Color Theory Worksheets

Color theory contains guidelines for using color to create attractive art. Young artists need to understand and apply color theory—including learning about primary, secondary, and intermediate colors—and appreciate art and create their own works of art. We teamed up with art teacher Jenna Reed Hill to create these amazing worksheets that you can use in your art class today.

How to Use Color Theory Worksheets

These color theory worksheets help students move from a basic to advanced understanding of color theory. Start with these activities from Jenna Reed Hill, who uses these worksheets in her middle school art class:

• Create a large color wheel. Use magazines to find the colors and place them in the right place.
• Collage Color Wheel: As a group, students put together one part of the color wheel using magazines. Students choose pictures and words that reflect their color. Then talk about why they chose those words.
• Color creation: Students create art using any of the color schemes from the color theory worksheet. Talk about how, even when students have the same color theory, their art looks very different.
• Color scheme matching: Place color schemes and corresponding artwork on index cards. Students can work together to match the schematics to the artwork. Or give students a diagram or artwork and tell them to go around the room to find a partner that matches their card.

Why Teach Color Theory

Color theory is a fundamental art skill. Students need to understand color theory in order to communicate visually and create their own well-composed art. For young artists, color theory helps them organize and classify colors. For older artists, color theory helps them understand how other artists use color and how they can use color in their work.

What’s Included in the Color Theory Worksheet Bundle

Exploring the Color Wheel

Spend time creating a color wheel that students can refer to as they do their projects.

Meet the Primary Colors

As students begin to learn color theory, start with the primary colors: red, yellow, and blue.

Color Mixing

Once students have learned the basics, they can start mixing colors. Students can use paint on this paper to see the mixing of colors in real time.

Check Complementary Colors

After students learn primary and secondary colors, they can begin to understand how colors go together with this worksheet. Students color the worksheet, then see if they can find these color pairs in famous works of art.

Discover Color Schemes

As students learn about colors, they develop their own color scheme. Use this paper to show how primary and secondary colors create neutral colors.

Color Design Studio

Show students how colors combine to create a mood. How does the picture look different if students use warm and cool colors? Primary versus secondary colors?

Why Teachers Love Color Theory Worksheets

Color theory is a fundamental skill in the art classroom and these worksheets build the student’s skill from primary colors to composites. They are a great, teacher-created way to make sure students understand color theory before they work with it in the classroom.

Why Students Love Color Theory Worksheets

These worksheets make color theory logical, with the opportunity to create their own color wheel and practice primary and complementary colors.

Get free color theory worksheets!

Help students understand and apply color theory! Just fill out the form on this page to get free worksheets.

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