It's hard not to love the colour purple! From delicate lavender to vivid violet, the colour purple can add richness, softness and vibrance to a painting, and is particularly useful for creating shadows.
To make purple, all you need to do is mix together two primary colours: red and blue.
Making a true purple colour
Achieving a true purple colour can be tricky depending on the tones of red and blue you've got.
If you're using a 'warm-toned' red, such as cadmium red, and a 'cool-toned' blue, such as cerulean blue, this will make a dull and murky purple.
Warm tones mean the colour has a hint of red, orange or yellow in the shade. Cool tones mean the colour has a hint of blue or green in the shade.
To make a vibrant purple, you'll need a 'cool-toned' red, such as crimson, and a 'warm-toned' blue, such as ultramarine blue.
Learn more about 'cool-toned' and 'warm-toned' primary colours in our Complete Guide to Colour Mixing.
How to make purple
Mix together equal parts of red and blue paint (ratio 1:1). If the shade is too dark, you can lighten it by adding a touch of white. If it's too light, try adding a dot of black to darken.
How to make lavender
Simply take your purple mixture and add white in small increments until you have your desired shade of lavender.
How to make violet
Simply take your purple mixture and add blue in small increments until you have your violet shade.
How to make purple for your paint palette
Have fun making different shades of purple by altering the ratio of red and blue, and using different tones of red and blue.
If you find that your purple is murky or muddy-coloured, you might need to change the red or blue paint you're using.
Try using a 'cool-toned' red, such as crimson and a 'warm-toned' blue, such as ultramarine blue. This will create a more vibrant shade of purple.
How to make red
Did you enjoy making purple and want to try another colour? Learn how to make red with our handy guide.
