IN COLOUR: Where Science Meets Art at the International School of Prague

The 2026 Grade 7 exhibition IN COLOUR was an experiment in curiosity, blending the precision of science with the creativity of art to show that colour is as much about discovery as it is about expression.

Throughout the past few weeks, Grade 7 students observed different kinds of leaves that Middle School Art teacher, Petr Dimitrov, collected in the Fall to create paintings using only red, blue, yellow, black and white colours. Students then took a deep dive into a journey of curiosity by combining the way light moves in science to challenging themselves by using colour theory in art. Each painting the students created became a visual record of experimentation, in both precision and personal interpretation.

Throughout the unit, students explored a powerful idea: colour is not just something we see but it is something that travels, transforms and communicates. 

“One of the benefits of learning about colour in more than one subject is that you can see more and learn how to see the colour in the world, and not only through art.”
Mylana, Grade 7 student

The Science of Colour
In science, students investigated colour as energy in motion. They discovered that light travels in waves and that colours change depending on wavelength and intensity. Through hands-on experiments, they observed how different salts can cause flames to burn in unexpected colours, adjusting light intensity affects what we perceive, and how white light bends and separates into a visible spectrum.

These experiments show that colour is not static, it carries energy, reacts and transforms. Science allowed students to see the invisible forces behind what their eyes experience everyday.

“When I first did art, I wasn't that good at mixing colors, but after this science unit, I have realised that it’s a lot easier to mix paints. My color mixing is now precise, and it's easier to match colors. So these two classes work hand in hand and help me mix colors with greater intention.”
Daniel, Grade 7 student

 

“In Science, our Grade 7 scientists explored the fascinating world of colour through the lens of physics and chemistry. They investigated how different wavelengths of light correspond to the colours we see and learned how the RGB model combines light to create new colours. This hands-on inquiry connected abstract concepts to real-world observations, bringing the science of colour to life.”
Holli Demirel, Middle School Science teacher

The Art of Colour 
In art, students experienced colour in a different way, one rooted in creativity, emotion and expression. Grade 7 students explored colour theory and challenged themselves to create an entire spectrum using only red, blue, yellow, black and white. The students experimented with blending, layering, and refining smooth transitions. They discovered how many variations can exist within a single colour, even brown, depending on proportion, balance and technique.

Where Science and Art Meet
The most powerful takeaway from this experiment was the realization that science and art are deeply connected. Science explains how colour works and art explores how colour feels. Together, they reveal a full story. 

In Colour showcased more than vibrant paintings and scientific discoveries, it highlighted curiosity in science, creativity in art and the understanding that learning becomes richer when disciplines intersect. 

“I think that learning about color in more than one subject made my understanding of art stronger. I am now able to identify the differences between art's definition of color and science's definition of color. I now also have a deeper perspective on what to do with this knowledge. I am able to come up with more uses of both topics and connect the two topics to create something meaningful.”
Ori, Grade 7 Student