Color mixing is the essential foundation in painting. Mixing colors will give your work variety, richness, and visual completeness that cannot be attained by using paint straight from the tube. The range of colors that can be mixed is limitless. Although extremely small changes cannot be detected by the eye, they can pick up a profoundly vast array of colors. Now begin using the three primary colors of your acrylic paints to complete a color wheel.
- Please read all of the instructions before starting.
- Gather your materials at a workstation with good lighting.
- Lay down newspaper to protect the surface on which you are working.
Materials
- See example of blank color wheel and chart for relationships on color wheel
- 1 piece of white watercolor paper or card stock paper
- Flat brush - small round (#5 round and #12 flat)
- Red, yellow, blue acrylic paint
- One sheet of newsprint paper (use this paper to test the color/hue before painting it on the wheel)
- Paper towels - several to use as needed
- 2 wide mouth jars or containers for water (one for cleaning, one for wetting the brush as needed)
- Pallete - you can use a plastic lid or paper plate on which to hold and mix your paint as you work. I prefer using the wet paper/sponge palette to keep the paint moist. Instructions come with the palette and paper and it works very well.
- Palette knife - a plastic knife will work as well.
- Observe the blank color wheel before you begin
Keys to Success
- When mixing two colors to make a new color (secondary, intermediate, etc.) be sure to mix thoroughly before applying it to the color wheel. Test the color on newsprint first.
- Paint the color inside the circles as neatly as you are able.
- Keep a paper towel handy so you can wipe excess color from your brush/palette knife before washing it with water.
- Always use a cleaned palette knife to mix colors on the palette. You can use your clean brush to complete mixing the colors and to test the color on the newsprint paper before adding it to your color wheel.
- Between completed colors be sure to clean your tools! Paint left on your palette knife or brush will affect the outcome of your color.
- Be gentle with your brushes. Squeeze gently when using the paper towel to remove paint/water.
Let's paint! Download these steps to help you finish your project.
When you are finished, show your project to your teacher. You will be graded using the following rubric:
| Mixing of Colors (10 points) |
0-3 | Mixing of color shows knowledge of color relationships. Hues progress in even steps. |
| 4-6 | Mixing of color shows knowledge of color relationships. Some hues progress in even steps. | |
| 7-10 | Mixing of color shows knowledge of color relationships. Hues progress in even steps. | |
| Craftsmanship (10 points) |
0-3 | Student needs to work on controlling paint and preplanning paint application. Muddy colors, ragged edges, lacks even washes, drips and/or blobs are evident throughout the painting. |
| 4-6 | Paint is applied in a careful, logical manner. Colors remain sharp and some what accurate. Washes are even. Work is neat and mostly accurate. | |
| 7-10 | Application of paint is pre-planned and done in a a logical, sequential manner. Colors remain sharp and accurate. Washes are even. Work is very neat and accurate. |
