Color and Composition

Color and Composition is an introduction to the theory and practice of 2-D design in the making of original works of art. The focus of this course will be on learning the basic mechanisms of color, the basic conventions of composition, the development of observational and analytical skills, and on the development of your own personal design sensibility. As Introduction to drawing is not a prerequisite for the course, projects will not require facility with drawing. However, work in this class will address issues fundamental to drawing such as compositional structure, the articulation of space, and the use of contrast. Projects will include abstract compositions addressing concepts such as balance, unity, and emphasis, a series of color 'scales', and work with themes you develop from your immediate environment as well as from your imagination.

There will be frequent critiques of your work. Homework due on Monday will be critiqued at the beginning of class. The importance of critiques cannot be overemphasized. Critiques are an essential method for examining one's assumptions about one's work. There is an opportunity to hear how others see your work, and there isan opportunity for you to work on articulating your ideas about the work of others. They will inform not only the way you analyze but also the way you imagine, by continuously presenting you with new ways of looking at things. In addition to critiques, there will be discussions of ideas and techniques, slides and demonstrations to illustrate new concepts, extensive homework, some reading, and some writing. Primarily, however, you will be looking and painting. And, as you acquire technical skill and develop your critical thinking abilities, you will be encouraged and expected to develop and express your own ideas through vigorous work.

Course requirements and grading

This course will be extremely demanding. The minimum requirements of this course are that you come to class and work hard. As your success will depend on how much practice and feedback you get, attendance is essential. Therefore, there are no excused absences without a letter from the Dean's Office. Missing class will dramatically affect your grade and you will be dropped upon your third unexcused absence. There will be six to eight hours of homework weekly. This is a substantial workload, and you should be certain that you are prepared to keep up. Late homework will be penalized one letter grade for each class it is late. You must attend the mid-term and final critiques to pass the class, and late mid-terms and finals will not be accepted. Homework, the mid-term, and the final will be weighted at 40, 30, and 30 percent respectively.

It is important that you be clear about the requirements and understand that you are in control of your performance and therefore your grade. It is also important that you understand that my only concern is what you can learn in this class. Therefore, I will be giving you extensive written feedback on all of your homework in addition to the grade. Provided that the work is submitted on time, I will also encourage you to revise your work and resubmit it the following Monday, at which point I will re-grade it. I am also happy to meet with you at any time to discuss your work.

Course schedule

Week 1. What is composition? Visual forces and the importance of Balance
Week 2 How to create unity in composition
Week 3 The use of emphasis in composition
Week 4 Color: Munsell notation, value and chroma scales
Week 5 Color: neutral scales. Intro to mid-term
Week 6 Work on mid-term. Mid-term Critique

Week 7 Color matrix, Albers exercises, warm and cool color
Week 8 The illusion of space
Week 9 Visual art and other artistic disciplines- visual equivalence
Week 10 Undoing symbolic color
Week 11 Optical color mixture, group project
Week 12 Introduce Final, museum trip

Week 13 Work on Final
Week 14 Work on Final

Color and Composition-Nick Ruth

List of Supplies
Paper: Black, light and dark gray paper for collage
Acrylic Paint: Titanium white, 7 oz.
Mars or Ivory Black
Deep Magenta
Permanent Alizarine
Crimson Hue
Cadmium Red
Medium Scarlet
Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Yellow
Light Bronze
Yellow Light
Emerald Green
Permanent Hookers
Green Hue
Permanent Green
Light Turquoise
Green Brilliant
Blue Ultramarine
Blue Prism
Violet
Dioxazine Purple
Raw Sienna
Burnt Umber
Yellow Oxide
Red Oxide
Brushes: 425, #'s 5, 8, and 10 325, #3 Supports: Paper for painting- Bristol #342-19 (18" x 24") One sheet Arches 29" x 41" Other Materials: D-2 Palette Knife, scissors, rubber cement or Elmers, large clips, palette paper (12" x 16"), masking tape, ruler.