Descriptor Details

  • Descriptor Title
    Color Theory
  • C-ID Number
    270
  • Units
    3.0
  • Date of Last Revision
    10/12/2017 04:44:01 PM PDT

General Description

A study of the principles, theories, and applications of additive and subtractive color in two dimensions.  Topics will include major historical and contemporary color systems, production of projects in applied color, and the elements of design as they apply to color.

Prerequisites

No information provided

Corequisites

No information provided

Advisories

No information provided

Content

  1. History of color and the development of the color palette.
  2. Color systems and color organization.
  3. How color is perceived - light, vision, and the brain.
  4. Value, hue, intensity (chroma), and color temperature.
  5. Colors, palettes and materials.
  6. Additive and subtractive color (light and paint).
  7. Color and composition.
  8. Identifying and understanding color mixtures.
  9. Cultural influences on color usage.
  10. Color usage in contemporary art and design.
  11. Color and Technology
  12. Critical evaluation and critique of class projects.

Lab Activities

  1. Basic design assignments in which the student is required to demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of the principles of color theory.
  2. Assignments in which the student is required to use a variety of color systems and application techniques appropriate to different art historical periods and styles. 

Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Create aesthetically complete designs and images that demonstrate a working knowledge of:
    • Color systems and color organization,
    • Principles of color perception - light, vision, and the brain,
    • Value, hue, intensity (chroma), and color temperature,
    • Additive and subtractive color (light and paint),
    • Relationships between color and composition,
    • Color usage in contemporary art and design;
  2. Make individual aesthetic decisions and judgments related to their own artwork;
  3. Skillfully use a variety of artistic materials, techniques and tools;
  4. Independently produce finished color assignments that demonstrate an understanding of color theory and principles in the history of art;
  5. Comprehend and describe how color is perceived biologically, psychologically, culturally, symbolically and intuitively.

Evaluation Methods

Portfolio of completed work;

Group and individual critiques in oral or written formats;

Written assignments, which may include quizzes, essays, exams, or reports.

Textbooks

Fisher & Zelanski. Color.

Finlay, Victoria. Color - Natural History of the Palette.

David Horning. Color- A Workshop Approach.

Descriptor Administration

  • Public Review Needed
    No
  • Next Descriptor Review
    No information provided
  • Resubmission Requirements for Courses
    No information provided
  • Resubmission Deadline
    No information provided
  • Comments

    No information provided

  • Notes

    No information provided

  • Keywords

    No information provided