You can't directly "get" sage green on a color wheel in the sense that it's a primary or secondary color found directly on the wheel. Sage green is a tertiary color, meaning it's created by mixing primary and/or secondary colors.
Here's how to achieve sage green by mixing colors:
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Start with green: The base of sage green is, of course, green. You'll need to mix blue and yellow to create green.
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Adjust the green: To get closer to sage green, you'll likely need to tone down the brightness of the initial green. You can do this by:
- Adding a touch of brown or burnt umber. These earthy tones will mute the vibrancy.
- Adding a small amount of the complementary color to green, which is red. Red will neutralize the green. Be extremely careful with this method; a little goes a very long way!
- Adding a small amount of black for darkening, if needed.
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Add white (Optional): Sage green is often a relatively pale or muted color. You can add white to lighten the shade to your desired preference. Adding white will lighten the green and make it a more pastel shade.
In Summary:
- Mix blue and yellow to make green. Adjust the ratio to achieve your desired green shade. More blue will create a darker green, while more yellow will create a lighter green.
- Mute the green by adding small amounts of brown, red, or black (one at a time and sparingly).
- Lighten the green (optional) by adding white to create a paler, sage-like hue.
Factors Affecting Sage Green:
- Pigment quality: The specific pigments in your paints will influence the final color. Some blues and yellows will naturally create brighter or duller greens.
- Mixing ratio: The exact proportions of each color you add will determine the final result. Start with small amounts and gradually adjust.
- Desired Shade: The final "sage green" is subjective and depends on your desired outcome.
