Colour mixing chart - Royal Talens
Colour mixing chart - Royal Talens

Colour mixing chart

A colour mixing chart helps you see the effect colours have when mixed, and gives you a clear overview of all the colours in your collection. Let's get started and learn how to create your own colour chart!

What you need View steps

What you need

In this example, we are using Bruynzeel fineliner/brush pens, but you can use the same technique with any other colours.

  • Bruynzeel Fineliner/Brush pens set of 12 colours
  • Bruynzeel HB pencil and eraser
  • Tear-off palette or plastic sleeve containing a white A4 sheet
  • Good sturdy paper, e.g. Van Gogh watercolour paper 300 grams
  • Watercolour brush
  • Paper towels
  • Cups of water for mixing and to clean the watercolour brush during and after use

Tips

  • Read through all the steps before you start.
  • Leave the paper to dry thoroughly before applying the next layer.
  • Make sure to clean your brush between uses and once you're finished.
Step 1 - Making a colour chart

Step 1

Start with the squares.

Copy the example on the water colour paper. Draw squares on good sturdy paper. Thirteen squares vertically and twelve squares horizontally. Colour the squares furthest to the left vertically with the various colours. Do this with the side of the brush.

Step 2

Add your colours.

We are now going to apply each brush pen colour to the tear-off palette or sleeve and mix with water. We do this using the water colour paintbrush.

On a separate sheet of paper, make similar squares to those on the palette or sleeve for each colour. Then add water using the water colour paintbrush.

Step 2 - Making a colour chart
Step 3 - Making a colour chart

Step 3

Blend, blend, blend!

Paint stripes with the brush on the tear-off palette/sleeve, as shown in the photo. Try to make some nice blends using the water colour paintbrush. You can use the kitchen paper to dry your palette.

Step 4

Start mixing your colours and build your chart.

If you look at the first mixture, the colour yellow is applied at the bottom left. The colour yellow mixed with water is applied at the top right. You keep repeating this. So, after this apply the colour orange at the bottom left and yellow mixed with water at the top right. Dab your palette dry with kitchen paper every now and then.

Step 4 - Making a colour chart
Step 5 - Making a colour chart

Step 5

Fill your chart and see the results!

To the left, all the colours are shown vertically and at the top of the first row are all of those colours mixed with water. If you keep repeating these steps, you'll end up with this result. You now have a clear mixing chart.

The various possibilities are obvious at a glance. Have fun mixing!

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