Some colors look warm, like a fire or the sun: red, orange and yellow. Some colors look cool, like water, sky and leaves: blue, green and purple.
Key idea
Warm: red, orange, yellow. Cool: blue, green, purple.
Why it works
We call them warm and cool because of the things they remind us of. A fire is red and orange. The sea and the shade under trees are blue and green.
Worked example: Let's look
Omar is painting a snowy night. Should he use mostly warm or cool colors?
- Snow and night feel cold.
- Cool colors look like water, ice and shade.
Answer: Mostly cool colors, like blues and purples.
Common mistake
Some children think warm colors are the colors they like best. Warm and cool are about fire and sun versus water and leaves, not about favorites. Your favorite color can be warm or cool.
For the grown-up. Make two quick pictures together: a campfire using only warm crayons, and a pond using only cool ones. Ask which one looks hot and which looks cold.