Does this title intimidate you? Don’t worry – color theory is not rocket science. It’s just some simple principles about how to mix, match and use colors in visual art. [Note: Color theory for pigments (paint) is different than color theory for light (the spectrum). Don’t try to integrate them.] The following terms will be defined and projects that teach them will be suggested with each lesson in this series.
- Primary colors
- Secondary colors
- Tertiary colors
- Analogous colors
- Monochromatic colors
- Complimentary colors
Lesson 1: Understanding Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colors
There are three colors that cannot be mixed from any other colors: RED, BLUE and YELLOW. These are called primary colors. From them, we can create the secondary colors GREEN, ORANGE and PURPLE. We can mix these further to create the tertiary colors, as you will see in the project below.
This is how we create secondary colors:
- Red + yellow = orange
- Blue + yellow = green
- Red + blue = violet
All colors can be mixed from the three primary colors plus black and white. (That’s what your computer color printer does, using the white of the paper as its white.)
Lesson 1 ProjectThe Basic Color Wheel
(see “File for Color Theory I” at for a color diagram to follow)
Note: I realize that this may be elementary to some of you. However, this is the base upon which the rest of color theory is built. This color wheel should be hung up and referred to during other art projects.
Supplies:
- Poster or tempera paints: Red, blue and yellow
- Paintbrush
- Poster board, 9” x 12”
- 12 small paper cups
- Pencil
- Something round and flat for drawing a 5-6” circle (like a plastic lid or plate)
- Ruler
Instructions:
1. Have each student draw a circle on his board using a pencil and a round lid as a guide. Make sure it is centered.
2. Using a pencil and ruler, have him divide the circle into 4 equal parts. Then divide each of the four parts into 3 parts each. The end result is 12 parts.
3. Explain the 3 primary colors: red, yellow and blue. All other colors are made from these 3 colors. Have students paint in the three primary colors, leaving three blank spaces in between each color.
4. Explain that two primary colors mixed together make secondary colors. Teach that red and yellow make orange and have them mix some in a paper cup (not too much!). Paint in the orange section between the red and yellow (leaving one blank wedge on each side).
5. Explain that yellow and blue make green and have them mix some in a paper cup. Paint in the green section between the blue and yellow (leaving one blank wedge on each side).
6. Explain that blue and red make violet and have them mix some in a paper cup. Paint in the violet section between the red and blue (leaving one blank wedge on each side).
7. Explain that there are different colors in between the colors that we have already made.These are called tertiary colors.They are red-orange, orange-yellow, yellow-green, blue-green (aqua), blue-violet (indigo) and red-violet (magenta).Mix these colors by adding more paint to the existing paints that they made in their paper cups. Fill in the remaining sections in this manner. (Make sure that the section adjacent to the one being painted is dry first.)To create these, you will have to create the secondary colors again in separate cups.You will now have 2 cups of orange, green and purple. Follow this guide to create the tertiary colors:
- Red-orange: Add more red to the orange cup.
- Orange-yellow: Add more yellow to the 2nd orange cup.
- Yellow-green: Add more yellow to the green cup.
- Blue-green: Add more blue to the 2nd green cup.
- Blue-violet: Add more blue to the violet cup.
- Red-violet: Add more red to the 2nd violet cup.
8. Allow to dry. Cut out and mount on black construction paper, if desired.
