Pink is truly a wonder to behold as it offers such a fun and upbeat feeling to any art project. Although it is commonly believed that it is a simple color to make, there are so many variations.
When it comes to mixing pink paint, it is quite common to mix several shades together so that you can get the right tone that you are looking for.
So, how do you make pink paint darker? Base pink is created using red and white paint, so if you want to make pink a bit darker, simply use more red. However, if you want pink to look darker without looking redder, you can also experiment with adding a bit of purple, yellow, green, or brown to the paint.
In this article, let’s take a look at how to mix different hues of pink paint for your next project.
Uses Of Pink
According to color psychology, the color pink has various psychological and emotional effects. Aside from being associated with positivity and hope, the color pink can also help people feel joy and a sense of calm. That’s why children’s clothing and stores always have various shades of pink as decor!
The color pink is also known to have a positive effect on people’s sense of nurture and care. It’s believed that this attribute is due to the fact that it’s considered to be more of a feminine color. Associated as a color for breast cancer awareness as well, it can also encourage people to feel hopeful and positive.
Various shades of pink are also commonly used in the packaging and presentation of sweets. From the pink icing on doughnuts to the pink lollipops, the use of these colors makes them incredibly appealing.
Since different shades of pink can create various emotional reactions, it’s important to know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to using pink in your art to make sure that your design will create the best possible impression.
The darker shades of pink, such as hot pink and magenta, are known to be associated with passion and love. On the other hand, lighter pinks, such as baby pink and pastel pinks, are known to provide a more feminine and childlike feeling.
There is such a wide range available with pink that it can be overwhelming to choose what’s suitable for your project. Let’s take a look at how to make various shades of pink below.
What Colors Make Pink?
Everyone who has seen a color wheel or graduated from kindergarten knows that pink is made when you mix white and red. Depending on how dark or how light you want the pink to be, you can use more red paint or white paint until the pink is just the right shade.
But there are also many, many different shades of red ranging from cool tones to warm tones. The base shade of red can also affect how your pink will turn out.
The color temperature – how cool or warm your color looks – is referred to as color bias. In the color wheel, you can see that true red, a primary color, sits in between purple and orange.
When red has a bit more orange, it’s referred to as a warm-toned color. When the color leans more towards purple, it’s referred to as a cool-toned color.
When different shades of red are combined with white, the warm shades of red, such as cadmium, scarlet red, and crimson, will produce pink shades that are closer to the colors of peach and orange. On the other hand, cooler reds, such as carnelian red or vermilion, will produce a pink that’s closer to purple.
When painting, it’s always good to have a variety of shades of the same color, which can help you create a unique and vibrant palette with colors that naturally harmonize with one another.
You can do this by creating your ideal shade of pink and then mixing several variations to add depth and dimension in your artwork.
For example, if you’re planning on painting a delicate rose, you’ll need to use darker and lighter shades of pink to create highlights and shadows. These colors can be used to achieve a realistic look.
Even if you’re planning on using vibrant and bold colors in your design or painting, it’s important to avoid using the brightest pinks. To achieve a more balanced look, it’s sometimes necessary to mute the colors so that the colors complement one another and avoid creating a far too bright or saturated look.
A small amount of green or yellow, which are complementary colors to pink, can be used to mute the colors. The exact shade you’ll get will depend on how much green or yellow you mix in. Start with small amounts to make sure you don’t go overboard and create brown.
In case you missed an art class, here’s a great video explaining color theory from Sarah Renae Clark on YouTube.
How To Make Dark Pink
True pink is made in just two colors – red and white. If you want the color to look a bit darker, simply add a few more drops of red to the mix.
If you want the color to become even darker, you can try mixing in a bit of blue, purple, brown, or even black. However, black is often too harsh and desaturates the pink. A little bit will go a long way, so you can gradually mix in these dark colors to achieve just the right shade.
When it comes to mixing paint, experimentation is the key, so don’t be afraid to find different variations of the same color to get the most suitable version for your palette.
Here’s a visual tutorial for mixing different shades and shadows or taking a bright color like pink and toning it down from Michele Theberge.
How to Make Light Pink
Similarly, if you want to make light pink, simply adjust the ratio of red paint and white paint to use more white instead of red. The result will be a pale, pastel pink that’s quite suitable for muted palettes.
What if you don’t have white paint? You can also use various other light colors to make light pink without white paint.
If you don’t have white paint, you can try mixing a dark red with a muted yellow. Primary red and primary yellow usually make orange, but when the colors are a bit more muted, you’ll get a lovely taupe pink color that’s suitable for a neutral palette.
You can adjust the ratio between red and yellow in this case to make the perfect shade of pink in this palette.
How To Make Pink Using Watercolor
In the previous sections, we’ve discussed how to mix regular paint, but watercolor deserves its own section because it’s quite particular when it comes to paint mixing.
This is because watercolor is sold as pigment that can be activated using just water. The water dilutes the pigments, and depending on how much pigment you pick up and how much water you use, the resulting color will look different.
What does that mean for paint mixing? It means that sometimes, it’s not necessary to mix two different colors to make a lighter color.
For instance, if you’re trying to create a lighter pink, you can combine the colors of red and white, or you can just use red and dilute the pigment with water to create a light pink. Doing so can help create a more balanced and pleasing pink tone.
If you want to create a darker pink, simply use more dark pigments like red, brown, and purple. The water will help activate the pigment and dilute the paint evenly, helping you create a lovely shade of dark pink without having to use white paint.
What Colors Compliment Pink?
Mixing the perfect palette for your next painting project requires some understanding of color theory. Once you have achieved the perfect shade of pink, let’s take a look at what colors will work well with pink.
Complementary Colors
On the color wheel, colors that are the exact opposite are complementary colors. For pink, that would be green. Depending on where on the color wheel your shade of pink is, you can find just the right shade of green to complement it for a balanced and harmonious look.
Analogous Colors
One of the easiest ways to create a strong color palette is by combining analogous colors – colors that are right next to each other on the color wheel. For instance, you can use red and orange to complement pink.
You can also use various shades of pink, such as blush, baby pink, and rose, to complement one another.
Triad And Rectangle Colors
Colors like pink, yellow, and blue work so well together because they belong in a triad – they create a perfect triangle on the color wheel. This is called a triad color scheme, and it works perfectly to find complementary colors for various shades of pink.
Similarly, we also have rectangle color schemes – colors that draw a rectangle on the color wheel. Pink belongs in the rectangle color scheme with orange-red, teal, and indigo.
Contrasting Colors
Pink is vibrant and playful, but it’s also often seen as a childish color. By pairing it with a darker color, like black or brown, you can create a bold and interesting look. For example, adding a black border to a pink shape can make the pink appear more vibrant and striking.
According to color theory, when it comes to creating a strong and harmonious color palette, pairing a dark and light tone is ideal. By using pink with a dark color, you can create a more effective contrast.
