Powertex colour mixing

What is Powertex colour mixing and why do I need it?

Powertex Universal Medium comes in a range of 10 great colours but sometimes we want to work with something different. Powertex colours are all mixable and they won’t split or separate.

Mixing your colours will keep all the properties of Powertex too so it will still be weatherproof (except if you use the Transparent).

Getting the right base colour can make all the difference in your project. It opens up new possibilities for your creations and your artwork and lets you work with colour more intentionally.

The basics of colour mixing

I’m mixing these example colours from Red, Blue and Yellow Ochre Powertex Universal Medium.

• Red and Yellow Ochre make Orange
• Blue and Yellow Ochre make Green
• Red and Blue make Purple

This is a very simple colour chart, but there are of course endless shades to mix.

It’s worth noting that you can mix very small amounts if that’s what you need. Any mix can be stored in an airtight container but should be exposed to air for as short time as possible.

I mixed two colours in varying amounts, explained below. You can use this chart for your own reference but remember that my photo and the computer screen may not show the colour exactly as it was!

Mixing purples

This has to be my favourite! Powertex mixes delicious purples like these. Start with either red or blue and add a little of the other colour at a time until you get a shade you like.

Mixing oranges

You will only need a tiny amount of red to make the Yellow Ochre turn Orange! It will take a lot more Yellow Ochre to affect the Red. When mixing anything with a lighter colour, always start with the light colour and add a tiny amount of the darker colour at a time.

In this case, adding a little Red to the Yellow Ochre has darkened it a lot. It’s possible to get a much lighter mix than this.

Mixing greens

You can buy Green Powertex but if you don’t want to buy a whole bottle, you can mix it with Blue and Yellow Ochre. Start with your Yellow and add tiny amounts of the Blue until you have a colour you want. The colour will change from a leafy green to a rich turquoise.

Top tips for mixing Powertex colours

• Powertex has a working time of about an hour
• Once poured it starts to cure so mix up only what you need

Pastel and other Powertex colour mixing

Pastel colours are created in the same way using Ivory. Start with Ivory and add small amount of your colour at a time. You might want to try mixing neutral greys or brown tones for textured art. If you’re struggling to get the colour you want, try adding in Powercolor pigments in tiny amounts to adjust your mixture.

[Updated December 2024]