Radial Designs Color Wheel

My art classes are working our way through a lesson series on the principles of design. This week's focus is balance. We began the week by talking about the three types of balance in art, symmetry, asymmetry and radial balance. We found examples of balance in several art examples. Now we are creating radial design color wheels. This project is great because it combines so many disciplines in one project. Students will see how math applies to art, practice the principles of balance, harmony, unity and pattern in design, and explore color theory by using a monochromatic color scheme in each section.

Supplies:

12'X12' paper (I used 12'X18' construction paper and cut it to size)

Compass

Protractor

scissors

4B, 5B or 6B graphite drawing pencil

Fine point black permanent marker

Ruler

watercolor pencils (or color medium of your choice)

Step 1: Fold a 12'X12' square piece of construction paper in half, turn and fold again to find your center point, creasing only on the double fold (center) corner.

Step 2: Use compass to create a 6 in. radius (12 in. diameter) circle.

Step 3: Use the protractor to create equal sections. (30 degree angle for 12 sections or 60 degree angle for 6 sections) Fold, crease and trace section dividers with permanent marker.

Step 4: Draw a simple design in one (1) section of the circle. Trace with graphite drawing pencil using firm pressure.

Step 5: Fold circle so the section with the design lines up with the next section on the circle. Rub firmly with a smooth hard tool on the back side of the section with the drawing to transfer (I used the back, metal capped side of my drawing pencil, but the flat end of a marker or any smooth hard tool would work too.)

Step 6: Trace the transferred design and continue to transfer from one section to the next until all sections have been transferred.

Step 7: Trace the graphite designs with permanent marker.

Step 8: Color each section using color wheel order. Create a monochromatic palette in each section by varying pressure with colored pencils and/or adding black to create shades and white to create tints of the base hue from the color wheel.