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Paint a color wheel

Paint a color wheel
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Paint a color wheel using primary paints, mix to create secondary colors, observe color relationships, practice brush control, and label each segment.

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Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to paint a color wheel

What you need
3 small paintbrushes, adult supervision required, black marker, blue paint, cup of water, palette or paper plate, paper towel, pencil, red paint, round object to trace like a bowl, thick paper or cardstock, yellow paint

Step 1

Gather all the materials listed and set them on a clean table.

Step 2

Put the paper flat and trace a large circle with the round object and pencil.

Step 3

Draw three straight lines through the center of the circle to divide it into six equal slices.

Step 4

Squeeze small blobs of red paint blue paint and yellow paint onto separate spots on your palette or plate.

Step 5

Paint three alternating slices with the primary colors red yellow and blue using short controlled brush strokes.

Step 6

Take a clean brush and mix red and yellow on the palette until you see orange.

Step 7

Paint the slice that sits between the red and yellow slices with the orange you mixed.

Step 8

Take a clean brush and mix yellow and blue on the palette until you see green.

Step 9

Paint the slice that sits between the yellow and blue slices with the green you mixed.

Step 10

Take a clean brush and mix blue and red on the palette until you see purple.

Step 11

Paint the slice that sits between the blue and red slices with the purple you mixed.

Step 12

Let your color wheel dry completely before writing on it.

Step 13

Use the black marker to label each slice with its color name (red orange yellow green blue purple).

Step 14

Look at your finished wheel and point out which three are primary and which three are secondary and which colors sit opposite each other.

Step 15

Share your finished color wheel on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

If I don’t have the exact materials, what can I substitute for the round object, palette, or paints?

Trace a cereal bowl, mason jar lid, or CD for the circle, use a paper plate or disposable lid as your palette, and swap in washable tempera or poster paints in red, blue, and yellow if the specific paints aren’t available.

What should I do if colors start to look muddy or paint bleeds between slices while following the mixing and painting steps?

Rinse and dry your brush between mixes, always mix new colors fully on the palette before painting the adjacent slice, and let each painted slice dry completely before painting the next to prevent muddiness and bleeding.

How can I adapt this color wheel activity for younger children or older kids who want more challenge?

For younger kids pre-trace the circle and draw larger, thicker slices and provide big brushes and washable paints while parents do the cutting/line-drawing, and for older kids increase to 12 slices to add tertiary colors, practice tints/shades by adding white or black on the palette, and ask them to label complementary/opposite relationships.

What are simple ways to extend or personalize the finished color wheel beyond the basic instructions?

Create a 12-slice wheel by mixing tertiary colors on the palette, experiment with tints by adding small amounts of white or black to slices, write names and color relationships with the black marker, then varnish or laminate the wheel for display or sharing on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to paint a color wheel

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Color Wheel Art PROJECT - Step by Step TUTORIAL- Really EASY for kids or beginners #mrschuettesart

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Facts about color theory and painting for kids

🕰️ Johannes Itten, a famous art teacher, helped popularize a color wheel and taught color relationships to artists.

🧪 Mix two primaries to make secondaries: red + yellow = orange, yellow + blue = green, blue + red = purple.

🧭 Opposite colors on the wheel are called complementary; placed side-by-side they make each other look brighter.

🖌️ Painting a color wheel is super practice for brush control, mixing consistent hues, and labeling what you made.

🎨 Traditional painting primaries are red, yellow, and blue — mix them to start the whole wheel!

How do I paint a color wheel with my child step by step?

To paint a color wheel, trace a circle and divide it into six even segments. Paint three nonadjacent segments with the primary colors (red, blue, yellow). On a palette mix red+yellow, yellow+blue, and blue+red to make orange, green, and purple; then fill the three remaining segments. Use small controlled brush strokes, clean water between mixes, let dry, and label each segment with its color name to observe relationships.

What materials do I need to paint a color wheel at home?

You'll need primary paints (red, blue, yellow — non-toxic), a palette or paper plate for mixing, a few brushes (small for edges, medium for filling), thick paper or cardstock, a pencil and eraser, compass or a round object to trace, ruler or protractor to divide segments, a cup of water, paper towels, and a smock or old shirt. Optional: color labels, stickers, or a printable color wheel template.

What ages is painting a color wheel suitable for?

This activity suits preschoolers to tweens: approximately ages 4–12. Children 4–6 benefit from guided tracing, simple mixing and help dividing the circle. Ages 7–9 can mix colors themselves, practice brush control and labeling. Ages 10–12 can experiment with tint/shade, mixing ratios, and more precise segments. Younger kids require close supervision and non-toxic paints; adapt complexity and tools to each child's fine-motor skills.

What are the benefits of having my child paint a color wheel?

Painting a color wheel teaches color theory—how primary colors mix to form secondaries—and strengthens observation and vocabulary. It builds fine motor control through careful brushwork, patience, and planning when dividing and labeling segments. The activity encourages creativity, problem-solving (mixing target hues), and confidence as children see immediate results. It also provides a calm, screen-free learning moment that parents and kids can enjoy together.
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