Discover Remarkable Darks in Art (Without Using Black)
- Jan 12, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Why the deepest colors in painting are rarely black—and how learning to see them will change the way you paint and enjoy art.
Rich, luscious dark chocolate.
A forkful of warm blueberry pie.
What makes these foods irresistible before we even taste them?
Their deep, saturated color.
The same is true in art.
When you find yourself drawn into a painting—lingering a little longer than expected—take a closer look at the shadows.
Chances are, those darks aren’t black at all. They’re layered, luminous, and alive with color.
Painters who truly love color rarely rely on black straight from the tube.
Instead, we mix rich, intense dark pigments that give paintings depth and vibrancy. It’s one reason paintings seem to sing—and one reason learning to see darks differently can deepen your appreciation of art.
And this isn’t a new idea.
Think back to the masters.
Even Leonardo da Vinci understood that shadows carry color.
In the Mona Lisa, the darks breathe—they’re built, not poured.
Why Artists Avoid Black
Black can feel like the fastest route to darkness—but it often flattens a painting.
Most manufactured blacks (like Jet Black or Mars Black) are already a mixture of many pigments.
When combined with other colors, they can quickly turn muddy and dull—especially in watercolor.
I’ve learned over the years that when I mix more than three colors on my palette, the clarity disappears. That’s why I often avoid black altogether and build my darks intentionally.
The result?
Depth that feels rich, not heavy.
Watch as I mix luminous darks in my studio
—no black, just intentional color.
4 Simple Tricks for Mixing Beautiful Dark Colors
(These are techniques I use in my own painting practice—and demonstrate in my studio videos.)
1. Skip the Black Tube
If you want luminous darks, avoid mixing with black.
Because black is already a complex mix, adding it to other pigments often overwhelms them. Instead, think in terms of color-to-color relationships.
Your darks will feel more natural—and far more alive.
2. Mix Pure, Single-Pigment Colors
One of my favorite combinations is Phthalo Green and Alizarin Crimson.
Together, they create a gorgeous, rich dark—perfect for:
Evergreen shadows
Deep foliage
Berry tones (add more red for raspberry richness)
Try to avoid pre-mixed pigments like Cerulean Blue or Payne’s Gray when creating darks. While convenient, they often push your mixes toward muddiness.
Pure pigments give you control—and clarity.
3. Use Naturally Dark Pigments
Not all colors are created equal.
Some pigments are naturally deeper and more powerful, making them ideal for shadows that glow rather than sink.
Reach for pigments like:
Phthalo Violet
Quinacridone Violet
Viridian Green
Winsor Blue
I especially love the intensity of blues—they anchor a composition while still allowing light to move through the painting.
4. Create a Dark Color Mixing Chart
One of the best ways to understand your paints is simply to play.
Line up your darker pigments and create a grid, mixing each color with the others. This chart becomes an invaluable studio reference—helping you quickly find the perfect dark without guessing.
The next time you paint, you’ll reach for confidence instead of convenience.
Seeing Darks Changes How You See Art
Learning how artists mix darks doesn’t just improve your painting—it changes how you experience art as a viewer.
You’ll begin to notice:
How shadows hold color
How depth is built through layering
Why certain paintings feel calm, rich, and balanced
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
And that’s part of the joy.
Discover Remarkable Darks—and Let Your Paintings Sing
When you stop reaching for black and start mixing intentional darks, your watercolors gain depth, clarity, and emotion.
The shadows begin to glow.
The colors breathe.
And the painting comes alive.
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