What colors make brown, beige, skin tone, sage, teal & terracotta
Brown comes from any two complementary colors mixed together — red + green, orange + blue, or yellow + purple. Beige is brown plus white. Skin tones, sage, teal and terracotta are all built from a small set of two-pigment bases tinted toward the target.
Sample mixing ratios
- Classic brown
- Cadmium Red 50% + Ultramarine Blue 25% + Yellow Ochre 25%
- Warm beige
- Titanium White 70% + Yellow Ochre 20% + Burnt Sienna 10%
- Light skin tone (fair)
- Titanium White 75% + Yellow Ochre 15% + Cadmium Red 8% + Burnt Sienna 2%
- Medium skin tone
- Titanium White 55% + Yellow Ochre 25% + Burnt Sienna 15% + Cadmium Red 5%
- Deep skin tone
- Burnt Sienna 50% + Burnt Umber 30% + Yellow Ochre 15% + Titanium White 5%
- Sage green
- Titanium White 50% + Yellow Ochre 30% + Ultramarine Blue 15% + Burnt Umber 5%
- Teal
- Phthalo Blue 60% + Cadmium Yellow 30% + Titanium White 10%
- Terracotta
- Cadmium Red 50% + Yellow Ochre 35% + Burnt Umber 15%
Ratios are calibrated as a starting point. Pigment tinting strength varies by brand — use Chromilla's color mixing calculator to recalibrate for your specific tubes.
Get the exact recipe for your brand
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Open Chromilla →Frequently asked questions
- What's the simplest way to mix brown?
- Mix any two complementary colors in roughly equal parts: red + green, orange + blue, or yellow + purple. All three roads lead to brown, with slightly different undertones.
- How do I shift a skin tone warmer or cooler?
- Warmer: add a touch more Cadmium Red or Yellow Ochre. Cooler: add a hint of Ultramarine Blue or Viridian. Always adjust 1–2% at a time — skin tones break fast.