Friday, July 8, 2011

How to Make a Color Wheel for your Sketchbook





You have probably seen these color wheels in the store.  I pull mine out occasionally when designing a project but when I'm out and about painting I need a tool specific to me.

One using colors of my palette and on the paper I am using.







Now at home I have a binder filled with test sheets for reference and you can put in a little test swatch right on one of your sketchbook pages but why not take it a step further.


Trace and cut out a circle that will fit onto your sketchbook page.  Make it out of the same type of paper or as close as you can get.  If you have a coil binding you can just rip out a blank page to use. Trace on a smaller circle so you have an outer rim where the colors will go.

Using the your palette, here I'm using my field kit, make a color wheel.  I like 12 sections:
-  3 primary (Red, Yellow, Blue)
- 3 secondary  (Orange, Green, Purple)
- and 6 tertiary ( primary and secondary mixed together, i.e. greenish yellow)


On a page of your book draw a window that will show 4 analogous colors at once. Analogous colors are colors that sit side by side on the wheel.

Also make a little window that will only show one color directly opposite the middle of that other window.  I used the same circular objects I used to trace out the wheel.  You want your windows to be a bit smaller width wise that the actual color segments.






Using scissors or a paper cutter cut out your windows.









Poke a hole thru the center of your wheel, put it in place on top of your window page and mark the center thru that hole.













Poke a hole thru that page, insert paper fastener, put color wheel on at the back of that page.












Now you have a very useful tool.  It shows a 4 color analogous scheme as well as a contrast or complimentary color that goes with them and it's right in your sketchbook at your fingertips.




Turn the wheel and you get another color scheme. 
Applications:
- have your students construct this color wheel tool and then picking a color scheme paint a composition limited to these colors.
- paint side by side color sketches, one with only analogous colors and one adding in that complementary color.
- use the complimentary color for the focal point
- use this tool to analyze how other artists utilize these color schemes.

18 comments:

  1. What a great project! I have not done much colour theory so this will be fun to play with and use. Thanks so much!

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  2. Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [09 Jul 01:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

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  3. This is one of the most wonderful art projects I have ever seen. You never cease to amaze me!

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  4. Just found your blog and I love it. I'll be exploring lots of your project ideas for sure. Thank you. xx

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  5. What a lovely idea. I have yet to purchase a color wheel but I think making one would probably be more useful for me. Thanks for sharing the wonderful tutorial.

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  6. Thanks!
    Your project is very interesting and really useful (not only for artists, but for everyone who works or plays with colors)!

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  7. this idea is so great! im truly inspired by your site! thanks for sharing :)

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  8. I am a mom that is always doing art projects with my kids. Your site is awesome!! I love your projects, you are an incredible art teacher. Thanks for sharing your talent.

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  9. Do I have permission to post this to my Pinterest board? Love the idea!

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  10. I too would love to pin this - amazing!

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  11. Wow, just found your blog. Can't wait to incorporate it into my home school lessons. Thank you!

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  12. just what I need to getting me going again. going to make an embroidered one as well

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  13. I found your blog just now via Pinterest and wow!! So nice! I would love to do this project however, the images are not showing up for some reason... :(

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for letting me know. For some reason my pictures are missing from June 15th - July 11/2011. I still have them so I will try add them in the next few days.

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    2. You're welcome! I am so happy I found your blog. :)

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