Have you ever wondered what mysterious color emerges when you mix earthy browns and cool blues? While you might expect a vibrant new hue, the answer is actually a bit more subtle. Let’s dive into the world of color mixing and explore what happens when brown and blue join forces!
A COLOR FULL OF COMPLEXITY: BROWN
Brown is not one of the main colors like red, blue, or yellow (however, when combined brown with other colors, it remains a favorite for many people.) Instead, it is a color created by mixing other colors together. Some colors commonly mixed to form brown are red, yellow, and black. When these colors are combined, they create brown. So, brown is not a color on its own like red or blue; it is created by mixing other colors.
Red, yellow, and black are often mixed together to create brown. Red brings warmth, yellow brings brightness, and black makes colors deeper. When these colors are mixed, they create the rich, earthy color we call brown. So if you want to make brown, you mix these colors together until you get the shade you want.
Red, yellow, and black are often mixed together to create brown. Red adds warmth, yellow brings brightness, and black deepens the color. When these colors are blended, they create the earthy and rich hue that we call brown. So, if you want to make brown, you mix these colors together until you get the shade you want.
A PRIMARY COLOR POWERHOUSE: BLUE
Blue is one of the primary colors, along with red and yellow. Primary colors are special because you can’t make them by mixing other colors together; instead, they’re the basic building blocks for all other colors. Blue is a cool and calming color often found in nature, like the sky and the ocean. It’s essential in color mixing because when you combine blue with other primary colors, you can create a wide range of different colors. Whether it’s in art, design, or even in the natural world, blue holds a significant place as a primary color.
WHAT COLOR DO BROWN AND BLUE MAKE IN PAINT?
When you mix brown and blue paint, the outcome typically leans towards a dark blue shade. However, the exact result can vary depending on the specific shades of brown and blue you choose. Regardless of the blue hue employed, the resulting color usually appears slightly darker or muddier once combined with brown. Occasionally, the mixture may even exhibit a subtle hint of purple. While it creates a unique color blend, it’s not a combination commonly utilized.
LOOK AT THE INGREDIENT COLORS
To know why mixing brown and blue gives us muddy purples or teals, we need to understand what colors make brown. Brown happens when you mix all three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. The amount of each primary color you use decides what shade of brown you get.
If you pick a brown with more red in it than yellow or blue, and mix it with blue, you’ll end up with a dusty purple. Why? Because red and blue mixed together make purple. The “dusty” part of the purple happens because the yellow in the brown also gets mixed in, and purple and yellow mixed together make a color called mauve.
Now, for the dusty teal green, like the one in the bottom left of my picture, you just need to pick a brown and blue with more yellow in them. That’s because blue and yellow together make green! The teal green looks muddy because of the red from the brown mixed in. Whenever you mix all three primary or all three secondary colors, you get this neutral “dusty” look, unlike the clear and bright colors you get from mixing other colors.
DARK BLUE COLOR MEANING
Dark blue, unlike its brighter counterparts, delves into a realm of power, sophistication, and wisdom. It evokes a sense of authority and trust, making it a popular choice for uniforms and business attire. This deep shade also signifies knowledge and intelligence, perhaps due to its association with the vastness and mystery of the night sky. However, dark blue isn’t all seriousness. It can also represent elegance and depth, inspiring feelings of calmness and serenity.
CAN YOU MIX PAINTS TO MAKE BROWN AND BLUE?
If you run out of brown and blue paint, you might need to make them yourself. Blue is tricky to create because it’s a primary color. According to the CMYK model used in printers, you can mix cyan and magenta to make blue. But those colors aren’t as common in paint, so it’s easier to just buy blue paint instead.
Thankfully, making brown is easier. You can mix equal parts of red, yellow, and blue paint to get brown. Another way is to mix colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green. These combos also make brown.
WHAT COLOR DO BROWN AND BLUE MAKE IN LIGHTS?
Mixing brown and blue lights won’t give you a new color because brown isn’t part of the RGB color model used for mixing lights. In this model, the primary colors are red, green, and blue, and they combine to make white light. You can adjust the brightness of these colors, but you can’t create brown light by mixing them. Brown isn’t included in the RGB spectrum of visible light.
So, why do brown lights not exist? Brown lights don’t exist because brown isn’t a part of the visible light spectrum, unlike the colors of the rainbow. It’s extremely unlikely to encounter brown light naturally. What may appear to be brown light is usually just a darker shade of orange.
This absence of brown light is due to the RGB color model used in lights, where mixing red, green, and blue produces white light, not brown. Unlike in physical art mediums, where tints and shades can be created, the RGB model lacks the ability to generate brown.
In painting, brown can be made by darkening orange, but in lights, dimming orange only reduces its brightness rather than altering its color. When we perceive brown objects, they’re not reflecting brown light but rather a subdued form of orange light. Our brain interprets this as brown. As a result, brown is rarely seen in neon signs, as they rely on emitted light to produce color.
BROWN AND BLUE COLORS IN DESIGN
Brown and blue might seem different, but they actually look nice together in designs. Blue is bright and calming, and it balances well with neutral colors like brown. Whether you’re painting a picture or decorating a room, these two colors can create a pleasant look.
If you want more variety in your design, you can add different shades and lighter versions of brown and blue, like tan and light blue. Other neutral colors, such as gray and white, also pair nicely with brown and blue.
Since brown and blue both give off calming vibes, they usually don’t mix well with warm colors like red, orange, and yellow. These bright colors might not fit in nicely, so it’s important to be careful when adding more colors to your design.
FAQ
1. Is there a specific name for the color that results from mixing brown and blue?
Not typically. The resulting shade will likely be described based on the original colors used (e.g., “dark navy blue with brown undertones”).
2. Can I use this knowledge in everyday life?
Sure! Understanding color mixing can help with choosing paint colors for your home, selecting clothes that complement each other, or even creating digital art.
3. What if my brown has more yellow?
With a yellow-leaning brown, the mix with blue might lean slightly towards a greenish-blue.
CONCLUSION
In the world of color mixing, brown and blue don’t magically conjure up a brand new hue. Instead, they join forces to create a deeper, richer shade of blue. The exact shade depends on the specific browns and blues you use, but generally, expect a result that leans towards darkness with a subtle hint of brown’s influence. This knowledge can be a valuable tool for artists and anyone interested in color theory, allowing you to achieve specific color variations and create depth in your projects. So next time you’re mixing colors, remember the power of brown and blue to take your blues to a whole new level!
