How do you make purple paint?

To make purple paint, mix red and blue, adjusting the ratio and the type of red to control the result. A red that leans towards pink (magenta) with a cool blue gives a bright, clean purple, while an orangey red turns the mix dull and muddy. Add white for a lilac, or a little black or blue for a deep purple.

1. Put a small amount of red on your palette.
2. Add blue gradually, a little at a time, mixing as you go until you reach the purple you want.
3. Adjust the tone: more red for a warmer purple, more blue for a cooler one.
4. Lighten with white or deepen with a touch of black or blue.

If you are using our kits, there is no need to mix at all: every colour is already prepared in a numbered pot, matched to the pre-printed numbered linen canvas. You can choose a rolled canvas in a tube or a wooden stretcher frame to assemble.