Color Book - Project 1
Introduction
“If one says ‘Red’ (meaning the name of the color) and there are 50 people listening, it can be expected that there will be 50 reds in their minds. And that one can be sure that all of these reds will be very different.” —Josef Albers
Trying to communicate an idea about color in words can be one of the most frustrating experiences imaginable. Unlike a product or a page, a color has no objective reality. There is no such thing as “red” that can be laid on the table or pinned to the wall. Color is an experience, an insubstantial attribute of other things. To make it even harder, no two people see colors in exactly the same way—and even if they did, no two people think of color in the same way. One man’s peach is another man’s melon. Johannes Itten, author of “The Art of Color”, taught his students to appreciate color harmony, not in the sense of one color influencing another, but in terms of balance or a symmetry of forces. Itten also believed that color harmony was entirely subjective and that, given time to experiment, each person ultimately develops their own color palette.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the project a successful student will be able to:
- Define basic color theory terms
- Identify instances of color theory terms in the physical environment.
- Assemble the terms and examples into a personal color theory booklet using a predetermined layout
- Successfully render color forms in colored pencil, marker and watercolor
Assignment
Create a 15-page 8 inch by 8 inch loose leaf booklet (with cover) that provides examples for each research task provided. Work in three different mediums using a pre-designed template and the steps outlined on this page.
Process
You will research different color theory terms and produce 15 examples according to the specs on the prompts provided. You will produce these examples using colored pencils, watercolor, or markers (or any combination of the three). You will be provided a template that can be utilized for the production of each page in your loose-leaf book. This can be done in a few different ways, which will be highlighted below, and you get some freedom in how you choose to pursue it.
Guidelines for using the template and completing the project
- Follow template guidelines for writing titles and numbers on your final pages.
- Add your First and Last Name and class number in 2H or 4H pencil in the bottom right corner on the back of each of your prompt pages.
- All samples in your final pages should be presented in a clockwise fashion from the top left corner of each page. For example, if the prompt says “Present the primary and secondary colors between Red and Green using four panels” you would draw a red panel in the top left corner and then a violet panel in the top right corner, a blue panel below that (in the bottom right), and a green panel in the bottom left corner.
- When a prompt asks you to produce a “Coloring Book Page” then you should use all the panels to create a window and find a coloring page or photo that you can trace to produce what the prompt requests. You can see examples of this on the website (pg. 8, 9, etc.)
- When tracing the template, the two most efficient methods both involve using a printout of the template. You can either use a light table (you are not required to buy one- we have some in the school) or use transfer paper (either homemade or wax-free store-bought paper).
- EXPECT TO MESS UP! Have test or scratch paper nearby. You will notice that different techniques work better with each medium. It is strongly suggested that you research and practice with each medium.
- If you decide to use watercolor, be sure to use the watercolor paper. If you use marker or colored pencil, use the bristol board.
- Plan to trim your final pages AFTER you color them. This will help your craft.
- Place a blank piece of paper between each page in the final delivery. This will help protect your pages and your craft.
- Make sure your cover is properly folded and creative.
- ASK QUESTIONS- your instructor will help you learn how to use these materials. Ask them questions, and help each other!
Specs
Book Size: 8” tall by 8” wide.
Since this is not a page layout project you are expected to use the provided grid and layouts. The research and production you’re doing is the main focus but since the format for the solution is provided it is expected that your book be put together with a tight fit and finish. Anything less will result in a significant deduction from craft.
Color Book Template
Supplies
*PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE EVEN SLIGHTLY CONSIDERING TAKING ILLUSTRATION 1, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU PURCHASE Ohuhu markers- the 80 marker set is extremely affordable and used in Illustration 1.
*Supplies can be purchased online at dickblick.com, amazon.com and in person at local stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Porch School and Art Supply, and Triangle A&E. Note: some stores may not have all the items listed here.
Craft
Craft counts and you will be graded on it. Please take the time to clean up all stray pencil marks, smudges, or stray marks. Make your lines straight, sharp crisp and clean.
Deliverables
Full (8” by 8”) loose-leaf booklet with flapped cover

Download Rubric

Prompts for the Pages
Cover: YOUR great Design Here! Must include title of your choice, your name, and DF3 2021.
P01: HUE, CHROMATIC, ACHROMATIC, POLYCHROMATIC, MONOCHROMATIC. Provide one example each of chromatic, achromatic, polychromatic, and monochromatic, in that order.
P02: VALUE. Provide three examples of the same hue in the following order of value: light, medium, dark.
P03: SATURATION or CHROMA. Provide three examples of the same hue in the following order of saturation: Fully saturated, Partially saturated, Heavily desaturated (very dull).
P04: TONE. Provide three examples of the same hue in the following order: pure hue, same hue toned with another hue, same hue again toned with yet another hue.
P05: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY COLORS. Provide examples of the following hues in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet.
P06: INTERMEDIATE COLORS. Provide examples of the following hues in this order: yellow-orange, orange-red, red-violet, violet-blue, blue-green, green-yellow.
P07: CHROMATIC SCALE. Provide four examples of hue showing a chromatic scale in linear, equidistant spectrum order
P08: WARM COLORS. Provide a Coloring Book Page using warm colors.
P09: COOL COLORS. Provide a Coloring Book Page using cool colors.
P10: ANALOGOUS COLORS. Provide a Coloring Book Page using analogous colors.
P11: COMPLEMENTARY COLORS. Provide a Coloring Book Page using complementary colors.
P12: EQUILIBRIUM. Provide a Coloring Book Page that uses colors which show visual equilibrium.
P13: TERTIARY COLORS. Provide three examples of tertiary colors.
P14: TINTS AND SHADE. Provide three examples of the same hue in the following order: tinted hue, pure hue, shaded hue.
P15: MONOCHROMATIC VALUE SCALE. Provide six examples of the same hue in the following order (remember that a value scale is done in even steps): Lightest value to darkest value.
Color Definitions from Understanding Color
by Linda Holtzschue
Hue: means the name of a color.  The words “hue” and “color” are interchangeable.
       Chromatic:  Having hue
       Achromatic:  Without hue
       Polychromatic:  Having many hues
       Monochromatic:  Having one hue only
The Artist’s Spectrum: a circle that illustrates hues in their natural (spectral) order. The artists’ spectrum is also called the color circle or color wheel. It can be expanded to any number of hues as long as the added colors are inserted at regular intervals in all hue ranges.
Primary Colors: Red, yellow and blue are the primary colors of the artist’s spectrum.  They are the simplest hues.  They cannot be broken down visually into other colors or reduced into component parts.
Secondary Colors: Green, orange, violet are the secondary colors of the artist’s spectrum.  A secondary color is an even interval between two primary parents.  Each is the visual midpoint between two primary colors.
Intermediate Colors: the midpoints between primary and secondary hues.
Saturated Colors: a hue in its strongest possible manifestation.
Chromatic Scale: a linear series of hues in spectrum order. (Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange)
Warm Colors: reds, oranges, yellows, and steps between them.
Cool Colors: blues, greens, violets, and steps between them.
Analogous Colors: hues that are adjacent on the artist’s spectrum.
Complementary Colors: hues that are opposite one another on the artist’s spectrum.
Equilibrium: When the three primary colors are present in the visual field, the eye is in a state of rest, or equilibrium.  Equilibrium is a physiological state of rest that the eye requires.
Simultaneous Contrast: an involuntary response that occurs when the eye is not at rest.
Afterimage, or successive contrast: an image that appears after a stimulating hue has been taken away.
Contrast Reversal: a variation of afterimage.  In contrast reversal the “ghost” image appears in reversed color.
Complementary Contrast: two colors that have even the slightest complementary relationship.
Tertiary Colors: an enormous, almost limitless class of colors.  Tertiary means “of the third rank.”  Tertiary colors are defined as “gray or brown, a mixture of two secondaries.”
Value: relative light and dark in a sample.
Value Contrast: a series of steps from black to white. It exists whether or not hue is present. Value is linear and progressive. 
Luminosity: Value is associated with the idea of luminosity.  A hue that is luminous reflects a great deal of light, appears light, and is high in value.
Tints and Shades: A tint is a hue that has been made lighter.  A shade is a hue that has been made darker.
Monochromatic Value Scale: is a single hue illustrated as a full range of values in even steps, including both tint and shades.
Comparisons of Similar Values in Different Hues
Saturation and Chroma: hue intensity, or the amount of pure color in a sample.
Theoretical Gray: a concept used by color theorists to characterize a perfect tertiary color; one of no discernible hue.  Theoretical gray (if it existed) would be created by the mixture of any pair of complementary colors.
Tone: (no real satisfactory definition) but defined as “pure color diluted by black or white,” which we know as a tint or shade.  Tone is “one hue modified by another” (as in “this is a blue tone, that is a greener one”).
Color Theory Presentation
Demo Videos
Color Book Demo Pages
Student Examples