Artists Reference: Adding Depth with Rich Blacks

Swap Flat for Rich
Using black straight out of the tube will always leave your work looking flat.

Instead, mix your own rich blacks in oil painting by using variations of Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine, Burnt Umber and Windsor Green.

With these four colors you can experiment to create:

• warm blacks
• cool blacks
• reddish blacks
• bluish blacks
• greenish blacks
• brownish blacks
• gray blacks

Try glazing to create rich blacks to enhance your paintings by adding depth and glow to your work.

What is your favorite color combination for creating rich blacks?