How colors mix
The three primary colors of paint - red, yellow and blue - combine to make brand-new colors. Red and yellow make orange, blue and yellow make green, and red and blue make purple. Kids can mix the pots here and see each new color appear.
Primary and secondary colors
Primary colors cannot be made by mixing other colors - they are the starting point. The colors you make by mixing two primaries, like orange, green and purple, are called secondary colors. Learning this is the first big step in art and design.
Frequently asked questions
What are the primary colors?
In painting, the three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. They are special because you cannot make them by mixing other colors, but you can mix them together to make every other color.
What two colors make green?
Blue and yellow make green. In the same way, red and yellow make orange, and red and blue make purple. These new colors are called secondary colors.
What is the difference between primary and secondary colors?
Primary colors (red, yellow, blue) cannot be made by mixing; they are the basic colors. Secondary colors (orange, green, purple) are made by mixing two primary colors together.