RED EARTH · CURATED PAINT RECIPE
How to mix rust
A dark iron-oxide red-orange for weathering, brick, leather, soil, and autumn subjects.
STARTING MIX
5 : 1 : 1 : 0.25
Use one consistent unit for every part. For the smallest fractions, scale the entire recipe up instead of estimating a partial drop.
PIGMENT LOGIC
Why this mixture works
Sienna already sits close to oxidized iron colors. Red and ochre expand its warm range, while a small blue addition provides dark crusted depth.
The displayed #A94F32 swatch is an sRGB target, not a promise that every brand will dry to the same color. Pigment identity, tint strength, opacity, medium, surface, and lighting remain part of the result.
BASIC-PALETTE ROUTE
Alternative recipe
Mix 3 parts warm red, 1 part yellow, and enough brown to produce an earth color rather than a clean orange.
Apply the mixture on the same ground and at the same thickness planned for the final work. Label the wet ratio, wait for a complete dry-down, and compare in neutral light before adjusting.
CORRECTION MAP
How to adjust the result
Add ochre for fresh orange rust, sienna for classic iron oxide, or blue and umber for old dark corrosion.
Correct value first, then hue, then chroma. This order prevents a lightness error from turning into an unnecessarily complicated recipe.
WATCH FOR
Common mistakes
- Using one flat rust color across every stage of weathering
- Adding black to every shadow
- Making the base too orange before adding earth pigments