What Colours Make Yellow

When you think of the color yellow, chances are you imagine sunshine, warmth, and pure vibrance. Yellow is one of the most eye-catching hues on the spectrum, often associated with joy, creativity, and energy. But if you’ve ever sat down with your paints and wondered “what colors make yellow?”, you’re not alone.

The short answer is: yellow is a primary color in traditional color theory, meaning you can’t mix other paints to create a pure, true yellow. But don’t stop there, this is where the magic of color mixing begins! While you can’t mix your way into yellow, you can certainly mix with yellow to create endless shades, tints, and tones that make your artwork come alive.

Why Yellow Is Unique

Unlike green, orange, or purple, yellow is a primary color. In the subtractive color model (used in painting), the three primaries are red, blue, and yellow. These are the building blocks you mix them to get secondary colors, but they themselves can’t be made by mixing other paints.

This makes yellow an essential part of any artist’s palette. Without it, your range of warm tones, glowing highlights, and natural light effects would feel incomplete.

Mixing Shades of Yellow

Even though you can’t mix yellow from scratch, you can transform it into a huge variety of shades:

• Lighter Yellow (Tints): Add white to soften yellow into buttery creams or pastel tones. Perfect for painting light, airy scenes.
  

• Darker Yellow (Shades): Add small amounts of burnt umber or ultramarine blue for earthy, golden hues that add depth.
  

• Warmer Yellow: Mix in a hint of red or orange to create fiery golden tones.
  

• Cooler Yellow: Add a touch of green or blue for fresh, lime-like shades.

This flexibility is why yellow is so exciting it can range from soft and delicate to bold and powerful depending on your blends.

The Secret to Vibrant Yellows

If you’ve ever struggled with muddy or dull yellows, the key lies in high-quality pigments. Low-grade paints often lose brightness when mixed, leaving your artwork flat.

That’s where Drawlish Acrylic Paints shine. With their rich pigmentation and smooth texture, you can achieve bright, radiant yellows and blend them seamlessly into the perfect shade for your project. Whether you’re aiming for the glow of a sunrise or the golden depth of autumn leaves, Drawlish Acrylic Paints give you professional results every time.

Explore our range of paints at Drawlish.com and bring your yellow visions to life!