1. Cultural Motif Color
Wheel
Taking a Look at Our Heritage!

3. Culture/Ancestral
Culture:
4 a : a particular stage, form, or kind of civilization <ancient Greek culture> b :
the beliefs, social practices, and characteristics of a racial, religious, or social group c : the
characteristic features of everyday life shared by people in a particular place or time.
Ancestral:
Of, relating to, or evolved from an ancestor or ancestors
What is your background?
Irish? German? Native American? Arabic? French? Portuguese? Japanese? Chinese?
Scandinavian?

4. Motifs and Cultural Designs
Research your Ancestral background.
Choctaw (Native American)
• Choctaw symbol of happiness through all stages of life.
Portuguese
• The Portuguese Cross of Christ is one of the most important Portuguese
symbols.

5. Using your Motif in a Color Wheel

6. Objectives:
1. Artist has created a complete color wheel with 12
colors.
2. Artist has colors in correct order.
3. Artist has correctly painted each color.
4. Artist has accurately measured each section so their
motif is in the circular pattern (radial balance).
5. Artist has created a motif that represents one’s cultural
background.

7. Setting up the final paper...

8. Starting the Motif...
Using the “Practice Motif
Design” worksheet, create
at least 2 different designs
based on your culture/
ancestral background.

9. Repeating Design
Once you have
established your design,
you will repeat it 12
times around the center
point (radial balance).
Draw in pencil first!

10. Outlining design with Sharpie
Using a Black Ultra Fine
Point Sharpie, outline
your designs.
Erase ALL pencil marks
before painting!

11. Final Step - Painting
Making sure you
know the correct
order of the colors,
paint each design
on your color
wheel.

12. Final Project!