Color Wheel - elementary art class

This week we are introducing the color wheel to the primary grades. I found this uncomplicated color wheel on Art Projects for Kids --if you are interested in printing one for home, it's a free download.

The kinders and first graders will  practice drawing and cutting circles to make their own color wheel. Once completed, we will label the colors and begin our discussion of the senses to prepare for next week's lesson using fruit, the senses, and the color wheel.

Shared on smArt Class

The upper grades have already been introduced to the color wheel in years past, therefore, we will be applying our knowledge in a discussion of our artist of the month,  Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890). By analyzing his Café Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, 1888, the students should be able to recognize the energizing power of color placement. In this painting, Van Gogh uses the complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel) orange and blue to direct our eye around the image while giving a "glowing" effect from the night windows. When two colors are placed next to one another simultaneous contrast occurs. Simultaneous contrast occurs when any two colors are placed side-by-side. The edge where the two colors meet will change our perception of that color. Impressionist artists used this technique in their works. Van Gogh, a post-impressionist,  uses simultaneous contrast in its most bold form--placing complementary colors next to one another. By doing so, Van Gogh's paintings have a vibrational quality to the colors. The windows glow by placing a blue color immediately next to them. The cobblestones add movement from the repetition, pattern, and color choice. By using the opposite warm and cool colors, it adds depth because cool colors recede into the background and warm colors come forward.

This discussion will help our students choose colors for their CULTURE & IDENTITY piece coming up.

Analyze Van Gogh's The Night Cafe in the Place Lamartine in Arles, September of 1888 with your child.

Look around the house. What items can your child find that represent complementary colors?