Mixing Watercolour Colours with Oliver Pyle

Colour mixing is one of the most fundamental, yet often overlooked, skills in watercolour painting. In this tutorial, British landscape artist Oliver Pyle demonstrates how to approach mixing with confidence, using a straightforward and practical method that ensures accuracy while encouraging creative freedom. His focus is on understanding how colours interact, rather than simply copying recipes, so that artists can respond naturally to the subjects in front of them.

Mastering the Basics: Primary Colours

Oliver begins with the three primaries; red, yellow, and blue. By experimenting with different proportions, he shows how you can achieve a wide spectrum of secondary colours, from fresh greens to vibrant purples and oranges. The key is observation and repetition, training your eye to recognise how subtle changes in ratio affect the outcome.

Moving Beyond the Basics: Earth Tones

Once the primaries are understood, Oliver introduces earth tones such as ochres and siennas. These are particularly important for landscape painting, as they capture the natural subtleties of soil, stone, foliage, and atmospheric light. By mixing combinations of primaries with earth pigments, he demonstrates how to create muted, harmonious tones that avoid looking flat or muddy.

Speed, Accuracy, and Efficiency

Oliver stresses that colour mixing should feel instinctive, not intimidating. He shares practical tips for mixing quickly and consistently, avoiding the frustration of wasted pigment or endlessly chasing a particular shade. His approach encourages artists to prepare a simple palette, test mixes directly on scrap paper, and develop a personal shorthand for recognising useful combinations.

Why This Matters for Your Painting

Learning how to mix colours effectively allows you to move away from relying on pre-mixed paints, giving you control and flexibility. Instead of being limited by what’s in the palette, you can create exactly the tone your painting demands, whether that’s the cool grey of distant hills, the warm ochre of autumn fields, or the subtle violets of evening light. Oliver’s method ensures that you’ll build confidence and consistency with every session.

This tutorial is not only a technical exercise but also an invitation to experiment and trust your instincts. With practice, colour mixing becomes second nature, and your watercolours will take on new depth, harmony, and expressiveness.