Color Theory Class
Pam Coulter, instructor

Understanding of color as an element of the artistic process allows the artist to be more in control of the effects he creates. This class will focus on color. Exercises and paintings you produce will demonstrate how to use color – whether realistically or abstractly. Color has several major attributes used to describe it: hue, value, saturation, and temperature. Students may work in oil or acrylic. It is suggested that you use real canvas on a pad rather than stretched canvas (or use stiff watercolor paper with a coat of gesso if using acrylics) as you will be producing many exercises and paintings. A good reliable real canvas pad is "Fredrix Canvas Pads." It’s easier to use oils or water-soluble oils than acrylics because they dry slower. If using acrylics, I advise using acrylic retarder. It slows the drying time.

Supply list:

You should have the basic 7 color palette as described in the Supply list for Oil and Acrylic Painting which is on my website. This palette consists of one warm and one cool yellow, one warm and one cool red, one warm and one cool blue, a brown (preferably burnt sienna), white. You can get this supply list on my web site: blehert.com. The link is on the main page on the upper right side.. The list gives you a complete idea of materials needed.

In addition, because this class will focus on exercises to aid your understanding of color between paintings, it is advisable to have the following:

• Gesso (this is a white or transparent medium used to prepare a paint surface on paper, canvas, or board.)

• Thick paper such as a watercolor pad or a canvas pad plus a “drawing board” or piece of strong cardboard on which to mount the paper and some removable masking tape.

• In addition, if using Acrylics, purchase either the “open” acrylics marketed by Golden Acrylics (these are slow-drying acrylics) or Acrylic retarder. Acrylics dry so fast that it makes mixing and experimentation more difficult than with oils.
• A sharpy marker.

If you don’t currently have materials and you are not sure that you will continue with painting, I suggest that you get one of the little 18 color “kits” of paint offered at Michaels, but supplement it with colors that are not contained in it. These beginner kits are carried under the brand "The Artists Loft" or "Reeves."You will especially need to supplement the kit with a tube of Ultramarine Blue and a large tube of Titanium White.

Contact me if you are confused or need guidance. web contact form

For more information on paint, look up oil paint or acrylic paint on Wikipedia.com