Twenty-five everyday color names sit on this wheel, from basic red and blue to teal, maroon, coral and lavender. Each slice is a plain word rather than a paint swatch, so it works as a creative prompt, a sorting game or a quick way to pick something to wear.
When to use it
Artists and art teachers use a random hue to break a creative rut. Paint a still life using only the color that comes up plus black and white, or build a collage from magazine scraps in that shade.
Parents of toddlers and preschoolers turn it into a learning game. The child names the color, then runs to touch three things in the house that match it.
Event planners and coaches use it to assign team colors, theme a party or decide which ribbon goes on which prize basket.
Ideas
- Color scavenger hunt: spin, then everyone has two minutes to bring back the most objects in that shade.
- Outfit challenge: wear something in the chosen color tomorrow, even if it is only socks.
- Rainbow snack plate: build a plate of fruit and vegetables that match the color on the wheel.
- Mood journal: write five words the color makes you think of, then compare lists with a friend.
Variations
- Trim the wheel down to the six rainbow basics for very young children, or keep only cool tones when you want a calm palette.
- Add your own paint names, like Sunflower or Mint, if you are choosing from a real box of crayons or a craft supply.
- Spin twice to get a color pair for a two-tone design, or three times for a full palette.
Tips
- Black, white, gray and beige are neutrals; remove them if your art prompt needs a bold result every time.
- A weight such as Gold*2 makes one shade turn up twice as often, which is handy for a theme party with a main color.
- Use the share link to send the exact same color list to a class or a design team.
Make it yours
Change any entry, weight or color above, or open a copy of this wheel to edit and share as your own. This page always keeps its original entries.