What if you ran out of red paint or watercolor while in a middle of a project or during your most creative time of the day? It's time to learn how to make the color red! While you surely think you can't because it's a primary color, it isn't impossible. So, let's learn to make red and how to make different shades and temperatures of red.
How to Make the Color Red Tutorial
Based on the subtractive or CMYK color wheel, red is a secondary color rather than a primary. Thus, you can make it from scratch by combining two colors: cyan (yellow) and magenta.
That said, here are the steps you need to take:
- Place a dollop of cyan (yellow) paint or watercolor on your palette.
- Add a smaller amount of magenta.
- Using your palette knife or brush, mix the colors.
- If the color seems red, try using it on a piece of white paper.
- If you still haven't achieved the pure red color, repeat steps 2 to 4 until you're satisfied with the red shade.
How to Make the Color Red Cooler Using the Blue Color
Did you know that the color red has a hint of purple to it? That's why it's the base color when making purple.
Another exciting fact is that the same color, blue, combined with red to make purple is what you'll use to make its temperature cooler. However, you can't just use any shades of blue. You need to choose blue that lacks yellow hints or undertones.
Your two best options are:
- Cerulean Blue
- Ultramarine Blue
Cooler Red Using Cerulean Blue
A color closely resembling cornflower blue, cerulean is a perfect choice if you want to produce a lighter, cool red. To achieve the perfect temperature and shade, it's best to combine it with cadmium red.
All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Place a good amount of your red paint or watercolor on your palette.
- Add a little amount of your blue.
- Using your palette knife or brush, mix the colors.
- Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and test it on a clean sheet of paper.
If you already have a cool light red coloring agent, you can go ahead and use it for your artwork. If not, you can repeat steps 2 to 4. However, just be careful not to overdo it, as you might end up creating purple!
Cool Red Using Ultramarine Blue
With this shade of blue, you can create a darker, deep red hue with a cool temperature because it already has a hint of red.
As opposed to the cerulean method on how to make the color red, you can choose between two reds: cadmium red and alizarin crimson red. Combining your ultramarine blue with the crimson red will produce a cooler red color temperature than when using cadmium.
That said, the procedure for making cool red using ultramarine blue is the same as when using cerulean.
Read more about color theory.
How to Make the Color Red Warmer With Yellow and Orange Colors
Like with cool colored reds, you can add warmth to the color with the help of one of the primaries: yellow. Additionally, those who want warmer reds can use orange instead of yellow as the additive color.
Warmer Red Using Yellow
You must note that only some yellow colors make red warmer, so choose the right type to ensure you achieve the right shade and temperature.
That's because some yellows already have a blue hint; yellow shades that lean more toward the green hue. And based on the principle of color theory, when you combine the three primaries, you produce a dull tertiary color with a brownish tint or hue.
As such, when you use the wrong shade of yellow, you might end up with muddy-colored paint or watercolor. With these in mind, your perfect options are as follows:
- Yellow Ochre
- Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
When mixed with cadmium red, this darker shade of warm yellow will produce a deep red color. On the other hand, you'll create a dark, warm red with just a little depth when you mix it with alizarin crimson red.
When it comes to how to make the color red warmer with this yellow shade, follow these steps:
- Place a good amount of your red paint or watercolor on your palette.
- Add a little amount of your yellow.
- Using your palette knife or brush, mix the colors.
- Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and test it on a clean sheet of paper.
If you already have warm, dark red color, you can use it for your artwork. If not, you can repeat steps 2 to 4. However, just be careful not to overdo it, as you might end up creating orange.
Cadmium Yellow
Creating a fiery, vibrant, bright red is possible with this shade of warm yellow because it already has red undertones. However, make sure you blend it with cadmium red to achieve the brightest and most vibrant light, warm red.
The steps you need to take are the same as when using yellow ochre.
Warmer Red Using Orange
Since red and orange are warm colors, blending them to achieve a good shade of warmer red can be very tricky. You have to be very careful with the color ratio because a tiny excess of orange can lead to the production of red-orange color.
That said, the perfect shade of orange to use is cadmium orange. Not only is it opaque and bright, but it also has great coverage and high-tinting features.
If you want a darker shade of warm red, add cadmium orange little by little to cadmium red. Otherwise, use alizarin crimson red as your base color for a lighter shade of warm red.
How to Make the Color Red Muted
Before we proceed with the process of creating muted shades of red, let's first understand what "muted color" is. Basically, it's the exact opposite of vivid color. It means that it has a low chroma or saturation.
But why mute out the color red? Red is among the most vivid and boldest colors.
That's why it's used to represent strong emotions like passion and moods, as well as dominance. It's also the reason it's the perfect choice for stop signs in traffic lights; it can quickly catch attention.
Understandably, you will work on projects that require muted shades of red. You can reduce its vividness with the help of green, red's complementary color in the color wheel.
One thing to remember is that each shade of green complements a specific shade of red. It means that the green shade you'll use to mute cardinal red will be different from when you need to mute chili red.
That said, the top two choices for complementary colors when muting cadmium red are as follows:
- Phthalo Green
- Forest Green
Muting Red Using Phthalo Green
If you want a darker shade of muted red that you can use to create shadow effects in your artwork, phthalo green is the best additive color to use. This blend will produce a somewhat purplish-brown tint, so be careful with your ratio. Make sure you use as little green as you can.
Muting Red Color Using Forest Green
Now, if you want a lighter shade of muted red, forest green should be on top of your list because of its amazing light hue. Again, add as little green as possible to your red because a little too much of it can develop brown color.
Now, what if the muted red color is too dark for you? Well, you can lighten it!
How to Make The Red Color Lighter
When you look at how to make red lighter, most experts don't suggest adding white because it will produce pink. As you noticed in the guide above, you can lighten your reds with the help of the right shade of blue, yellow, or orange.
However, you can add white when it comes to muted red, which is naturally dark, as it will not produce pink. Here are the steps you need to take:
- Place a good amount of your muted red paint or watercolor on your palette.
- Add a little drop of your white.
- Using your palette knife or brush, mix the colors.
- Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and test it on a clean sheet of paper before using it.
How to Make the Color Red Burgundy
Often confused with maroon, burgundy is a color that is handy when you need a good contrast in your paintings. It's a deeper shade of red but not as vibrant or vivid as red.
As you go through the procedures listed below, you'll find it far more complicated than running to the store to buy burgundy paint or watercolor.
However, just like when making black, brown, or any color by blending your available colors, making burgundy out of your reds will help you create a more unique shade that can become one of the signatures of your artwork.
When it comes to how to make the red color burgundy, there are different ways to do so. The three methods we highly recommend are:
- Red, Blue, and Brown
- Red, Orange, Blue or Green, and Purple
- Red and Green
Making Burgandy with Red, Blue, and Brown
Using these three colors, create burgundy by following these steps:
- Place a good amount of your red paint or watercolor on your palette.
- Add a little amount of your blue.
- Blend the colors together using your palette knife or brush to make purple.
- Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and test it on a clean sheet of paper. If it still isn't purple enough, repeat steps 2 to 4 until you're happy with the purple shade you made.
- Now, take your brown coloring agent and add a little amount to the purple color you just made.
- Using your palette knife or brush, blend the colors.
- Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and test it on a clean sheet of paper. If it still isn't burgundy, repeat steps 2 to 4.
Making Burgandy Color with Red, Orange, Blue or Green, and Purple
Now, if these are the available colors you currently have, you can make burgundy by following these steps:
- Mix equal amounts of red, orange, and blue (or green) on your palette to make a deep brown color.
- Add a little amount of red and a little amount of purple.
- Blend the colors using your palette knife or brush.
- Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and test it on a clean sheet of paper. If it still isn't burgundy enough, repeat steps 2 to 4 until you're happy with the burgundy shade you made.
Make the Color Burgandy with Red and Green
Yes, the color you use to create mute reds can also be used to turn the red color into burgundy. The only difference is you'll be following a strict red:green ratio. That is two parts of your red coloring agent and one part of your green coloring agent.
Here's what you need to do:
- Place two parts of your red coloring agent on one side of your mixing palette.
- Next, place one part of your green coloring agent next to the red.
- Dip your palette knife into the green coloring agent and slowly bring it to the red to mix them.
- Continue mixing until you have one solid burgundy color.
- Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and test it on a clean sheet of paper.
- If it isn't burgundy enough, add a little red, mix, and test. Repeat if necessary.
How to Make Different Shades of Red
Did you know that there are more than 400 shades of red? Thus, we won't be able to share with you how to make all of them.
That said, we chose a few shades of red that we think are some of the most useful in most pieces of artwork, especially those that focus on projects related to nature, like fruits and flowers.
- Candy Apple Red: Add a little drop of orange to your red coloring agent.
- Cherry Red: Add a good amount of black to light red
- Crimson Red: Add a hint of blue to your red coloring agent.
- Hibiscus Red: Add a hint of purple to your red coloring agent.
- Indian Red: Add a small amount of white and blue coloring agents to your red coloring agent.
- Raspberry Red: Add a minute amount of magenta to red.
- Ruby Red: Add a tiny drop of black to your red coloring agent.
- Strawberry Red: Add a little amount of orange and white coloring agents to your red.
How to Make the Color Red - In Conclusion
Now that you're armed with the correct information on how to make the color red, from different shades to temperatures, it's time to start blending!
While little, minute, tiny, small, and good are too general or non-specific measurements, always start by adding as tiny of a drop as possible of the additive color when blending colors. This way, you can achieve your desired shade without wasting too much coloring agents, time, and effort.
And remember to keep a record of the ratios you used in making your own red color!
More Color Mixing
- How to Make the Color Brown
- How to Make the Color Black
- How to Make the Color Orange
- How to Make the Color Red
- How to Make the Color Purple
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