Brown is a natural warm colour mostly used in painting, drawing, art projects, wall painting, makeup and even in the decoration of food. Most individuals believe that brown is an essential colour, yet it is developed through the combination of other colours in the right way. The process of learning how to make brown colour is not complicated, but it is helpful to artists, students and DIY enthusiasts.
What Is Brown Colour?
Brown is a tertiary colour, meaning that it is formed by the blend of primary and secondary colours. It is very common in nature, in soil, wood, hair, leather and tree bark. Depending on the combination of colours, the shade of brown may be light, dark, warm or cool.
How to Make Brown Colour Using Primary Colours?
The easiest way to make brown colour is by mixing the three primary colours:
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
When these three colours are combined in equal measures they form brown. In case the mixture is too dark or is muddy, add small portions of yellow or white in order to lighten the mixture.
How to Make Brown Colour Using Secondary Colours?
You can also make brown by mixing complementary or secondary colours:
- Red + Green = Brown
- Blue + Orange = Brown
- Yellow + Purple = Brown
These mixes are effective since the colours that complement one another cancel the effects thereby creating brown colours.
How to Make Light Brown Colour?
To make light brown colour:
- Start with basic brown
- Add white gradually
- Mix well until the desired shade appears
This method is commonly used in wall paint mixing, sketching, and makeup shading.
How to Make Dark Brown Colour?
To create dark brown colour:
- Add a small amount of black or blue
- More red can also be added to make it a warmer dark brown.
Always add darker colours gradually so that the mixture is not too black.
How to Make Brown Colour Without Blue?
When the blue is unavailable; brown may be prepared as follows:
- Mixing red and green
- Mixing yellow and purple
Such combinations particularly come in handy in simple sets of paint or in school work.
Brown Colour Making in Paint and Art.
In the case of acrylic, oil or poster paints:
Paint it on a palette, not on the canvas.
At the first test on paper.
Modify shade, with the addition of white, yellow or black.
Artists tend to use various shades of brown when making shadows, skin color, and scenery.
Common Mistakes When Making Brown Colour
- Adding too much black too quickly
- Mixing uneven proportions
- Not blending properly
Always blend gradually and test before use.
It is simple and convenient to learn how to make brown. With the combination of primary colours or complementary colours, you can have a broad selection of brown shades suitable in art, painting, crafting and DIY projects. It does not take long before you can get the brown right each time.





