Beyond The Color Wheel:
Common Sense Color Mixing & Color Theory For Painters
The ability to see and mix accurate colors is an essential skill for the painter. Much of the popularly dispensed "color theory" for artists organizes and presents the world of color in an often confusing and oversimplified way. Basic color wheels and ambiguous terms and language often do not match up with practical concerns of the painter who is trying capture the vital world of what is seen by the limited means of tubes of colored pigments.
In this all day workshop we will consider the large topic of color for the painter with particular focus on how to see and mix any color in terms of the three basic dimensions: Hue, Value, and Chroma. The organization of a basic range of colors on a working palette will be detailed using the Munsell Color System, then put to use in a wide range of color mixing exercises and studies. The advantages and disadvantages of various limited palette strategies will also be examined.
An introductory discussion will cover the biology of how we see and perceive light and color. We will also survey the use and range of paint colors and pigments used by painters throughout art history, with special attention paid to the various "Old Masters", The Impressionists, and the innovations in modern pigments in the 20th century.
When: (2 sessions)
Friday, November 30th 10:00 am - 4:00pm (with a 1/2 hr break for lunch) orFriday, December 14th 10:00 am - 4:00pm (with a 1/2 hr break for lunch)
Where: James Hempel Fine Arts
Class fee: $50
*A materials list will be sent to those who sign up
