In this lesson plan, students will learn how to create different colors by mixing oil pastels together. They will also explore the relationships of colors and how they’re used in art to create mood and effects. This lesson should take two, 40-minute classes to complete, though some students might need extra time depending on details.

Created by Alisa Ripley, March 2008

Perception. The student develops and organizes ideas from the environment. The student is expected to identify in artworks that color, texture, form, line, space, and value are basic art elements.
Objectives: TEKS §117.17. Art, Grade 5. (b) 1B

Refer to Color Discussion from Elements of Art.  A color scheme is the planned combination of colors in an artwork.  Artists use different schemes to create moods and effects in their artwork.  Monochromatic color schemes show shades and tints of one color.  Analogous schemes use colors that are next to each other on the wheel.  Complementary schemes use colors that are opposite each other on the wheel.

Along with color schemes, color groups (families) help artists to express more feeling and ideas.  Warm color groups include reds, oranges and yellows. Cool colors are blues, greens and violets. Neutral colors are black, white and grays.   The tints and shades of brown are also neutral.  

Note to Instructors: This project is best preceded by the Elements of Art. The instructor should have a color wheel present for reference and the Color Scheme Handouts pre-drawn on several sheets with black maker.  The students can trace these onto their own sheets.

1. Explain to the students that they will be using oil pastels to create and mix colors just as they would with paint. For example, when making green, blue and yellow should be mixed. When mixing these colors on paper, the students will use the blue first, then put the yellow on top of the blue and smudge with a paper towel to blend into green. The lighter color should always be placed on top of the darker color – this rule applies to all pastels.



2. The instructor can choose to have the students copy the handouts onto larger paper, or use the handouts as long as they are printed on a heavy weight paper.



3. To create the color wheel, students will begin by using black crayons to trace the circles from the Color Scheme Handouts on to the larger paper.



4. Students will label each section of circles with the appropriate vocabulary.



5. Using pastels, students will fill in each labeled section, mixing their colors within the circles.

12x18 drawing paper – 2 sheets per student
Black crayons or colored pencils
Pastels with the primary colors, black and white  (may also use some crayons).   Color scheme handouts Color scheme student examples

Vea esta lección en Español aquí.