What Colors Make Navy Blue Clay?

Navy blue clay is a dark shade of blue modeling clay used by artists and crafters. It gets its name from its resemblance to the dark blue color of naval uniforms. Navy blue clay is created by mixing other colored clays together until the desired deep, rich blue tone is achieved.

Working with navy blue clay opens up many possibilities for creative projects. The dark blue color is sophisticated yet versatile. It can be used on its own or combined with clays of other colors. When used properly, navy blue clay enables artists to make eye-catching sculptures, jewelry, pottery, and more.

This article will cover everything you need to know about making and using navy blue polymer clay. We’ll start by looking at the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors that make up navy blue. Then we’ll discuss techniques for mixing clay and demonstrate a simple recipe for navy blue clay. Finally, we’ll suggest some fun projects you can create with navy blue clay.

Primary Colors

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These three colors are called primary colors because they cannot be created by mixing other colors together. Instead, all other colors are derived from some combination of primary colors.

For example, if you mix red and yellow together, you get orange. If you mix blue and yellow together, you get green. Red, yellow, and blue are the only true primary colors – no other colors qualify as primary.

By mixing the primary colors together in different combinations and ratios, all other colors can be created. This characteristic makes red, blue, and yellow the foundation of color theory and essential when learning about color mixing.

Secondary Colors

Secondary colors are made by mixing two primary colors. The three secondary colors are green, orange, and purple.

Green is made by mixing blue and yellow. When blue and yellow light are mixed, the result is green light. When blue and yellow pigments are mixed, the result is green paint.

Orange is made by mixing red and yellow. When red and yellow light are combined, the result is orange light. Mixing red and yellow pigments results in orange paint.

Purple is made by mixing red and blue. Combining red and blue light creates purple light. Blending red and blue pigments makes purple paint.

So by mixing pairs of the primary colors red, blue and yellow, you get the secondary colors – green, orange and purple.

Tertiary Colors

Tertiary colors are made by mixing one primary color with one secondary color. For example, red is a primary color and purple is a secondary color made by mixing red and blue. When you mix red and purple together, you get a tertiary color called red-violet.

Navy blue is a tertiary color made by mixing the primary color blue with the secondary color purple. By mixing different amounts of blue and purple, you can create different shades of navy blue clay.

Making Navy Blue

When making navy blue clay, the key is understanding that it is created by mixing the primary colors blue and red. Blue and red are considered primary colors in art because they cannot be created by mixing other colors. When blended together in the right proportions, they make the rich, deep shade known as navy blue.

To make navy blue clay, start by taking some blue clay. This can be any shade of blue, but a richer royal or cobalt blue will yield the best results. Next, take some red clay. The red should also be a more vibrant, pure red rather than pink. Mix small amounts of the blue and red together, kneading the clay thoroughly to incorporate the colors.

Start with more blue clay than red, since navy blue is much closer to a true blue on the color wheel than to red. Slowly add and knead in more red clay until you achieve the perfect navy blue shade. The more red added, the more purple the resulting blue will become. Keep adding red and mixing until you reach the desired rich, deep navy blue color.

The exact color proportions will vary based on the starting shades of blue and red clay used. Going slowly, observing the color changes, and frequently comparing to a true navy blue sample is the best way to mix a clay that is an accurate navy blue hue.

Blue Clay

Blue clay is a popular type of modeling clay that comes in a range of shades from light sky blue to dark navy blue. It is made from natural clay and mineral pigments that provide its signature blue hue. Blue clay is loved by artists, crafters, and kids for its versatile coloring and smooth, malleable texture.

The pigments used to color blue clay vary by brand, but often include ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, or Prussian blue. These mineral pigments are added to the clay body during manufacturing to evenly distribute color throughout. Some clays incorporate additional organic pigments as well for more vibrant shades.

Blue clay works wonderfully for a variety of modeling, sculpting and craft projects. Its cool tones complement natural earth clays in mixed media pieces. Blue clay can be blended with other colors of clay to create an endless spectrum of shades. When painted or glazed, the blue undertones interact in interesting ways with the surface design.

With its soothing hues and soft texture, blue clay is delightful to work with. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to add cool tones to their clay modeling and sculpture work.

Purple Clay

Purple is a popular color for polymer modeling clay. There are several different shades of purple that can be achieved by mixing various colors of clay.

A vibrant purple can be made by mixing equal parts of blue and red clay. Combining more blue than red will create a bluer purple, while using more red will result in a redder purple. Adding a small amount of white or black clay can lighten or darken the shade.

To achieve a pastel lavender purple, mix a larger portion of white clay with smaller amounts of blue and red. Increase the white to get a lighter lavender. Less white will create a deeper, richer lavender.

For a warm purple with brown undertones, mix blue, red, and brown clays. Adjust the brown added to get different shades of brown-toned purple.

Dark purple can be created by mixing blue, red, and black clays. Start with a blue-red mix, then add black a little at a time until the desired darkness is reached.

Metallic pearl or glitter clays can also be blended with purple clay to create shimmery, pearlescent effects. This adds depth and visual interest to purple clay sculptures and projects.

With so many ways to vary the shades, tints and tones, artists can create a wide spectrum of purple colors in clay to suit any project.

Mixing Clays

To make navy blue clay, you’ll need to mix together blue clay and purple clay. Here are some tips for properly mixing clays:

Start with equal parts blue clay and purple clay. A good ratio to begin with is 1:1. Take a lump of blue clay and a lump of purple clay of equal size.

Knead the two colors together thoroughly. Keep kneading and mixing until the colors are fully incorporated and you have an even, uniform color throughout the clay. This may take 5-10 minutes of kneading.

Add more of either clay as needed to achieve the navy blue tone you desire. Navy blue is darker than regular blue, so you may need to add a bit more purple. Add purple clay in small amounts until you reach the navy tone you want.

Knead well after each addition to fully mix the colors. It can take some trial and error to find the perfect navy blue shade by adjusting the blue and purple clay ratios.

A marble effect may occur at first as you blend the two clays. Keep kneading consistently in one direction until the marble effect disappears and the clay color becomes uniform.

If the clay starts to feel stiff, condition it by squeezing it through your fingers to warm it up. This makes the clay easier to mix and knead.

Avoid over-mixing, as this can cause the clay color to become dull. Stop kneading once the clay is an even, smooth navy blue color throughout.

Store any unused mixed clay in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out. Your navy blue clay is now ready to use for clay projects!

Shaping Navy Blue Clay

Once you’ve mixed the right combination of colors to achieve a navy blue clay, there are many techniques you can use to sculpt and shape it into creative projects.

Clay sculpting utilizes various hands-on techniques. Here are some of the most common ways to shape navy blue clay:

• Pinching – Pinching pieces of clay between your fingers and thumbs is one of the most basic sculpting techniques. It allows you to mold the clay into natural, organic shapes and textures.

• Coiling – Roll pieces of clay into long coils or snakes, then bend, shape and attach them to build up 3D forms. Coils can be smoothed into curved surfaces.

• Slab Building – Roll out clay into flat slabs using a rolling pin. Cut shapes from the slabs and join them to construct forms.

• Carving – Let clay firm up slightly until it’s leather hard, then use tools to carve away excess clay to refine shapes and add detail.

• Smoothing – Use fingers, tools or water to blend and smooth clay surfaces for a seamless finish.

• Texturing – Add visual interest by impressing patterns into the clay using hands, tools, or textured objects to create effects like scales, wrinkles, etc.

Experiment with combining these techniques to create unique navy blue clay sculptures. The possibilities are endless!

Navy Blue Clay Projects

Navy blue clay is a versatile material that can be used to create many kinds of decorative and artistic objects. Here are some examples of projects that showcase the beauty of navy blue clay:

Figurines: Sculpting small figurines out of navy blue clay allows you to highlight intricate details and patterns. The deep blue color makes an eye-catching backdrop for golden accents or other brightly colored details. Figurines made from navy blue clay have an elegant, nautical look.

Jewelry: Handmade navy blue clay beads and pendants add bold pops of color to jewelry designs. Layer them with neutral-toned beads or pair them with metals like gold and silver. Fashioning navy blue clay into jewelry components results in dramatic statement pieces.

Boxes and Containers: The rich blue tone of navy clay looks fabulous on keepsake boxes, jewelry boxes, trinket trays, and other small containers. Consider adding patterns, textures, or embellishments for added visual interest. Lined with velvet or satin, navy blue clay containers become luxe homes for precious items.

Home Decor: Vases, coasters, candles, and other decorative objects gain elegance and stylish flair when made from navy blue clay. Use this clay to craft coordinating sets of decorative pieces for different rooms in your home. The bold color energizes spaces with its deep ocean hues.

With its versatility and striking color, navy blue clay allows artists and crafters to create stunning decorative objects, jewelry pieces, and more. The creative possibilities are endless with this richly-hued clay.