Learning mix oil paints takes practice.
Mixing oil paints to produce new colors that aren't "muddy" takes practice. Armed with a few tools and some basic knowledge about color theory, you can learn mix oils successfully. Once you have gotten the hang of it, you'll find it easy to make new colors. From ivory white to mars black, you can mix any hues to create vivid new colors that can help you express yourself fully in your artwork.
Instructions
1. Understand basic color theory. A color is also known as a hue. Adding white to a hue will create a tint (sometimes called a pastel) of that hue. Adding black will create a shade of that color, and adding both black and white (gray) will create a tone.
2. Squeeze a small amount of ivory paint and paint of another hue onto your palette. With a paint knife, pick up a small amount of each color of paint and mix them together thoroughly on a separate area on the palette.
3. Use a bright lamp or natural light to get the best view of your mixed paint. Add more ivory to lighten the hue or more of the colored paint to strengthen the hue's deepness. Mix the paint together thoroughly each time you add more color.
4. Paint your mixed hues in squares on a sheet of bristol board with a paintbrush. Allow them to dry to see the exact new colors you created; paint often is darker when it's dry.
5. Write down your "recipe" once you've gotten just the right color. Jot down how many parts of each color you used to make your new hue. Label each new color you create to help you easily recreate it in the future.
