Three Ways to Mix Watercolors

Learn three methods for mixing watercolors to create different colors and effects, with Alex Hillkurtz

One of the many reasons for watercolor’s popularity is the freedom and experimentation that it affords. Beyond the technique you use when putting brush to paper, the way you mix your colors offers an opportunity to add your own personality to the page.

In this video, storyboard and watercolor artist Alex Hillkurtz (@alexhillkurtzart) shows three easy methods for mixing watercolors to create different colors and effects.

Three Ways to Mix Watercolors

1. Mix colors on your palette
This is a great method for creating custom colors that you can continue to use and match later on. In your palette, wet your two original colors before mixing them together with your brush. Adjust as needed by adding more water or more of either paint color.

2. Layer colors on the paper
Painting directly on your paper, put down a solid layer of a single color and allow it to dry. Then, add a layer of your secondary color. Because watercolor is translucent, you’ll see the base color through the second layer.

3. Blend colors on the paper
To create more of a gradient effect when mixing colors, paint half of your shape in one color, and the other half in another, leaving a small gap in between. Then, slowly pull them into each other, allowing them to merge and blend.

If you’d like to learn how to combine ink sketches with watercolor to illustrate buildings that jump off the page, don’t forget to check out Alex Hillkurtz's online course, Architectural Sketching with Watercolor and Ink.

You may also be interested in:

- Botanical Illustration with Watercolors, a course by Paulina Maciel · Canela
- Modern Watercolor Techniques, a course by Ana Victoria Calderon
- Experimental Watercolor Techniques for Beginners, a course by Ana Santos