Mixing gold oil paint involves combining several colors to achieve the desired hue and luminosity. There's no single "gold" color; the specific mix depends on the shade of gold you want to create – from pale, bright gold to deep, rich tones.
Base Colors for Gold
Several base colors can form the foundation of your gold mixture. Common choices include:
- Yellow Ochre: A warm, earthy yellow, offering a good starting point for many gold shades.
- Raw Sienna: Similar to yellow ochre, but slightly more reddish and transparent.
- Cadmium Yellow: A brilliant, intense yellow useful for highlights. Note: Cadmium pigments are toxic, so handle with care.
These base colors require adjustments to achieve a realistic gold effect.
Achieving Depth and Highlights
To create believable gold, you'll need to manipulate values and shades:
- Shadows: Burnt umber adds depth and shadow, creating a three-dimensional effect.
- Highlights: White mixed with a touch of cadmium yellow or another suitable yellow creates bright highlights. The amount of white will determine the brightness.
The references suggest that mixing gold combines several colors for different lighting effects and reflections. One color alone isn't sufficient.
Mixing Techniques and Examples
Several approaches are possible:
- Start with a base: Begin with either yellow ochre or raw sienna. Gradually add burnt umber for depth and adjust with white for highlights.
- The "Four-Color" Method: Several YouTube tutorials suggest using only four colors to mix a range of gold tones. This might involve a yellow, a red, a brown, and white. Experiment to find what works best for you.
- Adjusting Warmth and Coolness: Slight additions of red (like cadmium red light) warm the gold, while a touch of blue (like ultramarine blue) can create a cooler, more antique effect.
Example 1 (Warm Gold): Mix yellow ochre as your base, add a small amount of burnt umber, and then introduce a tiny touch of cadmium red light. Finish by adding white highlights.
Example 2 (Cool Gold): Begin with raw sienna, add a small amount of ultramarine blue, then burnt umber. Finish with carefully placed white highlights.
Remember that experimentation is key. Mixing small batches to test different combinations before applying them to your painting is highly recommended. Observe how light affects your mixed gold and adjust accordingly to get the desired realism.
References Summarized
Multiple sources confirm that mixing gold in oil painting requires multiple colors and careful blending to achieve realistic results. These sources highlight the use of yellow ochre, raw sienna, burnt umber, cadmium yellow (use with caution), and white, with variations depending on the specific shade of gold being sought. The importance of adjusting values and hues to represent highlights, shadows and reflections is consistently emphasized.
