Depending on the proportions of each colour utilised, the mixture of yellow and purple yields brown and warm grey. By combining two complementary colours, such as red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple, a unique shade of brown is produced.
The colours grey and brown are formed by combining the three fundamental hues in various ways. Adding white to the mixture will result in shades of grey, whilst omitting it would result in a more brownish hue. Additionally, a primary colour and its complement can be combined. This is due to the fact that the complimentary colour is a blend of the other two primary colours. For instance, purple is a mix of red and blue. When a small amount of purple is added to yellow, the resulting colour is ochre, a light brown-gray hue.