Suggestions for the Study of Colour Color Exercise Worksheets

Color Order, Harmony, Contrast & Discord

A Four-Lesson Color Curriculum for Art Teachers

This four-lesson curriculum, based on Henry Barrett Carpenter's classic book, 'Suggestions for the Study of Colour', introduces color as an ordered, perceptual system, not a set of stylistic preferences, trends, or decorative rules. Rooted in classical color theory and classroom-tested practice, these lessons train students to see how color behaves and how to use it with control, restraint, and intention.

Rather than relying on abstract color wheels or formulas, the sequence moves from observation to disciplined testing. Students learn how color relationships emerge from a natural order, how harmony and contrast are governed by quantity and dominance, and how carefully controlled discord can bring vitality and life to an otherwise stable composition.

Designed for reuse across skill levels, this curriculum supports painters, designers, and visual thinkers seeking deeper color judgment, not simple shortcuts.

What’s Included

• Lesson 1: Natural Order – Understanding how color deepens in nature
• Lesson 2: Harmony (Simple & Extended) – Building unity through adjacency and tonal control
• Lesson 3: Contrast – Strength through dominance and unequal quantity
• Lesson 4: Discord – Controlled reversal for energy and visual life

Each lesson includes:

• A teacher-facing printable handout
• A student-facing worksheet
• Clear objectives, guided exercises, discussion prompts, and assessment criteria

Also included:

• A unit introduction and conclusion
• A Copyright & Classroom Use Notice granting permission for classroom printing

Designed For

• Art teachers (middle school through adult education)
• Studio instructors and workshop leaders
• Practicing artists seeking structured color training
• Homeschool and independent study environments

Format & Use

• High-quality printable PDF format
• Licensed for individual classroom use
• May be printed and reused by the same instructor across multiple classes
• Ideal for semester units, focused workshops, or ongoing color study

Why This Curriculum Is Different

This series emphasizes judgment over recipes. Students are taught not just what works, but why, and just as importantly, when to stop. The lessons encourage restraint, hierarchy, and perceptual honesty, skills that transfer across all forms of visual work.

In color, as in art itself, mastery lies in knowing how little is enough.

Get your color exercise worksheet set now!

This is a digital product, which is available for download immediately after purchase.