Mixing purple paints can be an exciting journey into color theory, and experimenting with different combinations allows you to create a wide range of purple hues, from bright and saturated to muted and subtle. From my own experience as a painter, using unconventional mixes like Pyrrole Orange with Ultramarine Blue can surprise you with a beautiful muted purple, defying the usual expectation that only reds and blues produce purple. One trick I find useful is to consider the undertones of your pigments. For example, pairing Quinacridone Magenta – which is a very vibrant, saturated pinkish-red – with cool blues like Cobalt Turquoise or Phthalo Blue often results in some of the richest, deepest purples with excellent transparency when glazed. This technique also helps when you want to layer your purples over other colors without losing intensity. Another pair that many underestimate is Viridian Green and Pink Madder. At first glance, you wouldn’t expect these to mix into purple, but their complementary undertones create a soft, understated purple that adds subtlety to your palette, perfect for paintings that require gentle color transitions. When mixing brighter purples, using Pink Madder combined with Cobalt Teal can really pop, although it’s important to note that if both pigments have a warm undertone, the resulting color may lean towards muted rather than bright. On the flip side, combinations like Cadmium Red Medium with Ultramarine Blue produce some of the most muted purples available, ideal for moody or atmospheric pieces. From a practical standpoint, I recommend always testing your mixtures on a scrap piece or palette to ensure the purple you get is exactly what you want for your work. Lighting and pigment brands can also affect how these colors appear. Ultimately, there’s no single way to make purple — exploring the infinite possibilities of pigment combos like Perylene Red with Ultramarine Blue or Phthalo Turquoise with Quinacridone Magenta will expand your painting toolkit and inspire fresh creativity in your art projects.