First Grade Color Theory

 

First graders learn about color by studying the color wheel, mixing colors, and creating various art projects. First, they learned about primary colors and noticed that they form a triangle on the color wheel. I challenged them to create a collage using ONLY primary colored paper (red, yellow, and blue), but then offered them tricky "gifts" such as purple glitter and green yarn. They politely declined. Next, they learned about the secondary colors (purple, green, orange), which are made of two primaries. I challenged them to make a picture with all six colors we had discussed, but when they got to their tables they were surprised to find only yellow, blue, and red paint. They mixed the paint colors together to create the secondary colors.

Finally, they learned about complementary colors, which brighten each other when they are put together. The pairings are blue and orange, purple and yellow, and red and green. We discussed several artists' use of complementary colors, such as Van Gogh (orange beard with a blue-toned background) and Sonia Delaunay, who juxtaposed complementary colors in her geometric abstract work. First graders created drawings using concentric circles in complementary colors. They loved the feel of oil pastels, though it made for a challenging cleanup!

Here is the Van Gogh self-portrait:

Here is a painting by Sonia Delaunay with concentric circles and some juxtaposed complementary colors:

Here are some samples of first grade complementary color oil pastels: