The color wheel has long been a standard guide to mixing colors for artisans and painters. Mixing the colors opposite to each other on the color wheel will yield darker, more earth-toned colors such as brown, umber, sienna, tan and so forth. Painters typically know the benefit of understanding the dynamics of the color wheel to such a degree that over time they can make colors without consulting the color wheel. Normally this basic concept is taught early on in elementary school, and different techniques for producing different colors are taught throughout a person's art education. Today, many colors of paint are produced commercially; however, these premixed paints are quite expensive. One can easily make any color they desire, even the color brown, by knowing the dynamics of the basic color wheel.
Instructions
Make the Color Brown Using the Color Wheel
1. Mix the primary colors of yellow and blue together using a swirling motion with your paintbrush. Ensure that you mix the colors together well to make a smooth variation of green.
2. Add the color orange or a bright red to the green paint that you just made and mix it in thoroughly. Ensure that you use the same amount of orange or red as the amount of green that you've produced.
3. Mix in just a small portion of black to darken the mixture to a nice standard brown. You can add more black paint to produce a darker brown or add white to produce a lighter sienna brown color.