Aside from teal and muddy brown color, there are plenty of various shades that you can discover from using different shades of brown and blue.
Mixing acrylic colors
It is often said that you can create every color by mixing the three primary colors: red, yellow and blue in different ratios and combinations. What usually isn’t mentioned, however, is that undertones are something to keep in mind as well when mixing colors.
In the Amsterdam acrylic color range, we offer sets with both primary and so-called additional mixing colors. The primary colors Primary Yellow, Primary Magenta and Primary Cyan tend to be a bit cooler, while the additional colors Azo Yellow Light, Naphthol Red Medium and Ultramarine create a warmer color palette. The sets also contain white and black to help you create different shades of the colors you mix.
Though both sets contain red, yellow and blue, the cooler colors have blue undertones whereas the warmer colors have red and yellow undertones. Using a six-color mixing system allows you to create colors in any color temperature, giving you more options than with a three-color mixing system.
Selecting the right colors
To create bright, pure colors, select colors with undertones that don’t “pollute” your desired color. For example, if you want to create a nice, bright violet, you should opt for Magenta and Cyan as they both have blue undertones.
If you were to mix Naphthol Red Medium with Ultramarine, you would still get a purple color, but since the red has a yellow undertone to create a warmer color, the purple will turn out a bit more yellow as well. This makes the color duller and not as vibrant as it could have been using colors with blue undertones.
Using just the primary colors, you would not be able to easily create a bright orange, for example, since Magenta has blue undertones. Using the additional mixing color Naphthol Red Medium and Azo Yellow Light, you can create a beautiful warm orange.
When mixing a cool-toned yellow with a cool-toned blue, the green that would come out is a bright, vibrant green. With the warm-toned colors, greens tend to lean more towards earthy brown or olive colors.
So yes, the three primary colors could in theory create every color there is, but it is much easier to start with six! Or eight if you want the added benefit of black and white to brighten or tone down your colors. This way you can easily create a wide range of colors in all different color temperatures and shades.
Brown and Blue on Color Wheel
Mixing brown and blue make a teal shade, a deep-toned blue color. In the RYB color wheel, blue is a primary color, together with other primary colors like red and yellow.
On the other hand, brown is a neutral color and doesn’t exist in the RYB color model.
Mixing yellow, cyan, and magenta, which are the same as the primary colors blue, red, and yellow give us a color brown shade.
Leran about mixing acrylic paint and basic color theory –> How To Mix Acrylic Paint? – Your Complete Color Mixing Guide
In the color wheel, the primary color blue is considered a cool color while brown is either warm or cool because it’s a neutral color and it will depend on pigments used to mix this brown.
It can be difficult to create a blue color from scratch since the it is a primary color. But you can try create some shades by mixing cyan and magenta. I do recommend just buying blue paint.
Neutral tones
Neutral colors are often used to create different shades, tones, and tints of other colors. They are also used to balance other color combinations. These neutral colors are the following:
- brown (there are a few ways to mix brown)
- grey
- white
- black (you can also make your own black)
So brown is one of the neutral colors and can be warm or cool depending on the shades of colors mixed to make brown.
What do blue and brown make?
Mixing primary color blue and brown results in a teal shade or muddy brown color, still depending on the shades of blue and brown that you’ll use.
For example, if you use a dark blue color and brown, you will get a shade of muddy brown color. If you use a warm brown color like burnt umber and mixed it with ultramarine blue, you may get a black color with dark blue undertone.
For example, if you mix cobalt blue and raw sienna you will get a shade of blue-grey or cobalt grey.
Mixing the primary color blue and reddish brown will give you a darker brown with a hint of violet undertone. So there’s no reason to be afraid and explore different shades.
What do Chocolate Brown (Vandyke) with Different Blue Shades make?
Depending on the shade of blue you are using, Vandyke brown mixed with blue will make shade of black and grey.
- Vandyke brown with Prussian Blue make black
- Vandyke brown with Phthalo Blue make black
- Vandyke brown with Cyan make black
- Vandyke brown with Cobalt Blue make dark grey close to black
- Vandyke brown with Ultramarine Blue make black
- Vandyke brown with Cerulean blue make very dark grey
- Vandyke brown with light Blue make grey
What do Burnt Sienna and blue make?
- Burnt Sienna with Prussian blue make brown
- Burnt Sienna with Phthalo blue makes dark brown close to black
- Burnt Sienna with Cyan makes dark green khaki
- Burnt Sienna with Cobalt Blue make grey
- Burnt Sienna with Ultramarine make brown
- Burn Sienna with Light blue make light brown
- Burnt Sienna with Cerulean Blue make teal
- Burnt Sienna with Turquoise in 1:1 ratio make grey with muddy green undertone
- Burnt Sienna with Turquoise in 1:2 ratio make green blueish green khaki.
What do Raw Sienna and blue make?
Mixing Raw Sienna with different shades of blue will make shades of green and teal.
- Raw Sienna with Prussian blue make black
- Raw Sienna with Phthalo blue make dark green with blue undertones
- Raw Sienna with Cyan make green
- Raw Sienna with Cobalt Blue make teal
- Raw Sienna with Ultramarine make dark brown close to black
- Raw Sienna with Light blue make light brown with green undertone
- Raw Sienna with Cerulean Blue make green
- Raw Sienna with Turquoise in 1:1 ratio make green with blue tones
What do Raw Umber and blue make?
Mixing Raw Umber with different shades of blue will make shades of black, green with blue undertones, and teal.
- Raw Umber with Prussian blue make black
- Raw Umber with Phthalo blue make very dark green, almost black
- Raw Umber with Cyan make dark green with some dark blue undertones
- Raw Umber with Cobalt Blue make teal
- Raw Umber with Ultramarine make black
- Raw Umber with Light blue make light grey with greenish undertones
- Raw Umber with Cerulean Blue make very dark aqua green
- Raw Umber with Turquoise in 1:1 ratio make green with blue tones
What do Burnt Umber and blue make?
Mixing Burnt Umber with different shades of blue will make shades of black, green with blue undertones, and teal.
- Burnt Umber with Prussian blue make black
- Burnt Umber with Phthalo blue make black
- Burnt Umber with Cyan make very dark blue
- Burnt Umber with Cobalt Blue make teal
- Burnt Umber with Ultramarine make black
- Burnt Umber with Light blue make grey
- Burnt Umber with Cerulean Blue make very dark teal
- Burnt Umber with Turquoise make grey with blue tones
What do Yellow Ochre and blue make?
You may consider yellow ochre as yellow or brown shade so I made a swatch for you:
Mixing Yellow Ochre with different shades of blue will make shades of green, from light to muddy.
- Yellow Ochre with Prussian blue make muddy dark green
- Yellow Ochre with Phthalo blue make green
- Yellow Ochre with Cyan make green
- Yellow Ochre with Cobalt Blue make light green
- Yellow Ochre with Ultramarine make muddy green
- Yellow Ochre with Light blue make light green
- Yellow Ochre with Cerulean Blue make green with blue tones
- Yellow Ochre with Turquoise make light green
Where to use blue and brown mixed?
The teal or dark blue color created by mixing blue and brown is best for various kinds like in interior designs. The different shades of teal you can get from mixing blue and brown are also suited as shadows in paintings and drawings.
Furthermore, you can use teal shades for fashion too. For instance, in a formal suit, the brown color can balance the intense color of a navy blue suit.
So even if the mixture of brown and blue can be tricky, you can actually use it in different aspects. Considering the tones, and shades of brown and blue can give you different moods in your room or artwork.
Royal Blue Color Wheel
This is a color wheel of royal blue only. It has eight different shades of royal blue including #1d44b8, #214cce, #2b58de, #4169e1, #577ae4, #6d8ce8, #839deb, and #a0b3f0.
The blue colors move from a very dark and intense royal blue of high saturation and low brightness to a very pale and delicate shade with low saturation and high brightness.
There are two ways to stay within the royal blue color wheel – by mixing it with white color or light blue to add a touch of brightness.
A color wheel designed specifically for royal blue is significant to artists and designers.
It can help you understand the complementary, analogous, and split-complementary colors that harmonize effectively with the color.
The complementary color for each shade can be determined by finding the color opposite it on the color wheel.
The complementary colors would be warm shades like orange, orange-red, burnt orange (#FF703D), or vermilion (#E34234).
Applications of Royal Blue
Royal blue has so many use cases.
Interior decoration with royal blue
One way to incorporate the paint into interior decorating is by painting one wall in a room with it and the others in a lighter blue color.
This technique creates a focal point, drawing attention to the royal blue wall and adding depth to the space.
The contrast between the warm blue shade and the light-colored walls creates a visually appealing balance, making the room feel larger and more open.
Use the paint on the ceiling to infuse a sense of grandeur into your living room or bedroom.
This unexpected choice adds a touch of drama and elegance to the space, elevating its overall aesthetic.
The rich royal blue above creates a sense of height and spaciousness, giving the room a luxurious ambiance.
You can also incorporate it on furniture pieces to add a bold pop of color. A royal blue sofa, chair, or accent table can serve as a statement piece, adding vibrancy and personality to a room.
Against a backdrop of neutral walls and furnishings, the furniture becomes the focal point, creating a captivating visual impact
Royal blue in fashion and style
It is a transformative color within fashion and style. A royal blue dress or suit for a formal event evokes an undeniable sense of sophistication and elegance.
Pairing it pants with a crisp white shirt or blouse exudes confidence and power, subtly commanding attention.
Introducing a royal blue scarf or accessory becomes an artistic stroke that adds a delightful pop of color, infusing personality and intrigue into any outfit.
Royal blue in art and photography
Royal blue takes on a transformative role as a background color, imbuing images with depth and drama.
It conjures a sense of mystery and vastness, as seen in the atmospheric night sky or the sprawling expanse of an ocean scene.
Whether used as an accent to enthral the viewer’s gaze, a background to evoke emotions, or a complementary partner to strike a harmonious balance, royal blue color emerges as a formidable ally in pursuing artistic expression.
Its presence breathes life into images, imprinting upon them an enduring impression within the discerning eyes of the perceptive observer.
Colors That Compliment Royal Blue
Royal blue pairs well with cool colors like orange, teal, and green. Blue and orange combined create a striking pairing further enhanced by cool colors like teal and green.
Green and blue match beautifully as green is the complementary color to red, the opposite of blue on the color wheel. It complements blue in color schemes and design.
Different shades of green like bright cool green or hunter green and forest green, provide a stunning contrast.
Blue mix yellow creates a vibrant shade of green. Golden yellow beautifully enhances royal blue, creating an eye-catching combination that captivates the senses.
Golden yellow’s warm shades combine royal blue’s deep, regal color to provide richness and sophistication.
However, pair it with shades of gray or silver for a more serene and calming effect.
The cool, neutral tones of gray or silver provide a subdued backdrop that allows royal blue to shine as the focal point.
This combination exudes a sense of refinement and modernity.
Royal blue and brown mixed make an elegant pairing in interior design. The warmth of brown harmonizes with the calming nature of blue, creating a balanced atmosphere.
Indigo complements royal blue as they are shades of blue, close on the spectrum. Blue and indigo create harmony when paired, offering depth and variation while maintaining unity and balance.
Royal blue and pink mixed color create a visually striking balance. The warm and vibrant nature of pink contrasts nicely with the deep and bold richness of royal blue.
