How to Create Vibrant Acrylic Color (Avoid this Error)

What is the number one error beginners make when mixing acrylic colors? In this lesson I will show you the "before and after" result of using acrylic colors better. These are student acrylics, but they can still produce stunning vibrant color if used correctly. I am confident this approach will give you better color in your next acrylic painting.
✅ Join the course and complete this painting: hi.switchy.io/ColorAcrylics
✅ Art Materials:
- Amsterdam Acrylic Colors Introductory Set: amzn.to/3blVru6
- Amsterdam acrylics (36 tubes set): amzn.to/34WkjaO
- Oil & Acrylic Paint Brushes Set. 100% Natural Chungking: amzn.to/2QJPs8F
- Palette Knife Painting Set: amzn.to/39Isac6
- Artist Paint Brushes - Top Quality Red Sable : amzn.to/2rU0oYQ
- Brush Cleaner: amzn.to/2QoLN0R
- H-Frame Artist's Easel: amzn.to/2Fn2UtK
- Canvas panels for practice: amzn.to/2Fmuuax

[@MalcolmDewey]

I hope this acrylic painting tip is helpful to you. I republished this video as the first version, for some reason, had a sound problem in the middle. So if you have seen the previous version then this one may be better. Happy painting!

[@peterwillems8721]

Thanks Valuable and very practical advice (I've seen 'the light' now ... Haha ... But, no kidding, colors and how to make them stronger, with more 'punch' is of so basic, fundamental importance to a painter, because thát's the ABC at his disposal. Thát's pictorial. Thát's painting the right way.)

[@martincarole3822]

Thank you for recalling the basics of acrylic painting, sometimes I forget...

[@sarahk3643]

This is the first time I’ve heard this advice, which is amazing considering the ungodly amount of time I’ve spent reading articles, watching videos, etc. about color and paint. Thank you for sharing! You have changed my perspective completely!

[@MalcolmDewey]

You're so welcome!

[@Rose-pf6pk]

Me too!! It will help me with my wedding gift for my son and If they don’t want it, I will keep it!!!!

[@Rose-pf6pk]

You answered my main question as I looked for videos : How to keep colors bright. Thank you so much. Following you!!!!

[@Flora-ec4qz]

Wow! I personally use titanium white a lot in order to make the color opaque and thick so that 1 layers is enough. I don’t add water. Your way of layering with water and having transparency remind me of painting with gouache, nice one!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thanks for sharing!

[@deborahrech7429]

Very useful! Sometimes the color in my acrylic paintings looks a bit flat. I’m going to avoid using white except to highlight and see the results.

[@janakiperera7387]

I always added white to all my acrylic colours to make it opaque. This is a real eye opener. Thank you very much. Fabulous lesson. Thank you

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you very much.

[@BrigitteLenoski]

T hank you so much! really enjoy your online tutorials!

[@MalcolmDewey]

You're very welcome!

[@charlotteburns7143]

I was reading, "Making Colors Sing," last night and realized there is a difference between opaque and transparent paints in watercolors, and how one should lean towards transparent if they want their paintings to be more vibrant. You've taught me how to do this with acrylics which is what I use the most frequently.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you Charlotte. I am happy to hear that.

[@lisakallen4711]

Ld

[@jacipetrie1194]

I restarted an abandoned painting after watching this video. I have been watching all your vidoes and really needed to get the shadow trick right. SO i have plunged into it again hopefully a better result this time. The paint may end up thicker than the board though. Thank you for all your knowledge and patience! Jaci (Durban)

[@MalcolmDewey]

Sounds good 😁

[@fatoomgierdien2181]

Very useful Tips!! I also appreciate the painting lesson. Thank You. Definitely a big difference.

[@sanayavg]

Splendid! Thank you!

[@maisie6904]

I’ve never had this advice before and have been taking acrylics classes for a while - thank you so much ❤️

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you!

[@maisie6904]

@@MalcolmDewey My absolute pleasure. I am currently undertaking another advanced acrylics course and this has not been mentioned- I wanted an oils course, but not on offer on the University’s continuous learning program. Thank you again .

[@hollieharlow1129]

Malcolm, when you were trying to get the peach colour on the left, and you said you couldn't get a good peachy colour, I howled. To my eye if you wanted a peach colour you needed far more white! Thank you for this series.

[@MalcolmDewey]

I am never happy with a peach color made from a lot of white paint. I would rather have a red, pink or orange color as it adds vibrancy. The way I see it is sunlight is yellow and when you add yellow to a peach color it gets more orange. That is a true peach color 😊

[@tereasagolka9524]

Fantastic demo and comparison! Thank you!!

[@MalcolmDewey]

My pleasure!

[@SusanMJB45]

Excellent...... thank you !!!

[@jacolineloewen6530]

Colour mixing is important and soemthing I am just learning from your videos.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Excellent, thank you

[@lucillefemine]

You're the best. So glad I found you

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you 😊

[@ShakilaTaranumMaan]

This is a God send thank you

[@MalcolmDewey]

You are welcome, thanks

[@Regina30007]

I love this.

[@SneakCleaners519]

Thank God

[@ellenvd5543]

Never thought about this....Thanks so much for the information! (I can use it in abstract painting as well....)

[@MalcolmDewey]

Good to hear that, thank you.

[@erraticeve777]

SO HELPFUL

[@saharm2454]

Your work is amazing thank you

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you very much!

[@vickyvictoria4u]

Thank you for the tip

[@wonwong676]

thx for your advice

[@saharm2454]

Thank you so much

[@Engelhafen]

You have such a great color sense

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you 😊

[@gailrees7703]

Thank you so much I'm so happy with this

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you Gail

[@frances3254]

thank you very much!!!!!

[@erin758]

when mixing, zinc white is better than titanium white to avoid washed out colors

[@vs3151]

Thank you 😊

[@MultiCII]

Great tip!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you

[@bearbait7405]

Thank you

[@carlametcalfe4342]

Beautiful

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you

[@gwenbaby6293]

Really enjoyable and incredibly useful video. Loved the subject of your painting demo too 🍑🍑🍑🍑

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you Anna 😊

[@Chaiyotartist]

good👍👏👏

[@chandanapathak1602]

Just the midtake I was making

[@jackal1776]

I’m guilty of too much white for sure. Inexperience is the problem. If I want to “brighten” something up my mind always thinks add white.

[@lifeofhazeltheredmerletoya4845]

Not sure why this video popped up wasn't looking for this but hey I'm here, I'll give A tip. I know this video is A year old, but maybe this will help someone. Use Zinc white for vibrant colors. Use Titanium White for softer Pale colors.

[@gretaklug]

Thank you for the valuable tips in this demo. I have a question - When painting Plein air how do you keep your acrylics from drying too quickly?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you. Keep a spritzer to keep them lightly moist. Don' t let the piles sit around drying and filming over. Avoid direct sunlight and try to work quickly by planning ahead.

[@jennaharris3975]

Is there a way to lighten a color without using white? The best I've found is using yellow instead, but like with blue, you can only add so much before it becomes too green. For example what would you suggest to lighten a dioxazine violet? I always use contrasting colors to deepen, like a touch of green to reds, but can't seem to find the opposite effect. Thankyou so much, you do great work!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes a light value color can work provided the result is a desired hue. Also painting thin over a light surface lets that light show though. With violet you do have it's complement like yellow to desaturate it. But you're getting very small value charges and losing vibrancy. Using more transparent hues over light surfaces and even glazing over dry paint could help. I find that a little white can sometimes be unnoticed if you still keep vibrancy with enough color mixed in.

[@anjaliarora8501]

This is lovely! What other medium are you using, I notice you are dipping your brush in something, is it just water?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes, it is!

[@user-vr8bc1wo6x]

I'm a water colorist, and was getting so frustrated with How to lighten acrylic, and make it more transparent, without using white. I can not wait to go and try this out.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Great to hear that!

[@lucillefemine2339]

Do you regularly use Amsterdam for your own painting? I'm deciding on that or go back to Golden for it's creamy thickness. You're my go to guy now. Been making mistakes for years with acrylic! Also, have you reviewed Arteza paints?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes I use Amsterdam a lot as a consistent student paint, as most of my students are happy with them. Golden of course is better, but pricey for learning.

[@lucillefemine2339]

@@MalcolmDewey Thanks a lot

[@spoddie]

Malcolm, what is the name of the brushes? I couldn't pick up the name and I haven't heard of them before. (thanks as always)

[@MalcolmDewey]

They are called Cryla by Daler Rowney.

[@AbiNomac]

So as a beginner I understood that yellow should be substituted for white to create colour and vibrancy. Or is there more to it than that? How would the yellow work if I wanted to paint a dark atmosphere or a winter scene? How would you make white even more vibrant for the highlights? Sorry for all the questions, I’m just trying to get better understanding about this concept. Thank you

[@MalcolmDewey]

Not substituted, but add a little yellow to the white to warm it up in sunny conditions. White out the tube is cold. If the light is cold then add a little blue to the white to give it that cold light effect. Dark - then use less white and more blue-violet and adjust the values as required. Highlights are mainly warm white as described above. They show up more against darks and complements.

[@AbiNomac]

@@MalcolmDewey - Thank you I appreciate your willingness to reply. I will be taking your course later in the year

[@pekay4274]

This works fine when painting peaches. But how can it be applied on painting portraits with a lot of light skin tones?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Try for directional lighting so that you have a range of values from dark to light. This will allow colorful lights against richer darks.

[@MaryArts]

Even our skin is fairly pigmented. Also a portrait looks nicer with high contrasting colours. Like he said, get an atmospheric light source and you see that there are so many colours

[@danaryan]

I’m guilty of over whiting paint😂

[@MalcolmDewey]

😄