Neutrals are colors with little or no hue: browns, grays, beiges, and black and white. Painters mix most of their browns and grays from complementary colors.
Key idea
Mixed in the right amounts, complements cancel into rich browns and grays. A small amount of a color's complement lowers its saturation while keeping it lively.
Why it works
On the painter's wheel, a pair of complements holds all three primaries: orange is red plus yellow, and blue is the third. Mix all three primaries and they absorb nearly all the light between them, leaving a dark neutral. Add just a touch of the complement and you get a grayed version of the color: a tone that still leans toward its hue.
Worked example: Calming a bright green
A painted field of grass looks too bright and artificial. Which paint will gray it down while keeping it green?
- Green's complement on the painter's wheel is red.
- A small touch of red lowers the green's saturation.
- The green stays green, just quieter and more natural.
Answer: A touch of red, its complement.
Common mistake
Reaching for black to dull a color. Black darkens, often more than you want, and can shift the hue (yellow plus black turns olive). A touch of the complement grays the color while keeping it lively. Add the complement a little at a time: it is strong.
Painters also use earth pigments, colors made from natural clays and minerals, such as ochre, sienna and umber. They are ready-made neutrals and have been used since cave painting.