Art colors that are mixed together to create new colors use the "subtractive" color mixing process.

 

Art color supplies are made in a great variety of colors.

Art is a creative process, and does not need to stick to any special colors. Artists have used any number of groups of colors to mix for painting. This has often given their paintings a special look or style. Today, hundreds of different colors of premixed acrylic, oil and watercolor paints are available for use. If the exact color is needed over large areas, then ready mixed colors may be helpful.

Some art colors are opaque so you usually cannot see through them. They would cover over the paper or other colors that are already dried. These color paints are usually mixed while they are still wet. Oil color, acrylic, and poster paints are available in opaque colors. Often black and white paint is used to make colors lighter or darker.

Other art media such as watercolors, markers, inks, and other clear media are transparent. These types of colors can be mixed before painting, while painting, or even by painting one layer on top of another. Colors can be darkened by adding black. Watercolor paint can be made lighter by adding more water so that more of the lighter paper shows through.

Watercolors, markers, inks, and other transparent media that we can see through, all absorb certain colors. Any color that is not absorbed (subtracted) from the light reflected off the art paper is the final mixed color that we see.

Whether transparent or opaque, all these color media use the subtractive color mixing process.

EXAMPLES OF COLOR MIXING

OTHER COLOR DIFFERENCES

The actual name of a color, also called its hue, is not the only difference in colors. For example, a certain blue can be bright or dark, have strong color or weak color.

*The human eye is able to see millions of colors, but it may be difficult to see the difference in colors that are very similar. Usually holding one shade up to another is the only way to really see the difference.