Color theory

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VOCABULARY

Radial Balance
In radial balance, the design begins from the center and moves outward. All elements must repeat 3 or more times to be considered radial.

Mandala
Beginning from Hindi and Buddhist traditions as a method of meditation, these designs were traditionally created to be impermanent. Mandalas are usually radially balanced and have many small details.
Examples of radial design around us:
Picture
Photo by Daniel Swann
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Photo by Alexey Kljatov
Objective:  Students will take notes on color theory and will understand how color works to create mood and emotion.  Students will complete worksheets about color theory and create a mandala using radial symmetry.

The Mandala Project:
  1. On a color wheel template provided by the teacher, students will create a radially balanced design.  
  2. Color the mandala according to the color wheel.  Colors must be in order.  Each "slice" should be one color.  Students need to employ shading and blending so that elements in the design have contrast.

Rubric:
CRAFTSMANSHIP
The design should be neat and easy to read.  Straight lines should be drawn with a ruler.  Circles should be drawn with a compass.  

Coloring should be neat, clean, and dark.
DESIGN
The design should be radially balanced - starts from the center and spreads outward.   Whatever is in one "slice"  should be in all of the slices OR can be triangulated into 3's.
SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
The design should be colored in order to the color wheel.  Each "slice" is one color.  Colors should show blending techniques.  Colors should be blended with white or black colored pencils in order to create contrast.
EFFORT
The design has many elements and is filled.  Attention was spent deciding on theme and composition.
UNIQUENESS
The design is unique and shows the student's "personality".  Organic shapes are created by the student, not copied from another design.  Inspirational designs may have been used in the decision-making process, but the end result is the student's own creation.