ART 116 - Basic Design - Color Theory

3 Credit(s)

Course Description: Provides instruction in the basic theories and practice of using color qualities and relationships in art, including hue, value, and saturation in essential and experimental color design, providing a foundation in the vocabulary and practice of color theory in visual art. Assignments exploring both objective and non-objective form address color mixing, spatial and volumetric effects, basic color relationships, color in image development, and the effect of color on human emotion and perception. Students will work primarily with opaque painting mediums such as gouache. Analyze composition with a focus on the use of color and its effect to meet individually determined designs in a variety of contexts. This course satisfies foundation core requirements for students pursuing fine art, design, and commercial applications.

Course Learning Outcomes:

CLO#1: Demonstrate the ability to explore a range of color compositional methods with an awareness of the color qualities of hue, value, and saturation.
CLO#2: Demonstrate the use of a full range of theoretical color relationships, including complements, triads, analogous, and more complex configurations, using them imaginatively in a variety of possible compositional solutions, and be able to accurately mix opaque paints. (ILO: Communication)
CLO#3: Recognize, discuss, and analyze other artists’ styles and design approaches using professional nomenclature.
CLO#4: Design works of art fluently with non-objective form as an underlying structural component of all works of art.

Typical Required and Recommended Equipment and Materials: Water-based opaque paints, such as gouache or acrylic, in addition to many of the supplies used in ART 115 Basic Design (Composition). Other color mediums may be used.

ACTI Code and Course Type
100 Lower Division Collegiate

Length of Course:
A required state minimum of (60) and a standard RCC delivery of (66) lecture/lab hours per term, not to exceed (72) hours per term.