Color comes from the visible spectrum of light. The colors that make up white light from longest to shortest wavelength are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. In any system of colors, those that cannot be mixed from any of the others are called primary colors. The primary colors of light are red, green and blue. From these three colors every other color of light can be made.
Paint pigments mix differently than light.
The type of color mixing familiar to artists is done with paints or pigments, not lights. Primary pigments in paint can vary, however red, yellow and blue are the most common ones. In this 3-part activity you will be investigating the world of colors and light and comparing the mixing of light to mixing paints. You will also study the difference in primary, secondary and complementary colors on a color wheel. Flashlight White unlined paper Colored cellophane- red, blue and green or colored transparent report covers cut to fit over the front of a flashlight Rubber bands Water Watercolors Paintbrush Containers for holding water Construction paper, sheets of red, yellow, blue, green, orange and violet cut into strips so that each group of students has one strip of each color.