How to mix green acrylic paint

This video gives a simple demonstration of how you can make different shades of green by mixing different colors.

Acrylic Paints used:
Ultramarine Blue
Cadmium Yellow (light)
Burnt umber
Phthalo blue
Carbon black
Golden Heavy body Acrylics

More info on colour mixing basics:


Music by Eleven Storeys High - City Fox

[rijaca]

Okay, I am a bit late viewing this one. Eleven years, but it is incredible! I would never have thought to mix black and yellow to get the exceptional green I have been searching for. Amazing! Thank you, Will, for putting this together for all of us struggling to "get green right."

[renaeweidman]

Black and yellow make green! Who knew! Thank you so much for these classes. I am just starting to paint and I find it fascinating and something that brings me much happiness.

[chericauseydooley]

I would never have thought to try making green with burnt umber or black with yellow! As a beginner I have so much to learn. Thanks for the tutorials as I'm finding them very educational. 

[willkempartschool]

Its called a tear-off palette, and is 50 sheets of disposable wax paper you can mix on, and then throw away.
Cheers,
Will

[justabunneh]

I really appreciate your style of teaching. I have ADHD, so long winded chatter in tutorials makes me skip through. The limited, but perfect use of instruction really gets through to me, and it's more visual than anything. Plus the videos all being under 5 or 10 minutes is a plus. I'm learning a ton, woo! c:

[jutta]

Ah yes...the tubes of green that come in the beginner's paint sets. The lovely but unforgiving "Emerald Green" disguised as "Medium Green" on the label and the eye-watering "Light Green" so bright it glows in the dark! I went through my paint stash and found 7 mini tubes of greens as well as a pint (!) container of "Cobalt Green" which was very cheap and looks like poster paint when dry. After watching this very excellent tutorial of yours I think I'm finally ready to part with my naughty greens and embrace the idea of mixing my own. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your experience with the beginning artist.

[patriciah]

"Acid Green" helps me remember the difference between aquamarine blue and pthalo blue. Great demonstration!

[lahaza]

There's simply no one as good as you Will on YouTube.
Yes, there are so many great people who's art blows me completely away, but for teaching ability mixed with sheer talent; it's you.
You've helped me countless times and today is one of them.
I'm an amateur and LOVE tonal, elemental colors.
I've been using black to make my greens and never knew about burnt umber vs black, but was so happy to hear the "blue" thing
because other channels always suggest blue & it's just not natural looking.
Anyway, thanks!

[paintdiva]

This was a great tutorial! I never realized the range of greens that could be mixed. You've taken the mystery out of paint mixing! Looking forward to learning more from you!

[willkempartschool]

Thanks Calin, yes it can be hard to start with not to fall into the "I'm wasting too much paint trap" but especially with acrylics the more time available for the actual painting rather than the mixing the better.

Will

[elleelle]

Listening to your music and watching you smoothly mix paints...is better than meditation! Thank you so much for sharing in this generous and lovely way!!

[lunardogs]

i really appreciate this video. im starting to paint miniatures and was worried i would have to shell out for 10x more green paints than all the other colour types i have, so this has saved me a bunch of money. lifesaver!

[selfiopath]

This video is a gem! I've just fallen in love with colour mixing. Made me realize how amateur I am (been painting for 4 months without mixing much). I love this old-school approach to the colour. Thank you so much!

[shannamelissa]

HI!! the best thing i ever did on youtube was subscribe to your channel, I have now realised the things i've been doing wrong, it's quite difficult to get painting lessons where I live and when i ask artist for help and tips they are usually not open and willing to help out so THANK YOU much, I love painting but need to learn alot and I learn from you, you're incredibly talented and a great teacher, don't stop the tutorials!! have an amazing day!!

[wjsbrtd]

The second to last mixture you performed with the Phthalo blue and Cadmium yellow got me excited, as I have been searching for a really nice sea foam green, thanks for sharing!

[Cryptichroma]

This helped me a lot. I was trying to make the right chartreuse and you showed me what I'd never have considered: the black. It's just what I needed, thank you!

[willkempartschool]

Hey cynthia,

Your best bet would be the Winsor and Newton Artist Acrylic as they have been developed with a slight sheen added.
They also have a very minimal colour shift and are widely available.
I predominately use Golden and adjust the sheen in the varnish stage.

Hope this helps,

Will

[Doughnutthanwarin]

Wow didn't know that black and yellow and really make nice greens. This vid shows how new i am on painting. Thank you. Love the music backgrown btw ! :)

[KeleiaJesus]

Will, I am just amazed at the quality of your videos. As a VERY new painter, I'm thrilled to not only look at various art books, etc., but to watch, listen and learn allongside you via YouTube is terrific, as I can stop, do, play, repeat! (Which is wonderful with my MS brain!)

[willcosta]

I like the black added to the yellow.
Never would have guessed that combination. Thanks for the video.