As a color between green and blue, turquoise is remarkably versatile. It’s often seen as a spiritual color, and has a calm, natural quality.
The tranquility, expansion, and optimism embodied by turquoise are not coincidental. Due to its similarity to aquamarine, the color that gives the world’s seas their distinctive blue-green hue, it’s easy to associate it with the rhythmic swells and gentle swaying of the ocean.
It’s clear why turquoise is so popular for jewelry and home decor—it’s excellent for establishing an optimistic, calming, strong, and natural ambiance.
So what colors make turquoise?
The Quick Version
Turquoise is a blue-green. Mix blue and green 2:1, then add white. Or add a hint of yellow to blue, keeping a white-to-blue ratio near 1:6. As a color in the cyan family, turquoise feels calm. You can pair it with red for contrast, or with deep blues, grays, or white for a clean look.
What Colors Make Turquoise?
A real, light turquoise color may be made by combining blue, green, and white, if you’re using the RYB color wheel. You should be able to achieve a pleasing cyan by combining the blue and green. Then, keep adding tiny bits of white until you achieve the shade of turquoise you want.
When creating turquoise, try a ratio of 2:1 between blue and green.
Another way to create custom turquoise is simply combining the colors blue and yellow. In this method, a small amount of yellow is added to a base color of blue.
For the most brilliant and true turquoise, go for a white-to-blue ratio of 1:6.
Popular Cyan Shades
When it comes to creating vibrant worlds, cyan is a must-have hue for any artist. Creating the cyan color requires us to take out red light from white. Cyan, a greenish blue, is easily modified to provide a wide range of tones in the blue and green spaces.
Tip: In the CYM or CYMK model (for printer ink), cyan is one of the primary colors.
Turquoise, teal, aquamarine, and electric blue are all examples of the cyan color family. Here is how you can create some of the most common cyan shades:
Turquoise
The color turquoise is a combination of green and blue and, therefore, has the same calming effect as both these colors. Some people see it as green and others as blue.
Turquoise and aquamarine are sometimes confused, but these colors are actually quite distinct. While turquoise is a greenish blue, aquamarine is a bluer shade with green undertones that is frequently used to depict the ocean.
To create turquoise, you need to combine white, green, and blue.
Teal
Like other shades of blue, teal is linked to the sea and the natural world, and is said to promote emotions of serenity and composure. Contrast it with maroon for added contrast, or mix it with other colors of green for a refreshing effect.
To create teal, you need to combine cyan with a little white and a little yellow.
Electric Blue
The English color term “electric blue” dates back to the middle of the 1840s and connotes a lively and dynamic quality. Use this vibrant shade in place of mellower blues for a splash of energy and vitality. In addition to going well with white, this shade also works well with a wide range of other bright colors, notably a fiery orange-red. Naturally, it also complements and combines well with any other tones of blue.
To create electric blue, you need to combine white and cyan.
Blue-Green
Turquoise’s blue-green version, a deeper shade of cyan, is likewise soothing and tranquil. A wide variety of fish and lakes display this color naturally, with the blue-green damselfish being an example. Try mixing blue-green with brighter blues and white for a glacier-inspired color scheme. The hue will pop even more next to oranges and yellows.
To create blue-green, you need to combine blue and green.
Colors in the cyan group are usually very flexible. Typically, adding a touch of white can significantly affect a cyan tint, making it either brighter or darker. And as we’ve seen, mixing blue and green can produce vastly different outcomes, depending on the predominant hue in the blend.
Using Turquoise
All cyan tones, including turquoise, stand out among specific colors. When incorporating turquoise into a color scheme, you have flexibility in how you can use it. The complementary color to cyan is red. As a result, if you pair red with turquoise, it makes for a striking combination.
Turquoise creation begins with understanding two primary color mixing techniques: additive and subtractive mixing.
In additive mixing, light-based colors from the RGB (red, green, blue) model are combined to create a turquoise effect. This is used for digital designs and displays, e.g. for computers, TVs, and mobile devices.
Painters rely on subtractive mixing, combining physical pigments like blue and green on a palette. The amounts of these determine whether the result leans more blue or green. The pigment absorbs other wavelengths, reflecting back the blue-green ones.
For a more subdued appearance, try pairing turquoise with deeper blues instead of other cyan tones.
The combination of turquoise and deep royal blue will produce a luxurious, multilayered effect. You can also make turquoise stand out while remaining conservative by pairing it with cool grays. This helps maintain a bright color scheme while giving a painting or room a sense of depth.
Finally, when combined with white, turquoise creates a breezy, beach-like aesthetic. Painting waves over white sand, painting a colorful backdrop behind white cabinets, or pairing white khakis with turquoise dress shirts are all excellent examples of where these colors work well together.
Turquoise Meaning and History
Turquoise is not just a color; it is rich in cultural and historical significance. The word “turquoise” originates from the French word turquois, meaning “Turkish,” as the mineral first reached Europe via Turkey from ancient mines in Persia (modern-day Iran).
Historically, turquoise gemstones have been cherished for their vibrant hue and symbolic meanings.
Symbolism and Cultural Importance
- Protection and Good Fortune: In many cultures, turquoise has been a symbol of protection, believed to guard against negative energy and bring good fortune. It was commonly used in jewelry and amulets.
- Spiritual Meaning: The color evokes emotional balance, tranquility, and open communication. Various civilizations, such as those in Persia and Native American tribes, associated turquoise with the heavens and spiritual health.
- Success and Power: In ancient Egypt and Central America, turquoise could be a symbol of success and authority, often adorning royalty and spiritual leaders.
Prehistoric and Global Use
- Archeological findings suggest turquoise was used in Bulgaria as early as the fifth millennium BCE in decorative artifacts. Similarly, Native Americans mined turquoise and used it in art and ceremonial pieces for thousands of years, combining its natural beauty with sacred purpose.
- Persian artisans created stunning turquoise mosaics, while the stone itself adorned sacred religious spaces.
Turquoise continues to capture people’s imagination, connecting the modern world with ancient traditions of emotional strength, protection, and universal beauty.
FAQs
Got questions about making turquoise or using it in your artwork or design? Here’s everything you need to know.
What two colors make turquoise?
Blue and green, plus white. Start with a blue that leans cyan, add a touch of green, then lighten with white to reach the bright, watery look.
How do I warm up or cool down turquoise?
To warm it, add a hint of yellow or a warmer green. To cool it, add more blue or a touch of cyan. Go in small steps.
What’s the difference between turquoise, teal, and aqua?
- Turquoise: Blue-green with higher brightness and clarity.
- Teal: Darker, more blue, less white.
- Aqua: Lighter, often more green, very bright.
What are common mistakes when mixing turquoise?
Using too much black, which dulls the color fast. Mixing with earthy greens, which muddy the hue. Adding white too soon, which makes it chalky before you set the hue.
Does real turquoise stone match the paint color?
The gemstone varies. Some stones skew greener, some bluer, many include matrix veins. Use reference photos if you want a natural match.
Wrapping Up
Since turquoise is inspired by the hue of a natural stone, it offers abundant natural inspiration for creating your own unique turquoise tones. This provides you with plenty of creative freedom to find inspiration in the countless examples of turquoise found in nature.
Incorporating turquoise, a vibrant and spiritual color, will immediately elevate the energy and atmosphere of your artwork. It’s no surprise, then, that turquoise holds a prominent place in fashion, décor, and art.