What Colors Do Green And Purple Make? Blue, Grey, or Brown?

Last Updated on March 20, 2024 by Masha Eretnova

Green and purple are popular secondary colors: green is a combination of blue and yellow, while purple is a combination of blue and red.

But what color do green and purple make if they are mixed?

Green and purple make a brownish-gray, blueish-grey and brown. The lighter the green the more grey mixed color will be. The darker the purple and green, the more blue tint the mixed color will have.

This is because when green and purple are mixed together, both purple and green have blue in it, so the blue component is doubled and is overpowering, creating a grayish-brown or dark blue color.

The exact shade though may vary depending on the specific shades of green and purple used. And I will show you that the results may be absolutely different from what everyone is saying!

How can we mix green and purple in color theory?

Green and purple are both secondary colors. It means they were mixed using 2 primary colors:

• green = blue + yellow
• purple = red + blue

In color theory, green and purple are also considered complementary colors.

Complementary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.

Green is located between blue and yellow on the color wheel, while purple is located between blue and red.

When green and purple are placed next to each other, they create a strong contrast and can be used to create visual interest in art and design.

At the same time, complementary/contrasting colors tend to neutralize each other when mixed. Such a process creates neutral colors like brown or grey.

That is why mixing green and purple paint we can have different colors but they all will have grey or brown undertone.

Read also: Violet vs Purple: Is Violet Same As Purple? The Key Difference

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My Experiment Mixing Green And Purple

In general, green and purple paint will create brown-grey to dark blue-grey colors when mixed.

Yet, as there are many different shades of green and purple, as well as they can be mixed in different ratios (1:1, 2:1, 0.5:2 etc) and mediums, we need to understand that various shades can be possible.

I’ve tested different greens and purples in acrylic, gouache, acrylic gouache, and watercolor.

I even added violet to compare.

Read also: What Does Red and Green Make? Easy Mixing Guide

Green shade	Purple shade	Mixed color
Light Green	Dioxazine purple	Dark grey
Phthalo Green	Dioxazine purple	Dark blue-grey, almost black
Brilliant Green	Purple	Brownish grey
Brilliant Green	Purple	Dark blue-grey
Yellow Green	Pale Purple	Olive
Grass Green	Pale Purple	Pale Grey-green
Jade Green	Pale Purple	Pale bluish-grey
Pale Green	Pale Purple	Pale Greyish purple
Viridian	Violet	Dark blue
Light Green	Violet	Green Khaki
Watercolor: Grass green	Purple	Purple
Watercolor: Blue-green	Purple	Viridian green
Watercolor: White green	Purple	Pale purple
Watercolor: Yellow-green	Purple	Grey

What Colors Do Purple and Green Make In Acrylic Paint?

In acrylics, purple and green make dark grey shades: brown-grey, dark gray color, or dark blue.

I’ve used Liquitex, Mont Marte, and Amsterdam acrylic paint in a 1:1 ratio for this test:

• Dioxazine purple mixed with green light creates a dark grey color
• Dioxazine purple mixed with dark green (Phthalo green) makes a dark blue-grey color
• Purple mixed with light green (Brilliant green) makes dark brown-grey
• Mix green(Emerald) with purple to make a dark blue color with a grey undertone as well.

Why different results?

Each brand has its composition for each color.

Some brands mix a few pigments to create a green or any other color. And we don’t know that ratio.

We can only test and see.

Read also: Green and Brown Make What Color? Forest Green Guide

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Mixing lighter and Darker Colors

Mixing pale purple with green in gouache will make dull greish beige or steel blue.

I was using Miya gouache for my test and I used light purple with 4 different shades of green. No matter the shade of the green the fact that purple neutralizes green gives us this grey undertone.

• Pale purple and lime green (yellow-green) make a greyish-olive color almost like a soft khaki.
• Pale purple and grass green make greyish green (pale)
• Pale purple and jade green will make a grey color
• Pale purple and pale green make grey blue color (more pastel blue color) closer to lavender color.

For a darker color, go for solid Purple, Phthalo green, or green with more blue color in it. And it will give you dark blue to almost black colors mixed.

Purple and green can make an almost black color when mixed. Dioxazine Purple with Phthalo Green will make such a dark blue that it looks like black.

Acrylic gouache (I used Holbein here) more often has violet color in sets than purple.

So I tested it as well:

In acrylic gouache, violet mixed with green makes a grey-green or dark blue color.

Read also: What Color does Pink and Yellow Make? Real Swatches

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What Do Green and Purple Paint Make in Watercolor?

Watercolors are very transparent and duller than acrylic or gouache by nature.

So mixed colors in watercolor often like pale.

Mix purple and green paint with watercolors and you will get grey or tints of blue-green.

Read also: What Color Does Pink And Green Make? Color Mixing Guide

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Do purple and green Go Well Together?

Using contrasting, complementary, colors like purple and green is always a good idea in design or painting composition.

When purple and green are mixed in design, they create a unique and eye-catching color combination that can be used in a variety of ways.

Here are some some good uses for the purple and green combination:

1. Branding: Purple and green can be used together in branding to create a unique and memorable color scheme. This combination is often used in the wellness and beauty industries, as it can represent health, nature, and spirituality.
2. Web design: Purple and green can be used in web design to create a visually engaging and dynamic website. The contrast between the two colors can help to draw the viewer’s eye and create a sense of movement and depth. Don’t use very bright purple though. I was using one platform that added intense purple to their dashboard and it was unpleasant for eyes to use. Use paler, toned-down shades. Bright colors are not good for creating accessible interfaces
3. Interior design: The combination of these two colors can create a sense of balance and harmony, but also creativity and make a statement. Making them a good choice for living rooms.
4. In painting: for a purple object a green background will bring the object even more forward. In pouring it creates stunning contrast (see my pour painting pic)

Overall, purple and green mixed together can be used in a variety of ways in design to create a unique and engaging color scheme.

For most people, this combination may seem too bold, but don’t forget that there are so many shades of green and purple: lighter, duller, and calmer that you can use!

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What does green and purple mean?

Purple often means luxury and mystery while green is more associated with health and stability.

Purple color meaning

1. Royalty and luxury: Historically, purple has been associated with royalty and luxury due to its rarity and expense. In many cultures, purple was reserved for the ruling class and was seen as a symbol of wealth and power.
2. Creativity and imagination: Purple is often associated with creativity and imagination, as it is a unique and unconventional color that can inspire new ideas and ways of thinking.
3. Spirituality and mysticism: Purple is also associated with spirituality and mysticism, particularly in Western cultures. It is often used in religious iconography and is associated with the third eye chakra in Hinduism.
4. Femininity and romance: In Western cultures, purple is often associated with femininity and romance. It is popular for floral arrangements and bridesmaid dresses.
5. Uncertainty: Purple is a complex and ambiguous color that can have both positive and negative connotations. It can represent uncertainty, ambiguity, and confusion, as well as creativity, spirituality, and luxury.

Green color meaning

Green is often associated with abundance, harmony, and health.

1. Growth and renewal: Green is often associated with growth and renewal, as it is the color of plants and nature. It can represent new beginnings, fresh starts, and the cycle of life.
2. Health and wellness: Green is also associated with health and wellness, as it is the color of many healthy foods and is often used in medical settings to promote healing and relaxation.
3. Wealth and prosperity: In some cultures, green is associated with wealth and prosperity, as it is the color of money and financial stability.
4. Harmony and balance: Green is a calming and soothing color that can represent harmony and balance. It is often used in interior design to create a peaceful and relaxing environment.

Green and Purple in different color models

CMYK Color Model

• In the CMYK color model, green is created by mixing 100% cyan and 100% yellow, while purple is created by mixing 100% magenta and 100% cyan. Mixing green and purple in the CMYK color model will create a black color.
• In the RGB color model, green is created by combining green light (0% red and 100% green) with blue light (0% red and 0% blue). Purple, on the other hand, is created by combining red light (100% red and 0% green) with blue light (0% red and 100% blue). Mixing green and purple in RGB color model will create a grey color.
• In the HEX code system, the green HEX code is #008000 and the Purple HEX code is #800080. Mixing them will create #404040 grey color.

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Final Words

In conclusion, I didn’t come up to a single verdict on what green and purple make.

There is simply too many shades of green or purple that can affect the results. My color swatches make me realize that most of the time purple and green will make a neutral color ranging from grey to brown, but it will depend on how light or dark green and purple you use.

If you have any questions please share in the comments!