How to mix green acrylic paint

[@rijaca3]

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."

[@willkempartschool]

Good one Janice, so pleased it helped. Just working on a new course looking at mixing and balancing greens at the moment. Will

[@patticriss2238]

@@willkempartschoolme too. I’ve been trying to tint green paints.

[@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.

[@willkempartschool]

Great to hear it helped. Will

[@shannamelissa5056]

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 sooooo 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!!

[@jutta3378]

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.

[@chericauseydooley6327]

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.

[@elleelle1229]

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!!

[@willkempartschool]

Glad you enjoyed it Elle

[@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

[@paintdiva6607]

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!

[@justabunneh6490]

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:

[@willkempartschool]

Good to know Justa, so pleased you've been learning lots from the lessons. Will

[@lahaza6515]

There's simply no one as good as you Will on KZbin. 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!

[@willkempartschool]

Ahh, you're too kind, so pleased you found the lesson helpful

[@patriciah3235]

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

[@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

[@user-wj4sb4rt1d]

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!

[@lunardogs2416]

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!

[@willkempartschool]

Glad I could help!

[@gracebock2900]

Very very new to painting, let alone mixing colors.Absolutely the kind of tutorials I need, as I've recieived a gift of painting supplies. M so glad I found u😘♥️

[@willkempartschool]

Glad it was helpful Grace

[@selfiopath1982]

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!

[@willkempartschool]

Good one, glad it helped with your mixes. Will

[@Keleia4Jesus]

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 KZbin is terrific, as I can stop, do, play, repeat! (Which is wonderful with my MS brain!)

[@willkempartschool]

+Keleia4Jesus So pleased to hear you're finding the videos helpful. Cheers, Will

[@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]

Oh good one Julie, really pleased it helped. Cheers, Will

[@lisapayne9491]

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Learning artists like myself can get a super education by helpful videos like this. Thanks for your generosity. Much appreciated.

[@willkempartschool]

My pleasure Lisa

[@vickicarol1733]

a great tutorial William, green is so hard to think through on a landscape. I am going to do a workup same as your and keep it at my easel for reference. I think everyone over does the green on their first landscape. Teach the brain and the eyes start to see!!! Thanks

[@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

[@willkempartschool]

Hi Gia, So glad the tutorials are being helpful. I'll keep them coming! 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 ! :)

[@willkempartschool]

+DoughnutBuranasaksin Good one, hope it helps with your green mixes. Cheers, Will

[@corneliuslinneball3785]

Great tutorial much better than any art school. Invaluable. Thank you

[@willkempartschool]

You're very welcome Cornelius

[@LastHollywoodgrl]

Thanks Will Kemp, for the green mixing tutorial. I have learned so much from your videos. You have lit a fire! I'm loving painting- especially acrylics which were never very successful for me.... until now. Forever grateful.

[@willkempartschool]

+Lee Lakso You're welcome Lee, really pleased you enjoyed the tutorial. Cheers, Will

[@edithensinckopkemna6981]

👍👍👍love the RAW Umber and the black version mix gives beautiful greens Thanks a lot great!

[@spitharoo]

I would never have thought of black with yellow, but it works. I've been using blue and yellow. I now see why my paintings never work out quite how I would like them to. Thank you.

[@karekorn78]

Mind blown! Never would have guessed black and yellow to make green. I could've saved a lot of $$ on paints if I'd watched your videos before beginning!

[@willkempartschool]

Glad it was helpful Karen. Will

[@nangustafson8110]

Super helpful info for a newbie to mixing acrylics. I like the top two rows of green. Much more natural looking.

[@willkempartschool]

Cheers Nan, yes those muted greens can be really handy in landscapes. Will

[@flamenco1961]

Been looking for the right colour in underpainting my northern seascape and you nailed it with burned umber and cad. yellow. Appreciations are in order!

[@willkempartschool]

Really pleased it helped Mark. Cheers, Will

[@Syburi]

Came here from your website which I found during a search for composition ideas. I'm loving the whole site. Thanks so much for sharing these. Also, the background music is great.

[@willkempartschool]

Wow Pete, thanks, I feel honored to accept such an award! Cheers, Will

[@twweety9]

I finished my ceramics project. (I had to paint it) It looks absolutley great thanks so so so much. I passed the class with a B. I take my first drawing class starting Tuesday. Can't wait :)

[@michellemcarnevale]

I Loved this video...it shows the diversity of color. I think my favorite greens are those made with various blacks.. I am primarily a painter in oils, so I use Ivory Black, Lamp Black, and I love those greens the most. Then I like the Burnt Umber greens...so warm and lovely

[@gigmoschmizmo]

Hey Will. I am currently painting a pond and is in need of the proper green for the water. Your burnt umber/cad yellow and the ultramarine blue/cad yellow mixes are just perfect. Thank you. Laurie.

[@willkempartschool]

Brilliant stuff Laurie, really pleased it helped for your pond painting. Cheers, Will

[@nevillebaker7206]

That Tip on making Green shades from those colours is just amazing from this I will go to your Web site to see if there are more great amazing Tips. Ned

[@MsGoldenheart27]

This video is super helpful i am painting a golden-tail sapphire hummingbird and i have misplaced my green so this video was extremely helpful i never thought to use brown or black thank you very much

[@willkempartschool]

MsGoldenheart27 ahh that's fantastic news, really pleased the video helped. Will

[@bweaver760]

Thank you for this demo. Mixing Greens can be very tricky. I learned here to use umber and black to mix with cad light yellow instead of blue. Thanks!!!!

[@willkempartschool]

Good one Beth, glad you found it helpful Will

[@infinitypaintingz964]

You mix colors like a dj ! awesome !

[@michellemcarnevale]

I Loved this video...it shows the diversity of color. I think my favorite greens are those made with various blacks.. I am primarily a painter in oils, so I use Ivory Black, Lamp Black, and I love those greens the most. Then I like the Burnt Umber greens...so warm and lovely. Could even show how to grey down the green a bit with it's complementary color.

[@okpablomustard]

Thank you for saying you don't need blue to make green! Something that should be dispelled from aspiring artists. Blue and Yellow (depending on the variation) will often make a muddy green and sometimes black. Cyan and Yellow = Green. Good video.

[@aokisatsuki3767]

this is really helpful. I’m buying paints but trying to keep costs low, and found a beautiful green I wanted to buy, but I figured I can just learn to mix it. these are wonderful.

[@willcosta7178]

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

[@willkempartschool]

Pleased you found it informative Wil, yes that black and yellow mix can be really handy. Cheers, Will

[@PumpkinPails]

I love that yellow paint! It's almost neon. I need to get some of that.

[@billiecook7005]

I found this incredibly helpful.These subtle greens would be wonderful in a painting

[@hannabusse8137]

Just really getting into painting, and this was SOOOOOO helpful! My greens last night were not turning out and I gave up on my trees. I can go back today and mix green with a little more confidence.

[@willkempartschool]

I'm so glad it was helpful Hanna

[@Tara00011]

Thanks - always have trouble with greens, so this helps a lot. You're always so helpful.

[@willkempartschool]

Pleased it helped Tara. Cheers, Will

[@wendybaldwin1858]

I just love your work Will, and you make things a lot simpler and easy to understand from Wendy Baldwin Strathdale Australia

[@petruskolar]

Where was youtube when I was attending art school? :(

[@phokit3459]

I was having such a hard time matching a green Pantone for a client… until this video. Thanks for helping me earn a paycheck!

[@willkempartschool]

You are so welcome!

[@willkempartschool]

Hi Ubiquidade, you can use premixed green, but often they are very harsh and can make your paintings look amateurish, by mixing your own, subtle greens you'll look like a pro! Cheers, Will

[@willkempartschool]

Naples yellow is a lovely colour, and can make some lovely greens, great choice.

[@pugmommy9865]

Thank you I was looking for a neon green mix and the last colors are perfect!

[@robertvigh467]

I should have watched this before painting my apples today lol. I used cerulean blue instead of ultramarine because I thought both the blue and yellow had to be warm. The color ended up pretty dull, and became very “minty” with any amount of white. Love the lessons Will!

[@willkempartschool]

Glad I could help Robert.

[@michellepoyser263]

Your quick lessons are so helpful and inspiring! A big thank you!

[@willkempartschool]

Michelle Poyser You're welcome Michelle, really pleased you've been finding them helpful. Cheers, Will

[@willkempartschool]

Thanks paintdiva, Great to hear it's helped to take the mystery out of paint mixing! Will

[@lynneburgess5865]

Brilliant! Exactly what I wanted in a short and concise video. EXCELLENT! Thanks

[@willkempartschool]

+Lynne Burgess Thanks Lynne, so pleased you found it helpful. Cheers, Will

[@Disciple_Of_Lerxst]

I love that Acid Green!!!

[@meganneale2074]

This was so helpful. Black ... who would have thunk!. Many thanks. Lovely taste in music too BTW.

[@willkempartschool]

Glad you enjoyed it Megan. Will

[@MaggieF59]

Thank you for this. I've been struggling trying to get decent greens for months. Going to try it out now. :)

[@parvaiznaseem8831]

Great lesson. Learned so much more about mixing Greens!

[@willkempartschool]

Hi Ardeshir, Phthalo Blue (green shade) is also called Winsor Blue in Winsor and Newton paints but is usually just Phthalo blue (G/S). Most if not all art stores will stock it and it has a very strong tinting strength , perfect for bright turquoise or bright, vivid green. The palette in this example is a tear off palette, so it is dry when you put the paint on.

[@josephmcveigh872]

Great video right to the point Packed the knowledge So professionally done I will watch many more I am sure

[@lilacquilter]

Loved the medium & gel videos! I can't wait to watch your other videos. So much seascape to paint here in Maine. Cheers!

[@willkempartschool]

Hi thisaccissecret, Thanks for the comment, pleased to hear you enjoyed the video, Will

[@willkempartschool]

Good one, Greens are tricky! Cheers, Will

[@anneg6635]

Hello from France, Will, and thank you sooo much for your help with colours. I'm a beginner, and I decided to do a birch forest, but could I get the greens I wanted??? I remembered watching one of your videos on acrylic mixing and just found it again. Pheeew, I found exactly what I was looking for, a kind of slightly khaki shade, with the Carbon black and Cadmium Yellow Light... So, it's back to the canvas with my grateful thanks. I think you're a brilliant teacher, clear, concise, and your demonstrations speak for themselves. I particularly appreciate your putting in the video as subtitles the actual colours your use to mix. With kind regards, Anne

[@willkempartschool]

Thanks very much Anne, very kind of you to say so, glad you managed to mix the green you were after for your painting. Cheers, Will

[@nerys723]

Thanks this is a great help to mix nice greens.

[@willkempartschool]

Good one Nerys, pleased it helped with your colour mixing. Will

[@willkempartschool]

Hey spitharoo, you're welcome, black can be sooo useful in painting, enjoy mixing some lovely greens! Will

[@DJSHADDY2K7]

Willkemp your video are one of the most best video on you tube.Keep the video comeing but keep up the good work

[@ellejake1]

Really great tutorial and explanation. Thank you. Soo many greens on the market with very different outcomes when mixed, good to know you can make a range of more natural greens from using black or brown. Regards Ellie

[@willkempartschool]

Glad it helped Ellie

[@amandagioia1]

I love this how you didn't use the blue. Very great to learn new things. Thank you. Subscribed

[@willkempartschool]

Amanda Ashley pleased you enjoyed it Amanda, Cheers, Will

[@amandagioia1]

Cheers to you too Will. Thanks again.

[@willkempartschool]

Hey Rosie, thanks for the comment, pleased you enjoyed the video. Phthalo Blue is very handy when trying to create a very bright turquoise. Thanks, Will

[@willkempartschool]

@DJSHADDY2K7 Thanks DJSHADDY, very kind of you to say so, pleased to hear your enjoying them, I've got lots more coming! Will

[@candie1560]

Thank you so much, used your informative video and came up with the exact green I needed to finish a piece of furniture.

[@willkempartschool]

Glad I could help!

[@willkempartschool]

pleased you enjoyed it, Will

[@jooji1979]

This was really informative My teacher told me last night to work on my greens Thank you very very much

[@TheMarPacifico]

Very nice video and valuable lesson....who could have thought black+ yellow to get a beautiful green...

[@trkms]

I was struggling with greens for the last week. Thanks for the lesson!

[@willkempartschool]

So pleased it helped.

[@lisamish67]

This is so amazing thank you! Green has been the bane of my existence

[@maryannerouse4704]

This was so helpful; the purple video as well. Thank you.

[@willkempartschool]

Hi Monica, the black and yellow do make a lovely muted green. Will

[@eziomattassi5864]

Youre presentation about mixing green is absolutely a delight. It was very easy fir me to be able to moddified what I havv done with my sad acrylics greens. Now I need to know how to paint greens in the background,; I don't get the right effect by adding white or black, it gets muddy.Thankss, Ezio

[@willkempartschool]

Good one Ezio, really pleased you found it helpful for your landscapes/ Will

[@theoriginalfirefly4721]

Thank you so much! I was trying to paint a piece of clothing that had sort of an olive green and didn’t know how I would get that colour! This really helped!

[@willkempartschool]

Glad I could help! Will

[@precisepilatessf9162]

acid green...my favorite! all your videos are great!

[@willkempartschool]

+PrecisePilatesSF Pleased you're enjoying them precise pliates!

[@sleepydrJ]

This is just a fantastic demonstration!

[@calin4thewin]

Your palette videos are super-helpful, also your mixing-related articles one the blog :) I'm one of those painters that are "greedy" about colors, and so I didn't mix full strings. Turns out I may save a few cents' worth of paint, and then waste A LOT of hours on slow painting, due to repeated, unnecessary mixing. Your vids help with making the switch to more efficient techniques, better use of time.

[@bluegreenworld333]

Love this visual aid to colour mixing and the fun music 🎶

[@willkempartschool]

Glad you like it!

[@willkempartschool]

Good one Ashley, pleased you found it helpful, Cheers, Will

[@debking74]

I like the black I never use black like this before, It very nice. thank you for sharing

[@willkempartschool]

you're welcome, pleased it helped. Cheers, Will

[@teddyoggin]

Really informative and basic information that I needed to know. Thanks for posting it.

[@willkempartschool]

Thanks very much GogoGreece, the black and yellow is nice! Cheers, Will

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

Probably when starting out, most of us vary the yellow far more than whatever we mix with it - so for dull greens, we might go for yellow ochre as opposed to Cadmium Yellow; but as you show here, there are many, many more variations possible. The only small caveat I would make is that it's a lot easier to dull down an over-bright green than it is to brighten one that's dull already.

[@patcarroll9234]

I need moss green, which looks like the first example (top row). I would never have thought of combining yellow and brown. Thank you! Brilliant.

[@willkempartschool]

So pleased it helped with your moss green pat. Cheers, Will

[@ruthmoore1448]

Thanks for the lesson, I like the black and yellow combination!

[@willkempartschool]

+Ruth Moore Pleased you found it helpful Ruth. Cheers, Will

[@willkempartschool]

Thanks Craig, pleased you found the video helpful. Will

[@willkempartschool]

Good one Bell, pleased it helped our colour mixing Cheers, Will

[@howphancy]

Learned something New!! Love those greens

[@twweety9]

you sir are awesome. I just thank you I am an art major first year and I'm learning all this I am painting some bottles from my ceramics class and I am having trouble with mixing the perfect blue. just thanks