What Can Colors Do?

There's a rainbow of ways to think about colors. Colors pop and shine. Cool colors make us shiver, while warm colors heat us up. They can even express our moods, from feeling blue to being tickled pink. What Can Colors Do? introduces children to color through vibrant artworks that inspire curiosity, joy, and surprise in young learners.

Colorful paintings, sculptures, and objects from the Philadelphia Museum of Art help children think about how artists use color. How can colors express feelings? Can a color be loud or soft? As children learn the basics of color theory, from mixing to contrast and color wheels, they answer engaging, thoughtful questions that bring the world of art and their own experiences together. A series of activities for kids to complete on their own—from a scavenger hunt to a color-inspired way to meditate—helps them to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the hues around us.

Liz Yohlin Baill is Collections Interpreter for Youth and Families at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She has held positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the Chicago History Museum and has developed award-winning content for kid-friendly audio guides, exhibitions, and more.