SU25 M/W Introduction to Color Theory

The perception of color is not a fixed mode of seeing but rather psychological and relative, and understanding the implications of color selection, mixing and placement allows one to harness the emotional qualities of color and manipulate them in dynamic ways. This introductory course provides students with a comprehensive guide to color theory that is applicable to their interests as both artists and designers. This is a rigorous course that will explore the properties of color, including temperatures, color bias, relational dynamics, complementary/analogous colors, color hierarchies, and color schemes that is supplemented with art historical references in how artists have handled color in their works across centuries of making. This is a rigorous introduction to the application of color theory, and as such, students are expected at a minimum to have a grasp of representational drawing to benefit from this course. Multiple, short exercise in color will supplement two long-term projects that will challenge students in intentional handling of colors. For this class, we will be working with acrylic paints.