In this course, we will explore concepts of color theory and color mixing, which are fundamental to creating the convincing illusion of reality in our paintings. Rather than doing mixing exercises, we will be starting right away with simple still-life paintings so that we can explore practical ways in which we can apply these ideas to real-life painting scenarios.

Over the course of three days, we will be discussing:

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-The three dimensions, or qualities, of color (Hue, Value, and Chroma) and how we can conceive of color as a three-dimensional “color space”. By using these three terms, we can accurately describe and identify any color which we can mix.

-How light interacts with form to create gradients and what that means for us in terms of color when it comes to rendering form.

-The difference between diffuse reflection and specular reflection (understanding highlights, reflections on shiny objects, and much more!).

-Shadows and reflected light: How to figure out what color the shadows need to be and why they look the way that they do.

-How to accurately identify and organize colors within a composition.