How to Mix Van Dyke Brown in Watercolor

A very deep, warm brown. Historic favourite for shadow and hair. This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #3E2A1C in watercolor, using the same solver that powers the Chromilla mixer.

Target

Van Dyke Brown

#3E2A1C

Mixed result

98% match

From these pigments

#3F2B1E

Pigment recipe

Checked August 2026

Ratios calibrated for watercolor. Start with the dominant pigment, add the modifiers in the order below, and adjust in 5% steps to your target swatch.

1. Cadmium Red
PR108
68%
2. Phthalo Blue
PB15
32%

What colors make Van Dyke Brown?

Cadmium Red and Phthalo Blue, in roughly a 68:32 ratio.

How to make Van Dyke Brown in watercolor

Start with Cadmium Red at about 68% as your watercolor base, then work in Phthalo Blue in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #3E2A1C.

Why mix Van Dyke Brown instead of buying it

Mixing Van Dyke Brown yourself lets you approximate an expensive or hard to find tube from pigments you already own, match Van Dyke Brown across paint brands whose factory tubes differ, and rebuild the exact color when you run out mid painting. The recipe above is the working starting point.

Common mistakes

That pigment is a very strong tinter, add it a touch at a time or it will swallow the mix.

Get this recipe for your paint brand

Open the live mixer with Van Dyke Brown + watercolor pre-loaded and calibrate to your tubes.

Open in mixer

Related mixing guides

Pigment mixing is subtractive, so small ratio changes matter. The mixer refines this recipe to your brand and updates on the fly.