Color Mixing Series: Blacks | How to Mix Blacks in Watercolor

Welcome to the final episode in my mini series, Color Mixing! The purpose of this series is to learn how to mix secondary colors as well as browns and blacks, and how those mixes compare to tube versions of the same color family. Today we are going to look at what colors to mix to produce various shades of black and the difference when darkening colors with black vs. neutral tints vs. complimentary colors.

What are your favorite combinations for mixing blacks?

Music: C Major Prelude by Bach

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[mn]

Great video. The richest black I've ever mixed is Phthalo Green (blue shade) and Venetian Red. It's even blacker than Sumi ink.

[TheWipal]

i like slapping purple and brown together and that just nukes whatever into an instant black its great

[katherinesimonds]

Hi Denise. You have really found your niche. No one out there does color like you do and i have to say with all sincerity.. You just get better and better with every video. You are going to be absolutely huge! Remember you heard it here :)

[hannahthufvesson]

I like mixing Daniel Smith's Carbazole Violet and Perylene Green. It's super handy. And thank you for all your videos! You are so awesome!

[imissmypencils]

I've been playing around with Perylene Maroon and Pthalo Green (Blue shade). It gets as dark as some of my carbon black inks, pretty wild stuff.

[scatterbunny]

10:06 "The one on the right..."
10:12 "While the one on the right..."

Huh.

But thanks for the different mix demonstrations! I like the mix of bright orange with deep blue, as well as how the Jane's Gray is mixed. Will try this next time on my own.

[TsukabuNosoratori]

Thank you for this color mixing series! I'm learning how to mix blacks thanks to this video. One of my favorite two tone mixes is Burnt Umber and Anthraquinone Blue. Makes a very nice, dark, almost inky black that I just love for hair and things.

[uselessPincushion]

Thank you for making this video! I've always struggled with mixing blacks and this helped me understand it a little better. I look forward to your new series!

[sandjune]

Its so hard to find any videos on just Ivory black comparisons. In my search I found your video which is very helpful, so useful to know you can mix your own black should you need to, thank you for taking the time to do this video.

[onyxdragon]

I like to use Indigo and Sepia for my darks...

[mjpete]

I was surprised when you included the neutral tint in your wildlife palette, I was excited when after I asked for a tube of the Neutral tint from DaVinci they did offer me a half pan to complete my wildlife palette, when I asked them because I had already purchased all the colors previously before your palette was premiered. I just noticed the date on this video and I commend you again on your knowledge and I just continue to be impressed with your ability to convey this to your viewers, Myself included! Thanks again Denise, your a real GEM!

[asa-pi]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on mixing colors! I am still fairly new to watercolors (and a new subscriber!), so this video was extremely helpful! I didn't realize there were so many different combinations. Watercolor is an amazing medium!

[lourdesfernandez]

Thank you sooo much. This video was really of great help. You're great!!!❤🤗❤

[amitashyam]

Great! Video, very helpful, starting my zebras in water colour, wonder which one is best. I tried burnt umber with ultramarine blue, it’s not bad

[eternalsong]

i was playing around with my paint last week and discovered that perylene green and perylene maroon. it's a beautiful mix.

[DavidWilson-mebs]

This has been very informative for me. Just starting in watercolour with a basic kit. I didn't envisage using the three primary colours to make black, even though it is logical. Thank you a again.

[azzuparis]

Thank you Denise, this is a great tutorial. I always have problems in mixing back or dark colours so this video will help me out 😀 Thank you 😊😊😊

[essietangle]

It was fun b e f o r e you said neutral tint I said it. Since the browns I've been using it more. At the end of a project I luv to mix the leftover paint, it's amazing what you can get. Thanks for the series, they r great to refer back to.

[us]

M.Graham's neutral tint doesn't have black in it. It is created using Pthalo Green and Quin Violet. It's the best neutral tint out there.

[knittable_design_studio]

Yay, blacks!! I was waiting for it so much! Thanks for all of your color mixing videos!!!