Color & The Color Wheel

Sep 29, 2026

Color & The Color Wheel provides classroom guidance for teaching color theory through a practical, student-friendly color wheel. It explains how a traditional color wheel begins with primary colors (red, yellow, blue), how secondary colors are formed by mixing, and how intermediate colors and color schemes are organized on the wheel. Vocabulary definitions cover primary, secondary, intermediate/tertiary, analogous, complimentary/contrasting, warm, and cool colors, followed by suggested sample art projects and recommended reference materials.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time9 min

AccessFree to download

Color is an element of art

Color wheel creation and color relationships

Vocabulary

Color schemes and key pairs

Warm and cool colors

Sample projects

Additional recommended reference materials

Color & The Color Wheel [isfdn.org](isfdn.org/color-wheel)[/color-wheel](isfdn.org/color-wheel) Color is an element of art Please note: Resources and lesson plans provided here are intended for non-profit use only. Use of these materials for commercial purposes should give attribution to the Issaquah Schools Foundation and [be accompanied by a nominal donation at ](be accompanied by a nominal donation at www.isfdn.org/donate. Thank you)[www.isfdn.org/donate](be accompanied by a nominal donation at www.isfdn.org/donate. Thank you)[. Thank you](be accompanied by a nominal donation at www.isfdn.org/donate. Thank you). A Color Wheel is an exceptional tool for teaching students about color theory and how colors relate to one another. The first circular color diagram was created by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666. Color wheels start with the three Primary colors: red, yellow and blue (typically located at the 12:00, 3:00, and 9:00 positions of a circle) . Then the secondary colors are added: orange, green and purple (with green located at the 6:00 position) . Secondary colors are made by mixing primary colors. To illustrate how a Color Wheel is created, talk about the color wheel while you paint one, mixing the colors and showing students how to make the secondary colors. Discuss the concept of Color Schemes (described below), explaining the various groupings of colors. Vocabulary Color Wheel: a circle with different colored sectors used to show the relationship between colors. Primary Colors: red, yellow and blue. The colors from which all other colors are created by mixing. Secondary Colors: green, orange and purple. Colors created by mixing primary colors only. Intermediate Color: a color created by mixing a primary color with the secondary color next to it; also called a tertiary color; intermediate colors include red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet. Color Schemes: groupings of colors that are related on the color wheel. Analogous Colors: Colors that appear next to each other on the color wheel. For example, red, orange, and yellow are analogous colors. If mixed, these colors tend to make variations of the original colors. Complimentary Colors: Colors that appear opposite to one another on the color wheel. These colors compliment one another and are often used together in order to create a strong visual impact (one example is the UW Husky colors) . Sometimes also called contrasting colors. If mixed, complimentary colors tend to create "muddy" tones such as black, brown, or gray. Red-Green Blue-Orange Purple-Yellow Warm Colors: a group of colors on the color wheel that are associated with warmth, such as red, yellow, and orange (and variations on these colors such as pink, red-orange, etc. ) . In art, warm colors appear to advance toward the viewer. Cool Colors: a group of colors on the color wheel that includes blues, greens, and violets. In artwork, cool colors appear to be farther away from the viewer. Sample Projects | Color Mixing Bugs (Kindergarten) art lesson.
Ice Cube Painting (Kindergarten) art lesson.
Mondrian's Primary Colors (Kindergarten) art lesson.
Mouse Paint (Kindergarten) art lesson.
Warm and Cool Leaves (Kindergarten) art lesson.
Color Wheel Magic (1st Grade) art lesson.
Color Wheel Spring Flowers (1st Grade) art lesson.
Crazy Color Wheels (1st Grade) art lesson.
Analogous Color Weaving (3rd Grade) art lesson.
Warm and Cool Hearts (3rd Grade) art lesson.
Snakes Drawn in Analogous Colors (3rd Grade) art lesson.
Space Landscape (3rd Grade) art lesson.
Monochromatic Abstract Painting (4th Grade) art lesson.
Make a Color Wheel starting with a blank color wheel template. Have students begin with red, yellow and blue then have them mix the secondary colors (noting that darker colors may overpower colors like yellow so it's best to begin with yellow then add tiny amounts of blu

FAQs

What are the primary colors used to start a color wheel?

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue, typically placed around the circle (12:00, 3:00, and 9:00 positions).

How are secondary colors created in a color wheel?

Secondary colors—orange, green, and purple—are made by mixing the primary colors. The guide also notes where colors like green are located on the wheel (e.g., 6:00 position).

What are analogous and complimentary colors?

Analogous colors appear next to each other on the color wheel and often create variations when mixed. Complimentary (contrasting) colors appear opposite each other; when mixed, they tend to produce “muddy” tones such as black, brown, or gray.

Sep 29, 2026

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