© Michelle C. East - Create Art with ME www.CreateArtwithME.com
33
Lesson Plan: Color Theory Mixing Chart
Grades: 6
th
Grade-HS
Materials:
• Color Theory Mixing
Charts printed on
Cardstock or Watercolor
Paper
• Paint (Watercolor,
Acrylic or Oil)
• Supplies to go with that
medium of paint
• Newsprint to protect
table
Objectives:
• Students will experience mixing primary, secondary, and
intermediate colors.
• Students will experience mixing tints, shades and intensities of
various colors.
• Students will show understanding of mixing two colors by filling
in their own color boxes.
• Students will make examine different proportions of paint and
make judgements on ratios of paint to mix.
• Students will understand that different colors have different color
temperatures and the temperature of the color affects the
outcome of mixing colors.
Delivery:
1. When mixing paint colors, you as the artist must decide which ratios of paint to combine in order to
create the color you desire. There are infinite possibilities of combinations of colors.
2. Mixing colors involves mixing different proportions of paint. Rarely do you only mix half of one color
with half of another color to achieve the desired color. Also, often do you need to mix more than two
colors together to create the desired color. This takes experimentation and a good understanding of
color theory.
a. Sketchbook Activity: Experiment with different proportions of paints. In your sketchbook,
draw a rectangle about 5”x1” long. Draw in 4 lines, so that you have 5 sections. Choose any 3
colors to mix together. Vary the ratios of paint adding different proportions of each color in
each of the blocks (EX: 25% red, 50% yellow, and 25% blue). Notice how the color changes.
3. Different paint colors have different color temperatures. Sometimes the temperature of the paint
varies by brand of paint. Paint companies usually produce different temperature colors. Below are
the most common warm and cool temperature paints of the primary colors:
a. Cadmium Yellow Light: cool yellow; leans towards the green/blue (actually has a touch of
blue paint).
b. Cadmium Yellow Medium: warm yellow; leans towards the orange/red (because it has a bit
of red in it)
c. Alizarin Crimson: cool red; leans towards the violet/blue
d. Cadmium Red Medium: warm yellow; leans towards the red-orange (because it contains
yellow)
e. Phthalo Blue: cool blue; leans towards the red
f. Ultramarine Blue: warm blue; leans towards the green
Activity: 3 Options:
• Color Mixing Chart (colors pre-determined)
• Create Your Own-Color Mixing Chart - 2 Versions (Blank, fill in your choice of colors)