General Mixing

• 1). Place blue paint on your palette.
  
  
• 2). Add a color to lighten or darken the blue, such as titanium white or Payne's gray, a little bit at a time. Mix thoroughly with either a palette knife or a paintbrush.
  
  
• 3). Adjust the color until you achieve the color blue desired.
  
  

Dark Shades of Blue

• 1). Mix a dark blue -- almost black -- by using one part Payne's gray, two parts ultramarine blue and four parts phthalocyanine. Do not use black, as this will turn your blue to mud.
  
  
• 2). Mix a dark blue with a violet undertone by using one part permanent rose to five parts ultramarine blue.
  
  
• 3). Mix one part phthalocyanine blue to one part titanium white for a dark blue without violet undertones.
  
  
• 4). Mix one part ultramarine blue and one part titanium white for a slightly lighter dark blue than the phthalocyanine blue and titanium white.
  
  

Medium Shades of Blue

• 1). Use one part ultramarine blue to six parts of titanium white to achieve a vivid medium blue.
  
  
• 2). Use one part phthalocyanine blue to four parts of titanium white to create a medium blue.
  
  
• 3). Use two parts of ultramarine blue, five parts of turquoise green and eight parts of titanium white to mix a shaded medium blue.
  
  

Light Shades of Blue

• 1). Use one part ultramarine blue to eight parts of titanium white to achieve a vivid light blue.
  
  
• 2). Use one part phthalocyanine blue to eight parts of titanium white to create a light blue.
  
  
• 3). Use one part of ultramarine blue to sixteen parts of titanium white to mix an almost-white light blue.