Course code:

AD3478

Level:

IM - Introductory/Intermediate

Class size limit:

18

Meets the following requirements:

  • ADS - Arts & Design Studio

Typically offered:

Once

Color touches on nearly every aspect of life on earth. It is used to elicit the widest range of emotions and feelings by quickly influencing cellular activity or raising or lowering blood pressure or triggering wakefulness and sleep. Color plays a vital role in mating and reproduction for most life forms and a central role in symbolizing the aspirations of nation states, corporations, and even the humble neighborhood grade school. In the realm of the visual arts color has reigned supreme since the earliest cave paintings and in the mundane material world, color is used universally to influence the buying decisions of everything from Ferraris to Fruit Loops. A theory can be defined as a well substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment, and a mystery is defined as something that baffles our understanding and cannot be explained. This course will move between modern scientific color theory and the mysterious world of color mixing, interaction and design. We will study historic and modern pigments and their uses and applications across a broad range of the visual arts and will devote substantial class time to the design and execution of color design problems. The five goals of this course are: to develop a solid working knowledge of scientific color theory; to develop significant skills in seeing, mixing and organizing color through studio exercises and assignments; to produce a body of work that you are proud of; to develop constructive and helpful critiquing skills; to permanently enliven and enrich the way you move through the visual world in a way that invites you to share the mystery of color with others. Class time will be divided into lecture, critique, studio exercises, and explanation of assignments due for the following class critique. Students will be evaluated on the quality of the required assignments presented for critiques as well as their class attendance and attentive participation in all aspects of the studio meetings. This class is an excellent option for students who are interested in the visual arts, but also will have value for students with a wide range of interests and backgrounds outside of the arts.

Prior experience in drawing, painting, or other visual arts is not a necessary prerequisite for the course.

Always visit the Registrar's Office for the official course catalog and schedules.