Burnt sienna + Burnt umber + white = ???

[holdenmt]

Hello, I apologize for the extremely basic question, but this seems the perfect place, as someone with no art training, to ask questions. I have mixed burnt sienna and burnt umber artist oils into linseed oil, which I will be applying to my oak floors - which already have on them an all-natural coating which contains white pigment, and tends toward a buttery yellow (cool side, but not very greenish). Is it possible to say whether I have produced mud? :( Thank you - Maria

[George O'Hanlon]

Do you mean "mud" as in a color that is neutral as is gray? It is quite possible, depending on the sienna and umber. Burnt Sienna is typically a warm color owing to the iron oxide content, whereas burnt umber may be warm or cool, depending on the amount of iron oxide, its degree of calcination and the amount of manganese oxide, which is black and gives the cool color to umbers. Mixing cool and warm hue pigments together can result in a neutralized color and it may not.

[holdenmt]

Thank you, George. It worked beautifully. Somehow, the combination of the burnt sienna, burnt umber, the white pigment in the floor oil, as well as some color from the oil itself, and of course from the oak itself, combined to produce a lovely medium gray. Am I correct that the burnt umber pulled on something like violet? Maria

[John Kennedy]

My questions would be, first, what color are you trying to come up with, and second, why are you using artist colors and linseed oil for a floor finish? If you are shooting for a buttery yellow with a bit of a greenish tint, you might want to consider looking at some of the yellow ochers instead of burnt siennas and umbers, unless your looking to go toward a darker redish brown. I'm not sure I am understanding the white added into the mix, this could be a bit cloudy and muddy for sure, depending on your quantities used in your mix. So, what exactly is it you are trying to achieve for a color?

[holdenmt]

FYI, the linseed oil is a floor finish;it also contains resins and other natural products which make it appropriate. I was looking to cool down the creamy color already present on the floor; hence my use of burnt umber to try to go towards grey. I.e. I didnt add the white; it was what I already had down on the floor that I had to deal with. I had mixed a bit of my burnt umber with the white and found a very pleasing gray. So my question after all that was, how would the burnt sienna affect it It all turned out ok.

[John Kennedy]

What I am getting out of all this now, is you have an all natural (clear) finish with white mixed in it, first on the floor, that looks kind of buttery yellow, on the greenish side. Now, you want to apply a greyish color made from burnt umber and burnt sienna and you are wondering if it will appear as a muddy color. Right?

I have no idea as to how you are applying the new color mix!! Are you doing them as a solid, rag wipe on, or as a wood graining effect? If you do a graining effect my guess is you will end up with a multi- colored grained floor with a greenish/grey look. I create effects using various faux finishing techniques in my concept design work, as well as painting walls, doors and mouldings. Graining effects take time and patients and you really need to do some sample boards so you have something to follow for your final finished product. You may also need to scuff the existing floor so the new color will adhere to it. The colors would look fine together if properly done, and depending on the right furniture and decor through out the room. Samples, samples and more samples!! Hope this is helpful. Blessings, John

[holdenmt]

Thank you again, John. That is correct except the buttery yellow is not greenish; it is a rather mid-yellow, not warm, not cool. I mixed the Burnt Sienna and the Burnt Umber into the natural oil and shook forever. I applied with a large squeegee bc I feared uneven application, so I wanted to get it on there fast. I can say it is gorgeous - and the only color I can use to describe it is an ash blonde - hints of peach but also some grey, but also some violent - depending obviously on the variations in the wood itself. Thank you for putting up with me, an untrained artist at heart.

[John Kennedy]

holdenmt, Well, sounds like you pulled it off to your liking. This is always a good thing. So, mud is not what you have, but a nice blend of ash blonde, peach and some greys and violet. Sounds very interesting!! Hope you will enjoy for years to come. Peace be with you. Blessings, John