What Colors Make Gold? Paint Mixing Chart & Exact Tube Ratios
To mix gold paint, combine 3 parts Yellow Ochre + 2 parts Cadmium Yellow + pinch of Burnt Sienna + White highlight. Adjust lightness slowly with Titanium W
Primary Paint Formula for Gold
To mix gold paint, combine 3 parts Yellow Ochre + 2 parts Cadmium Yellow + pinch of Burnt Sienna + White highlight. Adjust lightness slowly with Titanium White or deepen shadows using Burnt Umber / Ultramarine Blue instead of plain black.
3 Studio Shade Recipes
- Classic Studio Gold (#D4AC53): 3 parts Yellow Ochre + 2 parts Cadmium Yellow + pinch of Burnt Sienna + White highlight
- Soft Tinted Gold (#D9B35C): 3 parts Yellow Ochre + 2 parts Cadmium Yellow + pinch of Burnt Sienna + White highlight + 3 parts Titanium White
- Muted Earthy Gold (#B58E4F): 3 parts Yellow Ochre + 2 parts Cadmium Yellow + pinch of Burnt Sienna + White highlight + 1 part Burnt Umber
Artist Mixing Tips
- Always mix darker pigments into lighter pigments a tiny brush-tip at a time when making gold.
- Acrylic paint dries 5–10% darker than wet paint on the palette — test a small swatch first.
Active Color Swatches & Shades
- #D4AF37 — HEX, RGB, HSL & Shade Scale
- #D4AC53 — HEX, RGB, HSL & Shade Scale
- #D9B35C — HEX, RGB, HSL & Shade Scale
- #B58E4F — HEX, RGB, HSL & Shade Scale