Beginner Level

How to Create a Watercolor Paint Swatch Grid

The best way to really know your paints and color mixing is to create a watercolor paint swatch grid! This post includes a very detailed video, so check it out.

Watercolor Paint Swatch Grids with other watercolor supplies displayed

This post includes affiliates links. This means that if you purchase the item using my link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. I will only post products that I have personally used and would recommend. The small commission helps run this blog and its activities. Thank you!

Materials:

Why Create a Watercolor Paint Swatch Grid?

One of the reasons why watercolors are often frustrating is because we don’t really know our tools. And watercolors work best when you really understand the colors, how to mix them, and take advantage of its transparent nature.

I’ve seen lots of color mixing charts where it literally only shows you the result of two colors mixed. But it neglects to show you the values of the new mixed color. And that’s what makes watercolors so special.

So in my grid, you’ll get to not only mix colors, but also show the values range.

So if you wanted a coral type color but you don’t have that exact color in your palette, then you can refer to your grid. And without much stress and fuss, you’ll know which two colors to mix AND how much water to add in order to get to that color.

Create the Grid

You can create the grid in two ways:

  1. You can use a ruler to manually draw your grid. For reference, my squares are about 1″ wide. But you can go a little smaller if you want.
  2. Download my grid template and use a cutting machine or x-acto knife to cut out the squares. The template is a PNG file so you can easily import it to your Cricut or Silhouette program and resize it to fit your watercolor paper.

If you go the route with my grid template, you can use the washi tape to hold it in place while you sketch out the squares with a pencil.

Choose Two Colors

3 Watercolor paint swatch grids arranged. LUKAS watercolor palette is open in the top right corner. A flat watercolor brush rests on top of a used colorful paper towel. Half of a water jar can be seen next to the paper towel.

In the demonstration video, I’m using only primary colors.

  • Red: Carmine Red and Permanent Red
  • Yellow: Cadmium Yellow Light and Gamboge Yellow
  • Blue: Cerulean Blue and Cyan Blue

On one sheet, I fit two combinations of two colors. But you can turn the paper so that it’s vertical and shows a wider range of mixtures, too. Up to you!

Start out by choosing primary colors or colors that you tend to use the most often. That way, you are already familiar with the colors, but will be even better acquainted now with the mixtures.

Let’s Get Mixing!

Mixing red and blue on a Watercolor Paint Swatch Grid

I’m dividing the grid on my sheet in half vertically. So at the top, I’ll have my two reds. The first square on the top left will be the darkest value.

Then wash out your brush slightly and paint the middle box. Then wash the paint off some more and paint the lightest value.

The bottom most row will be the other main color you’ll be mixing. And in between will be the mixed colors. Whenever you paint the first square of a new row, make sure it’s as dark of a value as you can get.

Don’t forget to label your grid!

On the left half, I mixed Carmine Red and Cerulean Blue. And on the right half, I mixed Permanent Red and Cyan Blue.

Keep going with your other color combinations!

Yellow and red Watercolor Paint Swatch Grid
Yellow and blue Watercolor Paint Swatch Grid

I love all these pretty colors! (I also say that a lot in my video!)

Watch the video for How to Paint a Watercolor Paint Swatch Grid

I’d love to see your watercolor paint swatch grid! Feel free to tag me (@AudreyRaDesign) on Instagram or Facebook and use the hashtag #PaintWithAudrey.