Brown Color Pallette

History of the Color Brown

Way back during prehistoric times, a natural clay pigment consisting of manganese oxide and iron oxide was used to paint on cave walls.

Later in the twentieth century, brown became synonymous with all things natural and healthy. Consider brown paper bags, brown wrapping paper, and brown sugar.

Creating Different Shades  of Brown

Brown can be dark, or light and warm, or cool. The color value of brown can be altered by making it darker or lighter. This can easily be done by mixing in black or white paint.

Combine all three primary colors in different ratios to get different shades of brown. The intensity can be changed by adding complementary colors, making it brighter or duller.

Most Popular Shades Of Brown

Some of the more common and familiar shades of brown include: Beige; Tan; Espresso; Chestnut; Chocolate brown; Wood brown; Dark brown; Light brown color