How to Mix Burnt Sienna with Blues in Watercolor | Complete Grey & Neutral Mixing Chart

If you've ever had difficulty mixing natural-looking greys in watercolor, this combination will revolutionize your painting technique.

Burnt Sienna + Blue is one of the most popular mixtures among watercolor artists for creating muted tones, greys, and even deep blacks - all without using black paint directly.

In this tutorial, we examine how Burnt Sienna interacts when combined with various blues such as Cerulean, Ultramarine, Cobalt, Prussian Blue, Intense Blue, and Indigo.

These combinations are incredibly useful for:

• wildlife and pet portraits

• bird painting

• rocks and natural textures

• botanicals and foliage

• shadows and depth

Let’s create a simple yet powerful color mixing chart.

Preparing the Mixing Chart

I begin by painting a full-strength swatch of Burnt Sienna.

Always start with the pure pigment so you understand its warmth and tonal strength.

Next, make three columns alongwith one for the color swatch:

• Less blue

• Equal mix (50/50)

• More blue

This structure helps you clearly see how the color shifts with different proportions.

Cerulean Blue + Burnt Sienna

Starting with Cerulean Blue:

I first paint its full-strength swatch. Then I take some Burnt Sienna and mix a very small amount of Cerulean Blue.

• Less blue: The orange becomes less saturated giving a soft shadow tone, perfect for bird painting (imagine a robin against bright orange).

• Equal mix: Creates a warm brown, great for subjects like a female wren.

• More blue: Produces a soft grey ideal for rocks or subtle feather details.

Ultramarine Blue + Burnt Sienna

This is one of the most popular combinations for greys.

• Less blue: Similar muted tones as Cerulean.

• Equal mix: Creates a beautiful neutral grey.

• More blue: Moves toward charcoal or even black.

This mix is widely used for pet portraits, wildlife paintings, and shadow work.

View my pet portrait portfolio and past commissions here

Cobalt Blue + Burnt Sienna

Working again with a clean palette:

• Less blue: Muted orange tones.

• Equal mix: Produces a balanced grey or even a soft black.

• More blue: Creates bluish greys.

These bluish greys are excellent for:

• painting water and waves

• soft atmospheric backgrounds

Prussian Blue + Burnt Sienna

Prussian Blue is stronger and cooler.

• Equal & more blue: The mix leans toward dark green tones.

This combination is perfect for:

• botanicals

• deep foliage

• palm leaves

• tropical plants

Intense Blue + Burnt Sienna

Intense Blue has a green undertone, and it shows clearly in the mixes.

• Less blue: Creates a bark-like brown (great for trees).

• Equal mix: Greenish grey tones.

• More blue: Produces deep teal-like colours.

These are useful for:

• stones

• textured natural subjects

Indigo + Burnt Sienna

Indigo gives the deepest results.

• Less blue: Subtle muted tones.

• Equal mix: Similar to burnt umber.

• More blue: Creates a rich black.

This is one of the best combinations for:

• deep shadows

• dramatic portraits

• night scenes

What We Learned

From this chart, we can clearly see:

• Small amounts of blue desaturate Burnt Sienna

• Equal mixes create natural greys and browns

• More blue produces deep greys, greens, and blacks depending upon cool or warm blues

• Ultramarine and Indigo are best for greys and blacks

• Prussian and Intense Blue create green-toned neutrals

Why This Chart Is So Useful

Creating swatch charts like this helps you:

• mix colours quickly while painting

• avoid muddy results

• understand pigment behavior

• build a consistent color palette

• improve confidence in painting natural subjects

Think of this chart as your go-to reference for neutrals.

Download the Chart

This complete Burnt Sienna + Blues mixing chart is available to download on my Patreon and it’s available for free members as well.

You can keep it handy while painting and refer to it anytime.

Burnt Sienna and Blue is one of the most versatile combinations in watercolor.

From soft greys to deep blacks and earthy greens, this pairing opens endless possibilities for your paintings.

In the next tutorial, we’ll explore another exciting color combination.

Till then, happy painting

Download this free chart here

Watch video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y61AaQEPJ8M