Creating a colour wheel with watercolours is a delightful way to understand the relationships between colours and enhance your artistic skills. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started.
Materials Needed:
- Watercolour paper
- A round palette or a plate for shape reference
- Watercolour paints in primary colours (red, blue, and yellow)
- Brushes of varying sizes
- Water and a cloth for cleaning brushes
Instructions:
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Prepare Your Workspace: Lay out your materials on a flat surface. It’s advisable to protect your area with newspaper or an old cloth to catch any spills.
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Draw the Outline: Using a pencil, lightly sketch a circle on your watercolour paper. Divide the circle into six equal segments using a ruler and protractor to help create precise angles.
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Mix Primary Colours: Start with your primary colours. Squeeze a small amount of red, blue, and yellow onto your palette. Using a clean brush, paint one segment red, another blue, and the remaining yellow. Allow these layers to dry completely before proceeding.
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Create Secondary Colours: Next, mix your primary colours to create secondary colours. For instance, combine red and yellow to make orange, yellow and blue to create green, and blue with red for purple. Paint each of these mixtures into the appropriate segments of the circle.
- Final Touches: Once the colours are dry, you may wish to outline each segment with a fine brush to emphasise the colours and give your wheel a polished look.
Creating a colour wheel not only serves as a practical tool for your art but also allows you to experiment with blending and understanding colour theory. Enjoy the process, and don’t be afraid to explore various shades and tints within your chosen hues!

