Though we learned in “What Colors Make Red?” that it is a primary color that technically cannot be made in its pure form by mixing other colors, we can create different SHADES of red by adding in black, white, or dashes of other colors. Let’s explore some of them and their delicious names and uses now.
As background, I’m an artist and teacher named Lillie who loves doing hands-on experiments to add to our color mixing chart, figuring out what combinations create which hues. As a lover of language, I also relish the creative names so many colors have. Time to see the list…
Shades of Red
Though red is a primary color, there are a number of different shades of red that can be made by adding in black, white, or other others for spice. Here are some ideas and names to get your creative ideas going.
Maroon Red
One of the most beloved versions of red is the rich, dark one created by adding in brown: maroon. This color is powerful, regal, and imposing.
Vermilion
Want a more fiery option? Mix some orange into your red and you get the blazing hot intermediate color called vermilion! Use this one sparingly -- unless you're ok with stopping traffic from the brightness.
Light Red
We create a "hue" of a color by mixing in white to make it lighter, so if you stop short of adding enough white to create pink, we can yield some pretty light red versions in this manner. These shades are nice when you want the brightness of red without the intensity of full saturation.
Dark Reds: Merlot, Burgundy, and More
Technically, a "shade" is made by adding black, and sure enough, we get a number of stunning dark reds by doing just that. Put in a dash of blue or purple and you end up with the wine-like colors of merlot, burgundy, and more.
Russet Red
For a rich, slightly dusty brownish red that's perfect for coloring hair or animal drawings, combine orange and purple to make russet red color.
Magenta Red
Though this plays on the edge of a color that could be classified more as a purple or pink, adding a dash of purple to red brings us into the magenta category: a tertiary color that is delightfully bright and boldly feminine.
Different Shades of Red
I’ll ask you the same question as after our “Shades of Blue” article: Which is your favorite from this list? I am partial to burgundy, myself, because of its rich and regal power.
Muddy vs. Clear Colors
A quick note about what makes a color look bright and clear versus more dusty, muddy, or neutral. The opposite of red is green, so if you mix red with any color that has green (or its components) in it, you’ll get that dustier result.
In contrast, if you swirl in colors without green in them — like orange or yellow — you’ll get those bright colors like amber and vermilion which are called intermediate or tertiary colors. Whirl in white to get a lighter hue, or black for a darker shade.
Shades of Red, in Sum
I hope this and my shades of orange article have brought some color joy to your day — and perhaps some artistic inspiration for your next fashion, decor, design, hair, or food coloring project. What would you like me to illustrate and explain next? Do share!
Want more? Dive into the many different shades of green in this world to see which most resonates with you…
The author and artist, Lillie Marshall, is a National Board Certified Teacher of English who has been a public school educator since 2003, and an experienced Reiki practitioner since 2018. All art on this site is original and hand-drawn by Lillie. She launched DrawingsOf.com Educational Cartoons in 2020, building upon the success of her other sites, AroundTheWorldL.com (established 2009), TeachingTraveling.com (founded 2010), and ReikiColors.com. Subscribe to Lillie’s monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media to stay connected!
