How to make crimson red

To create a rich crimson red using acrylic paint, you need to understand that crimson is a cool-toned, deep red with a slight bias toward blue/violet rather than orange.

Since most “basic” red acrylics (like Cadmium Red or Fire Engine Red) lean toward orange, you will need to adjust them. Here is how to achieve it:

The Mixing Formula

1. Start with a Base Red: Use a Cool Red (such as Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Rose, or Quinacridone Red). If you only have a warm, orange-leaning red (like Cadmium Red Medium), you will have to work harder to neutralize the orange warmth.
2. Add a Touch of Blue: To push the red toward a deep, cool crimson, add a very small amount of Ultramarine Blue or Phthalo Blue.
   • Pro Tip: Use a toothpick to add the blue. Acrylics are potent, and it only takes a tiny amount to shift the hue.
3. Deepen the Tone (Optional): If the color needs to be darker or more “maroon-crimson,” add a tiny amount of Burnt Umber or Violet. This will kill any remaining orange/yellow undertones and create that sophisticated, deep crimson look.
4. Adjusting for Texture/Transparency: If the color becomes too muddy or opaque, add a small amount of Gloss Medium to improve the flow and transparency, which helps achieve the characteristic “depth” of a true crimson.

Important Tips for Acrylic Mixing

• The “Toothpick Rule”: Always start by adding the darker color (the blue or brown) to the lighter color (the red). You can always add more blue, but you cannot easily add more red to fix a mixture that has turned too purple or brown.
• Dry-Down Factor: Remember that acrylic paint typically dries slightly darker than it appears when wet. Mix your shade just a tiny bit lighter than you think you need.
• Avoid Black: Avoid using pure black to darken your red, as it will often turn the paint into a dull, flat grey-brown. Using deep blues or violets creates a much more vibrant and “alive” shadow tone in your crimson.

Are you looking to mix this color for a specific painting project, or are you trying to adjust a specific brand of acrylic you are currently using?