In watercolor, water makes a color lighter and more paint (or a touch of a darker color) makes it deeper. You don't need white or black paint to change how light or dark a color looks.
How do I make a color lighter?
- Add water, not white. Move some paint to the mixing area and add clean water one drop at a time. The more water, the paler the color.
- Test as you go. Paint a small swatch after each drop on a scrap page, so you can see the change.
- Lift it on the page. If a painted area is too dark and still wet, blot it with a clean tissue to lighten it.
How do I make a color darker?
- Use more paint and less water. A creamy mix with a damp, not dripping, brush gives the strongest color.
- Add a deeper color of the same family. A little blue darkens green, and a little red darkens orange.
- Add a tiny touch of the opposite color. A drop of green deepens red, and a drop of orange deepens blue. Add it slowly, because too much turns the mix brown or gray.
- Layer it. Paint a second thin layer over a dry first layer. Each layer makes the area a little deeper.
Why does my color look lighter once it dries?
Watercolor dries lighter than it looks when wet. If you want a strong color, mix it a little darker than you think you need.
Good to know
Try a "value strip": paint one color from very strong at one end to almost clear at the other. It's a great way to learn how much water each shade needs.
Our color mixing chart and online mixer show this step by step: https://tobioskits.com/pages/watercolor-color-mixing-chart
If your colors always look too pale, see "My paints look pale or aren't creamy like in the videos".