6 Ways to Mix Blacks and Darks in Watercolor

[@InLiquidColor]

Thanks for making a great quick resources for this topic and taking the time to explain why black isn't necessarily evil on its own ;) My favorite combos right now are ultramarine and burnt umber, phthalo green and DVs alizarin crimson quinacridone or another cool red like carmine, and perylene green with perylene violet depending on the undertones I'm going for. MGs neutral tint is definitely my favorite neutral tint given that it's the PV19/PG7 mix, but I also love your Quin Violet mixture so I'll have to give that a try!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Awesome! Thanks for that input Denise. A great set of ideas.

[@lhouchin2157]

Just a thank you for this video. I am working on a project and knew I didn't want black black, but a mix. Usually use a UMB and BS mix. But I was needing something to go to tint out to more lavender. I researched several sites. The PG and QL mix I had not seen before and this is EXACTLY what I was after. I am so very thankful for your videos and what they have added to my journey. Thankful you share your gift with us.

[@Cre-Art]

I've gotten to really enjoy mixing colors rather than depending on what comes out of the tube. What used to be intimidating or challenging is now a lot of fun. Thanks for this video.

[@ptaylor4923]

Oh heck. You told us to go visit Jane Blundell's blog & I did. Oh heck. All those paint brands & color swatches. Oh heck. I think it must be like discovery the wonders of the Amazon rain forest for the first time. You just go deeper & deeper into the jungle until you're lost in there fooor-eeeeev-veeer. 😱 This is wonderful... Oh heck.

[@Jekisa111]

Oh, heck. This cracked me up. =)

[@LeighSmith_leigh_darling]

I was looking for advice on this, saw this video and yelled "OF COURSE I WANT ADVICE FROM WATERCOLOR DAD!" My husband knew immediately who it was. Thank you for another helpful video, explained in a calm, relaxed, and informative way, with really good shots for us visual learners. I appreciate the work you put in to these videos so much.

[@junelawniczak3794]

Thanks! Great info. Also, thank you for always mentioning other artists. That makes you extra special.

[@mindakahn9964]

I love when you do these mixing tutorials. You are absolutely the best at it.

[@Fleurdoodles]

Wow, such an awesome presentation of mixing blacks and darks! 👍 My favorite at the moment is Indigo with Burnt Umber. Greetings Maike 🖌

[@MyCrimsonMischief]

I love mixing blacks with pthalo blue and pereylene maroon, quin rose and pthalo green, and Also quin rust and pthalo blue red shade

[@mindofwatercolor]

Good ones!

[@owingsart]

This was perfect Steve. Loved the way you, "bent" the colors and that's just what I've been doing a lot lately in my own painting work. You also mentioned getting the mix, "inky", which is a perfect way to describe exactly what you want these darks to look like. Thanks man! - Marty

[@lisap5615]

Wonderful demonstration. Pairing complements works great for creating interesting neutrals, but it seems that using more intense colors works best for creating deeper black-like mixes. This was so helpful. Thank you so much!

[@lynncooper1781]

"Colours are brighter when the mind is open".- Adriana Alarcon Thank you for a great video.❤😀👍👍👍👍

[@BlackIsALightShade]

thank you so much! i had no clue using ivory black could give a ‘lifeless’ and ‘chalky’ look. you’re legitimately a life saver here. those blacks that you mixed are GORGEOUS. definitely going to save the mixing recipes.

[@MusingsFromTheDen]

I particularly like mix #5 for the way it granulated and some lovely organic greens separated out from the main colour. 😊

[@timeenuf4200]

Re black - Never say never. Always say maybe? So how did you know back in May of 2020 that I would need this EXACT information as a newbie? You are psychic as well as a fantastic teacher and artist. Thanks again for the perfect help.

[@robincooper9323]

Thank you for this video! I really appreciate how you showed what they tinted down to. Gorgeous blacks!

[@cassiescreations9828]

I really like the colors you chose to mix darks/blacks, especially bending the result. Great information for everyone!

[@GradyGillis]

I started with Chinese Brush Painting and Sumi-e. ALL black for many of the paintings I've done. In CBP I do also use colors on many occasions. Appropriate mixing and thinning gives all kinds of range of value with black. Differential loading of the brushes also gives range of value in one stroke of the brush.

[@janegadd1681]

fascinating, I can't wait to play with colours like this!!!!!!!!!!

[@ChantalDupuis]

Great combos! I use Viridian and Alazarin Crimson, Ultra Blue with either burnt or raw umbers are also my go to. Love the variety!

[@allanfink7816]

Thanks for the great simple demonstration. Years ago someone challenged me to create blacks out of compliments that are actually darker value than "tube black". It was surpringly easy. Further the blacks are richer, and as you pointed out, actually dark versions of colors in your painting. I found in my case, the rule is NOT "never use tube black" but rather "why bother with tube black?" when mixing does so much better. Tube blacks as products do have value, especially in graphic design works for lettering, line art, line border designs, logo design, and poster art. But for painting pictues, i agree, mixing is nearly always better. IMHO. I do also find black useful for monochromatic value studies, and working sketches similar to yours in your comments on Notan in other videos. I am also glad you demonstrate so many combinations.

[@SerenWen_art]

Only just discovered using indonthrone blue for mixing grey, the advantage being that it’s non granulating. It make nice greys and blacks with transparent pyroll orange

[@jeannettecomer8739]

Thanks Steve. I really needed this!

[@fredeemoon6053]

Always told all my students to create their own black.....it makes them a better artist .....they loved the challenge🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

[@4zengrl]

Very useful exercise! Thank you!!

[@annettefournier9655]

Thanks Steve. I have the M Graham neutral tint ,(came in a set), I've not known what to do with it except shadows. Now I have a new black! Thanks again.👍😁

[@MyCrimsonMischief]

annette fournier if you mix a bit more put halo green, it becomes an even deeper and darker black.

[@annettefournier9655]

@@MyCrimsonMischief 😊

[@krudler406]

yellow ochre + moonstone (DS) makes an interesting combo as well and of course viridian + alizarin crimson

[@danemeow8]

Amazingly useful. Love that per. green and violet mix, never thought of that combo..

[@AlichinaThePinkLady]

Great video! I'm from France and I use Sennelier watercolor. I love to mix their Permanent Alizarin Crimson Deep (a kind of earthy red) with their Ultramarine Deep to get a wonderful purplish black. When diluted it reminds me a little bit of the Moonglow from Daniel Smith.

[@niazhannanwatercolors]

A channel worth subscribing..keep inspiring sir🧡💚💛❤

[@pattycyr8662]

Excllent video and black happens to be exactly what I'm looking for at this time to incorporate into one of my watercolor paintings. Thanks very much.

[@drtsrk]

An excellent tutorial. Thanks!

[@comette4u]

You know... sometimes it's worth it to watch a video just to see the captions. These are great tips Steve. I'm going to make some cards for reference. Thanks!

[@InvokeArtSense]

Thank you for sharing these black recipes. This is very helpful

[@Finkeldinken]

Lovely! I always feel like a magician every time I make a black from clear, bright colours! One of my favourites is and the first one I found by myself was Rembrandts Hooker's Green x Dioxazine violet. I also like Perylene Green x Perylene violet

[@rileystanch3357]

I find it interesting how all the mixtures are of complementary colors together.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yup! Excellent observation.

[@santen2309]

I've been using mijello's sepia as a black. Its basically a warm black which I use often as I paint mostly people with darker skin tones, unlike other watercolor subjects, not having black on my palette is just impractical.

[@karenhoward303]

Great color lesson, thank you!

[@efeher7236]

Awesome video! You've demystified black tone mixing for me!

[@anthonyreeves5655]

Thank you for your excellent tutorials ,Tony .

[@elsagrace3893]

His name is Steve. Your name is Tony.

[@jessicasobel4287]

This was wonderful Steve!! I'm currently going through all of my colors and doing color mixes. I'm going to do a whole spread of blacks, so this is just perfect to reference!

[@elsagrace3893]

Pthalo green&Quin violet, MG neutral tint&pthalo blue, pthalo blue&red iron oxide, ultra marine&burnt sienna, anthraquinone blue&Quin rust, pthalo green&perylene maroon.

[@Ann-ey1tw]

This is a great video and useful information! Thanks Steve.

[@suzieblair8089]

Loved this video Steve. You took a confusing topic for beginners and explained it in simple terms, along with recipes for us to try. Thank you

[@maryanharrell5642]

I love those mixes, Steve. I haven't bought Jane's Grey, because I love Payne's Grey so much, but I am going to try these mixes for new very darks. I don't use black, typically, either. Thanks, I will experiment!

[@zara4leafclover]

My favorite black mixture has got to be Pyrrol Red and Pthalo Turquoise. I love dark colors with a more purple tint. I also love Diaxozine Purple with Pthalo Green, make a very pretty dark blue color.

[@ayedicko6452]

Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@azzuparis]

Thank you Steve, this video is so useful. I will surely use some of these beautiful mixes ☺️

[@baies9407]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us 😍 It's very usefull 💃🕺🎉 How funny it is that a lots of these are your favorite 😂

[@stinar37]

Great. Keep. Thanks. I tried indigo w burnt umber and got a nice super dark mix. Closest to black

[@dianalamm9938]

Hi Steve, thank you for this video about blacks. I enjoyed your post about palettes/plates greatly. In fact I find myself a lot freer transferring to a large plate for my paints. I am planning to purchase better quality paints in the future. I am looking for better flow. I constantly have to remind myself that this is a transparent work I am doing. I use Arches paper but my Hobby Lobby doesn't offer loose sheets or blocks as they once did. I think my plans are working out better when it comes to painting. I am currently using a variety of what paints are available locally, included in those is Winsor Newton. I seems to find all of my choices chalky right of the bat.....not muddy, chalky, yes they dry and break. Your tips and advice has helped me to even think about purchasing better quality materials.

[@agold1702]

Thanks- VERY helpful!

[@pattycyr8662]

These tips are very helpful - thanks very much!

[@Linda-qq5mg]

Thank you for a very interesting and informative video. Have a great weekend!

[@tracylynnw]

Thank you for this! Awesome as per usual 😊

[@engelinasimmons4686]

Thank you for your beautiful expertise 🎨

[@FloridianCalypso]

This was really great, thanks, Steve!

[@ptaylor4923]

Thank you so much. I love mixing colors

[@rnee1000]

Great information. I rarely use black and prefer to mix darks so this was very helpful.

[@oftenretold]

wonderfully informative video. very interested in trying the pthalo green and quin violet mix for myself 🙂

[@condorreades2148]

Black and opacity. Daniel Smith Lunar Black is actually transparent. Nicholas Lopez does phenomenal paintings with it. I find it incredibly tricky to use just because😊 it is transparent. I keep experimenting with it and so far not doing great!!!!

[@draynalds]

one of your best. Thanks

[@donnalieblick8478]

Thank you, again! I never fail to learn something new and look forward to each of your videos.

[@sundaysunshine2925]

Thank you for the great information

[@m.c.5124]

Than you so very much as always for taking your time to share your knowledge!!!!

[@Vgladstone1]

Thank you Steve for debunking blacks. I took out my neutral tints and Payne’s grey’s and added a black. Why you may ask, I like single pigments in my palette.

[@197432879]

Thank you 🙏

[@lesleykuhn8345]

Great tutorial! Thanks 😊

[@Shatril1]

Love this one, and I needed this one for a painting.

[@melitalyell6915]

THANK YOU Steve! Your videos are always just so informative, a wonderful resource 😊

[@michellefrey308]

Terrific! Thank you, Steve! I'll try some of these today.

[@carlaa.1617]

Thank you for the great video Steve. I look forward to creating a reference chart with lots of black mixes:)

[@somacarr7528]

We use ultramarine blue and burn orange for blacks in my watercolor class. She does it with fresh paint for a darker color.

[@nanschifris8734]

Fabulous lesson! Thank you!

[@yvonnewhitehouse]

Thank you I've been having trouble with getting a dark enough colour

[@agold1702]

Wonderful. I get it now.😊

[@sharonwieland]

I use pthalo green and alizarin crimson.

[@barbaragemin5117]

Thanks for that interesting lessons on darks. I've recently discovered indigo with burnt sienna. Lovely darks. Neutral tint, as you showed , can be very versatile.

[@lindakazel4273]

Thank you. One other aspect of watercolors that constantly confuses me is determining whether a color is “warm” or “cool.” For me, this is most troubling with reds and blues while where greens, browns, yellows fall seems more obvious, at least to me. How important is the warm/cool distinction? To add confusion, I’ve found instances where one artist’s “warm” blue (or red) is another’s “cool.” I paint mostly with DS and Renesans. I’m hoping one day, you can clear this up in a video. Thanks, Steve!

[@mindofwatercolor]

I actually have done a video on this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqmcpqBnfqecebs The confusion comes with trying to classify a color as absolutely warm or cool and that's not necessary. What's more important in painting is whether (on a color wheel) it "leans" warmer or cooler compared to another of a similar cool. Absolute cool is somewhere around a cyan and absolute warm is somewhere around an orange. Past those points in either direction a color will lean one way or another.

[@brianfisher1314]

Thank you, as always, very informative.

[@adelehammond1621]

i really like using alizrin crimson and phthalo green it makes great blacks and grays or i will use my netural tint the schminke one and add a red it naturlise it a little

[@aisazia]

Ohhh this is extremely useful! I didn't know you could make blacks with some of those colors!!! Guess I'll have to give them a try and play with my colors more! Could you maybe do a video on some of your favorite color mixes? I feel like there infinite possibilities with this. lol

[@karenjohnson6487]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@MadebyDawn23]

I was thinking of doing some studies with black paint, can you please consider painting black studies for future videos?

[@recoveringsoul755]

I think Teoh did a comparison of a bunch of different kinds of blacks from different brands. Really interesting the range of colors. It's not exactly what you are asking but might interest you. He actually said when he started painting he didn't use color, just focused on tones or hues or whatever the right word is (beginner here)

[@merryryely]

I don't use watercolors but I LOVE watercolor paintings. I use acrylics and I also avoid using black just because "Why?" Why use black if you can make a black that has a tint that you like not just Black black. It looks more natural to me because I can use the same colors from the rest of the painting to make a black, that makes the black match the rest of the painting. I guess you can say, there is more harmony that way.

[@howaydaabdelall]

Wonderfull. Thank you Steve

[@lisap5615]

Thanks!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thank you!

[@lisap5615]

@@mindofwatercolor Your welcome. I love your videos. They are so helpful.

[@stephaniealex1852]

Would love your suggestions on 12 colors to round our DS previous palate. The empty pans are crying out to be filled🤪

[@papillonbleu2782]

J'ai plutôt l'habitude d'utiliser les crayons de couleur. Mais quand je vois ta chaîne, ça me donne envie de m'y mettre :)

[@SarahKadrnka]

Hello there thanks for the advice. I find pure black can work sometimes but it can be quite unforgiving

[@stayseekate]

I wish I watched this before I made my Watercolor painting where I only diluted a mix of black and blue to create gray 😹😹😹 well there's always room for improvement... I'll use this combinations of colors to make my blacks and neutrals on my next watercolor practice. Thanks, Steve this was really helpful I never understood why there's this rules of no using blacks on Watercolors and now I'm enlightened... I will still use blacks just like you said it's not that taboo it just depends on what kind of color you want to achieve or maybe the flat black is part of the style hahaha...

[@stephaniem999]

What is your opinion on Daniel Smith lunar black? That's on the list for my next purchase.

[@5t4n5]

Hi Steve, any chance of a tour of that palette some time? Rather interested in what colours you have there and your thoughts on them. Keep well. Thanks.

[@Slotzzzz]

Mind.. thanks..

[@yangyangcourage3686]

thank you for sharing!

[@Shuvah2Him]

Very good! Thanks!

[@jenniefrench1338]

Great review!

[@KatzeARL]

Beautiful. I'm not into playing around with my colors for the heck of it (I usually make decisions on the spot about what hue a color is missing, because I do line-work and I'm very impatient) but I think I'm defenitely gonna give this a go. I consider myself to have a good eye for capturing color, but black have always eluded me :)

[@JoaoHenrique-xt2zf]

Did you use neutral black together with these colors or just mixed the colors and they got black? I am a beginner and I'm selecting colors to buy my first watercolor palette. Thank you!

[@mindofwatercolor]

I usually don't use black unless i'm doing something in grayscale tints. Most blacks just look too dead and flat to use as a dark. Color mixed darks have a richer depth than standard blacks.

[@essietangle9931]

Recipes, and my husband wanted me to bake cookies today..oh I forgot we are making blacks not chocolate. Mickey would be proud. Now I am off to make my own cards, great video. I do have a tube of black, I just add other colors to it to adjust it, when its gone I wont buy more. Hope you and your family enjoy the Memorial Weekend. Color on...

[@recoveringsoul755]

It's actually Minnie, she just hasn't put on her red polka-dot bow yet or her Eyelashes (bat bat bat)