Making Grays with Watercolor
To mix a perfect neutral gray, you don't actually need a tube of "Gray" paint. In fact, most watercolorists prefer to mix their own because it looks more "alive" and luminous on the paper.
The secret formula for a neutral gray is mixing a Warm Blue with a Warm Earth Tone.
The "Magic" Mix: French Ultramarine + Burnt Sienna
These two are opposites on the color wheel, which means they "cancel each other out" to create a neutral. Since you have both on your palette, you’re all set!
How to do it:
Start with a puddle of French Ultramarine. Slowly add a tiny bit of Burnt Sienna. The blue will start to look "muddy" and then shift into a deep, beautiful gray.
Adjust the "Temperature":
If the gray looks too brown or "rusty," add a touch more French Ultramarine (this makes a "Cool Gray").
If the gray looks too blue or "cold," add a touch more Burnt Sienna (this makes a "Warm Gray").
Other Neutral Mixes in Your Palette
If you want variety in your grays, try these "recipes" using your other colors:
The Atmospheric Gray: Mix Cobalt Blue + Raw Umber. This creates a lighter, softer gray that is perfect for misty mountains or distant clouds.
The Deep Shadow Gray: Mix Indigo + Alizarin Crimson. This creates a very dark, near-black "Payne's Gray" style color that is perfect for the deepest shadows in a painting.
The "Granulating" Gray: If you mix French Ultramarine + Quinacridone Sienna, the pigments will actually separate slightly as they dry, creating a beautiful textured look in your shadows.
Peer Tip: The "Milky" Test
When mixing grays, keep your water clean! If your mixing water is already tinted with yellow or green, your gray will turn into a dull olive color instead of a clean neutral.
Lynnie