Cool - warm colours

Cool - warm colours

Do you remember the colour wheel?

We learnt that colours can be classified in primary, secondary and tertiary colours. However, there are more ways to classify them. In this lesson, we are going to learn how to classify them in cool - warm colours.

But first...

We are going to learn some characteristics that all colours have

Hue

Hue refers to the family a colour belongs. Look at this example. Are all colours red? No, they aren't "strictly" red. Each colour has its own name, but all of them belong to the same hue: red.

Luminosity

Luminosity is a measure of how light or dark a colour is.Look at this example. All colours are red, right? True, but they are different: they are lighter or darker.

Saturation

Saturation refers to the intensity of a colour. If the saturation is high, the colour is more pure. If it is low, it is more pale. Look at this example. In this case, the colour is more saturated at the top, but it is less saturated at the bottom. At the top, it is clearly red, but at the bottom... we cannot distinguish it!

Now... let's practise!

Which 2 colours belong to the blue hue?

Which 2 colours belong to the blue hue?

Which colour is lighter? Which colour is darker?

Which colour is lighter? Which colour is darker?

Light green

Dark green

Which colour is more saturated?

Which colour is more saturated?

Let's classify the colours!

Cool - warm colours

Colours can be classified in cool and warm colours.

• Warm colours: they belong to the red, yellow and orange hues. They transmit warmth, because they remind us to the sun, fire...
• Cool colours: the belong to the green, blue and purple hues. They transmit coldness, because they remind us to ice, water...

Cool - warm colours

This classification can be seen in the colour wheel. Warm and cool colours are always next to each other.

Now... let's practise!

Which colours uses each painting?

Which colours uses each painting?

Cool colours

Warm colours

Now it is your turn! Choose one activity

Activity 1 - Colours can hide things...

This activity is very simple. If you click on this picture, you can download it and print it. You have several gaps with little letters: "W" or "C".

You have to colour each gap following the instructions: if it has a "C" you have to use cool colours and if it has a "W" you have to use warm colours. There is something hidden in the picture. What is it? If you do the activity, you will know.

Activity 2 - A colourful skyline

In this activity, you are going to draw a city. You can do it as you want: you can include different buildings, trees... But this city is next to a lake, so... you also need to draw and colour its reflection!

You can see an example. However, I want to see your creativity! Don't copy it. To do this activity, you don't need a printer. You only need a white paper, pencils, crayons and a lot of imagination!

That's all!

Remember that you have to do only one activity. The first one needs a printer, the other one doesn't need it. You have until the 4th of June to do it. Plenty of time! If you have questions, don't forget you can ask me! See you on the net! And...

Enjoy the warm colours of summer!