After having some fun with color mixing last week, we can continue our color explorations by beginning to look at color relationships.
Have you ever watched a child line up markers or crayons by color? They carefully arrange that box of 64 crayons in sections of blues, greens, pinks, purples, yellows and oranges.
There is something about color that is very captivating, and beginning to talk about colors becomes almost like poetry.
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Use a box of crayons, a set of markers or even a collection of color samples from the hardware store to spend some time exploring color.
Colors that stand out from one another are referred to as contrasting colors. Think of the red and green of the holiday season or the frequent use of blue and orange for sports teams.
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These colors are opposite each other on a color wheel and so they create good, attention getting contrast when paired. Similar colors on the other hand, such as green and blue are next to each other on the color wheel; they go together nicely and may even seem to blend together if viewed from a distance.
A fun way to think about similar and contrasting colors with kids is to introduce the idea of colors that "pop," compared to those that camouflage or blend in.
An artist might choose the background color for an image based on whether they want the subject to pop or to blend in. A blue dragon hides in a dark purple sky.
Try different combinations. Warm crayons with cool paints for a strong contrast, or use similar colors to create creatures that blend in with their environment. Try drawing with a white crayon on white paper to create a secret drawing that is only revealed when the watercolor is added displaying the lines.
Create a collection of images and designs in this way and then sit back to take a look at the different uses of color. Work in a small group with family members or friends and set the challenge to fill a large paper with color.
As the group works together, you can explore human relationships as well as color relationships as the group makes decisions about where to place colors, what to draw or paint and how to share space. Have fun, it is sure to be a colorful time!
