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How to Make a Colour Wheel with Watercolours

Creating a colour wheel is a fundamental exercise for anyone interested in art, as it helps in understanding colour theory and the relationships between different hues. Watercolours are an excellent medium for this project, allowing for smooth blending and vibrant results. This article will guide you through the process of making your own colour wheel using watercolours.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following materials:

• Watercolour paper (preferably 300gsm to prevent warping)
• A set of watercolour paints (primary colours: red, blue, yellow)
• A round brush and a flat brush
• A pencil
• A compass or a round object (like a cup) for tracing
• A water container
• Paper towels or a cloth for cleaning your brushes

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Find a clean, well-lit area to work in. Lay down some newspaper or an old towel to protect your surfaces. Ensure that all your materials are within easy reach, as working with watercolours can be tricky if you have to constantly get up to fetch supplies.

Step 2: Draw the Circle

Using your compass or the round object, draw a large circle in the middle of your watercolour paper. This will be the outline of your colour wheel. Divide the circle into six equal sections (like slicing a pizza), marking each division lightly with a pencil. This will help you to see where to apply each colour.

Step 3: Understanding Primary Colours

Primary colours are the foundation of all other colours. On your colour wheel, you’ll first need to fill in the three primary colours: red, blue, and yellow.

• Fill in Red: Use your round brush to apply a vibrant red in one of the sections, ensuring it reaches the edges of the circle.

• Fill in Blue: Next to red, apply a bright blue in the next section.

• Fill in Yellow: Complete the primary colours by filling the next section with yellow.

Allow each colour to dry before moving on to ensure they don’t bleed into one another.

Step 4: Creating Secondary Colours

Secondary colours are made by mixing primary colours. You will fill in the remaining three sections of your colour wheel with these hues:

• Mix Red and Yellow for Orange: Clean your brush, then mix equal parts of red and yellow on your palette. Apply the orange in the section between red and yellow.

• Mix Yellow and Blue for Green: Clean your brush again and mix yellow and blue to create green. Paint this in the section between yellow and blue.

• Mix Blue and Red for Purple: Once more, clean your brush and combine blue and red to create purple. Fill this in the section between blue and red.

Step 5: Adding Tints and Shades

To further enhance your colour wheel, you can explore tints and shades. Tints are created by adding white, and shades are made by adding black or a complementary colour.

• Create Tints: Take each of your primary and secondary colours, mix them with a small amount of water or white paint to create lighter versions. For example, a pink tint can be made by mixing red with white.

• Create Shades: Conversely, mix a small amount of black or a complementary colour (e.g., green for red) to create darker versions of your colours. These should be painted in between your original colours on the wheel.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Once your colour wheel is complete, give it time to dry completely. You may want to outline the circle and sections with a thin black pen or fine-liner for added definition. This will help the colours pop and make the wheel more visually appealing.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully created your own watercolour colour wheel. This exercise not only enhances your understanding of colour theory but also provides a valuable resource for future painting projects. Remember to keep your colour wheel handy as a guide for mixing colours in your artwork. Happy painting!

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