Hello Ladies and gentleman, I'd like to introduce you all to a great friend of mine...
This beauty is your best friend when you paint. Especially if you're trying to save cash on paints or if you're like me and just run out of colors a lot... due to over-crafting habits... I go to meetings... anyway.
The color wheel is a mystery to some, while to others it's just a vague memory from Elementary school. Don't be overwhelmed by it, I swear it can't hurt you ;)
So lets get down to it. Today we're going to making our very own color wheels. It's good practice and it only requires the barest of your supplies.
You will need:
Paint - colors: Red, Yellow, & Blue
Brushes (smaller to medium sized is best)
Newspaper
Paper that can withstand paint (or not if you just want to throw it away)
Water, a cup and napkins
A space to work
Cost: (If you had nothing)
Paint - $4-$8
Brushes - $2-$5
Newspaper - Free - $2
Paper - $1-$2
Total: $9-$17
I like to use newspaper when I use paints, it's an easier and quicker clean up (you just pick it up and throw it away... which admittedly is sometimes harder then it sounds >.<)
If you like you can use a pallet like the one pictured above. You can purchase them at any Hobby or Craft store as well as Target. Usually they go for $2-$10 bucks each, though I've seen plastic ones at the Dollar store.
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To begin lay out your paper and squeeze out a large portion of Red, Yellow, & Blue onto your newspaper. Maker sure there's room between them as you'll be moving a lot of colors around.
The very heart of the Color Wheel is the Primary colors. These colors are responsible for creating all other colors in the spectrum and can't be made using any color combination. (And they think they're special for it)
These colors are Red, Yellow & Blue. Start your wheel by dividing up a circle into thirds and painting each portion one of the three colors.
Something like this. The order isn't important, the wheel ends up with the colors where they should be no matter how you arrange it. However, if you're prone to getting lost in malls maybe copy my pattern so we don't lose you :P
The next set of colors are called the Secondary Colors (Rocket science, I know). They are colors created using the Primaries. On your newspaper mix the following colors. Keep adding one color or another until you reach what you think is the correct shade.
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue + Red = Violet
Yellow + Blue = Green
This is dark because I took a picture before it was dry. The way the colors are arranged is so that the Secondary color lines up with the colors that create it. Purple spans over half of red and blue, ect.
This next step is the trickiest (and funnest) part.
The Tertiary colors are colors that are combined using a Primary & a Secondary color. On your paper mix the following, remembering that to get the hue it's as easy as adding more of the dominating paint in the color. Mix:
Red + Orange = Red-Orange
Yellow + Orange = Yellow-Orange
Blue + Violet = Blue-Violet
Red + Violet = Red-Violet
Yellow + Green = Yellow-Green
Blue+ Green = Blue-Green
Simple.
Again you can arrange them so that the colors align with the colors that are mixed to make them. Following the lines you previously made with the Secondaries is an easy way to get it neat and easy to read.
And theres your color wheel. Now I'll explain why it's helpful. Sometimes when we're working on our arts & crafts we need to think of a good color scheme and this wheel can help with that. Simply looking at it gives you an idea of what colors would go best with one another. I also encourage you to use Grays, Blacks and Whites to find different colors you like, but keep in mind your Complimentary Colors.
Complimentary Colors are certain Primary and Secondary colors that when combined will create a neutral color. (Will do some experiments later on with that) I suggest not trying to mix these and if you do please send me your results! :)
On the color wheel their easy to identify. Their located across from one another. Red & Green, Blue & Orange, Yellow & Violet.
The last colors to consider because they should never be left out.
*Black & White are colors you cannot mix (Even mixing all the colors together will give you nothing darker then a very murky brown color that will at least resemble black.) Black & White arn't really colors but shades. They're important for lightening or darkening colors you mix yourself when you need a certain shade.
*Pink & Brown aren't considered primary, secondary or even tertiary colors. They are (as far as I've been taught and a google search has shown) just colors. Brown is made by combining Red and green and it's tones usually steer toward oranges but brown can hold almost any tone to it. Pink is made by mixing red and white. Neither are on the color wheel but both are frequently used. And they go great together, really.
So thats that, I hope you enjoyed learning about your colors with me (now it's story time class?)
Till next time,stay smiling and keep crafting!
With Love,
Crafty Kitty =^.^=
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