Buzz
Pink is a color loved by many. It is a popular shade in clothing, cakes, and flowers, but it can often be difficult to find pink dye. In fact, pink is simply another variation of red, and in nature, it is a blend of red and purple. However, you can easily create pink paint, pink frosting... by mixing red and white.
Steps
Mixing oil paint or acrylic paint
Choose the right shade of red. Different shades of red will produce different hues of pink when combined with white. Experiment with various reds. For the brightest and most durable pink, try mixing Permanent Alizarin Crimson (a dark, permanent red) or Quinacridone (Quinacridone red) acrylic paint with Titanium White. Red lipstick will also give a bright, vibrant pink. Brick red will create a pink shade closer to peachy pink.
Darker reds like Alizarin Crimson Hue (dark red) will create pinks with a bluish or purplish tint, making them ideal for crafting shades like lotus pink or deep pink.
Pour out the red paint. Use a painting cloth, paper, or a mixing tray to do this. Pour the red paint onto the surface. This is where you will turn red paint into pink, so pour it into a separate spot until you know exactly how much pink you will create and how much red paint you need.
Add white paint. Pour the white paint close to the red paint. Start with a small amount of white to save on paint. After mixing, you can always add more white if you need to tone down the red hue.
Mix the paint. Use a palette knife or brush to blend the white with the red. Start small to gauge the pink's shade. You can add more white for a brighter pink, but keep in mind that each red hue already has its own level of brightness, so you’ll only be able to create a bright pink that matches its limits.
- The darker the red, the more white you'll need to turn it into pink.
- To soften the pink, mix in a bit of yellow to create peach or salmon pink.
- Add blue or purple to create fuchsia or lotus pink.
Mixing watercolor
Wet the brush. Dip a clean paintbrush into a cup of water. Press the brush's tip to the bottom of the cup to spread the bristles, then swipe it along the edge of the cup to remove any excess water.
Place the red and white paints on the mixing surface. If you’re using liquid watercolor from a tube, squeeze out the required amounts of red and white. For dry watercolor, use the brush to apply red first, followed by the white on top.
Add red to the cup of water. If you're using liquid watercolor, dip your water-soaked brush into the red paint and mix it into the water. Don’t dry the brush when finished with this step. Swipe the brush along the cup’s edge to clean it.
- Repeat the above steps to add more red into the water until you reach the desired shade.
Add white to the cup of water. Dip the brush into the white paint and mix it into the water following the same steps as with the red paint. Your watercolor will start to shift toward pink.
- Continue adding white until you achieve the pink tone you prefer.
Mix in additional colors. Whether you're using dry or liquid watercolor, you can create various pink hues by adding a bit of purple or yellow, or by mixing red with water without using white. Experiment to find your desired pink.
- If you haven’t yet added white, you already have a standard pink. This depends on how much red you mix with the water before it dries.
- For a softer pink, add yellow to create a peach pink.
- Adding some purple or blue will give you hot pink, and adding more will bring you closer to lotus pink.
Using food coloring
Take a suitable amount of white mixture. This could be frosting, glue, or conditioner. This mixture will be the base for the pink color you want to create. Pour it into a mixing bowl to have enough space for mixing the color.
Add red coloring. Red is a popular coloring agent that can transform any white mixture into pink. The challenge with red is that it's very concentrated, so start with just one drop. You can always add more red later to create a deeper pink. The more white mixture you have, the more red you'll need.
- You can also use other colors like rose. The lighter the colorant, the more attractive the pink shade, especially when used for cake decorations.
Stir well. Use a wooden spoon or another appropriate tool to mix the color into the white mixture. Stir until you're sure the color is fully blended, then add more red if necessary.
Mix in additional colors. To achieve the perfect shade, you can add other colorants in addition to red. Experiment carefully, adding one drop at a time.
- Food colors such as blue, purple, green, and brown will deepen the pink, turning it into hot pink, fuchsia, or lotus pink.
- For a lighter shade, add yellow to create a peach pink.
Advice
- When using paint, always mix white into red. This will help you avoid wasting white paint if you accidentally add too much red into it.
- The more red you add, the darker the pink will be. The more white you add, the lighter the pink will be.
- Remember, you can only add more color, not take it away. So start with a small amount of paint or pigment.
- If you want a lighter pink, add less red pigment to the mixture. If you add too much by mistake, you'll end up with a very dark pink.
