grey can look bluish next to orange and warm next to blue, so judge it in place.
Questions
What colors make black?
To mix black with oil paint, combine 8 parts Van Dyke Brown and 1 part Prussian Blue. You can also mix it from 6 parts Van Dyke Brown and 1 part Indanthrene Blue.
How do you make black lighter?
Add titanium white a little at a time. Adding the same amount of white as the whole mix gives about #9497A3. White also cools and softens a color, so you may need a touch more of the warm color in the recipe to keep the same character.
How do you make black darker?
Add more of the darkest color in the recipe. For a grey mixed from complements, add more of both colors and less white.