Mixing Paint into Warm Autumn Colors

Children of all ages can learn how to mix warm autumn colors.

These steps can be simple easy two to tree mixing exercises.

In my book “KIds Color Theory” I discuss how mixing colors helps children understand how to make their colors behave.

Teaching artist and students how green chlorophyll changes in living things is a needed skill for advance painting and drawing.

Learning how to mix color moods is very interesting, and can also lead into learning about science topics.

This is a great way to integrate science and visual arts by learning why leaves change colors seasonally.

If you would like to learn information about teaching color theory, check out my paperback book “Kids Color Theory”.

Why do fall and autumn colors appear in nature?

Fall colors in nature come from the process plants and trees go through from our seasons changing.

The coloration change is because less sunlight and colder days are exposed to living plants and trees.

Chlorophyll is dying out and causes the autumn colors to appear.

Colorful autumn colors can range from cool colors and mostly warm colors.

Paint mixing lessons should be simple

The basic skills I first teach beginning students is to mix primaries into warm secondaries.

I’ve discovered with my natural art method that kids can quickly learn this and enjoy the process.

I only introduce kids to three primaries red, yellow and blue to achieve all warm and autumn foliage colors in the beginning.

Practice Mixing

Practice painting with just two colors first.

Practice making orange, green and brown.

If you look at my pictures you can see how simple these lessons can be.

Start off simple by having children mix only two secondary combinations..

Challenge students later to mix light to dark shades of these autumn fall colors.

Blue + Yellow = Green

Red + Yellow = Orange

Have kids collect natural things outside to see how these colors range in warm to cool colors.

I personally think the fall season can give us hundreds of art activity and project ideas, but just to make it even easier on you (which, really, is such a joy because I get to share my love of both fall and art with you!), I’m giving you a FREE Fall Leaf Inspiration Print.

You can print it out and use it on your art shelf or hang it in your inspiration gallery to during the season, or let students fill it in with beautiful colors. It seems like a simple tool, right? But trust me, it’ll lead to so many amazing, creative artworks! Download the Fall Leaf Inspiration Print by clicking here.

Order Color Theory Childrens Curriculum Here