Complementary Colored Leaves (4th grade)

Fourth graders using watercolor paints.

Friends help friends!

Students in fourth grade discussed the term "complementary" in relationship to color and color theory.  Complementary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.  Complementary pairs that students in fourth grade were able to select were red-green, blue-orange or yellow-purple (violet).  We painted inside of the leaves trying to create various tints and shades using different amounts of water.

Fall Complementary Color Painting

Proud fourth graders!

Red and green were her leaves.

 Once students had finished their watercolor leaves then they had a chance to paint wet onto wet for the background still using the complementary pair that they had selected for the leaves.  We also sprinkled Morton's salt on top of the wet background to add extra textural quality once the paintings were dry.

Blue and Orange Leaf Painting

Yellow and Purple Complementary Colors

Red and Green Complementary Colors