Color Theory

Color Theory: A Critical Introduction gives an overview of the history of color theory, providing students with practical guidance on the use of color in art and design. Going beyond a simple recitation of what has historically been said about color, this book offers an intellectual history, exploring what those theories say about the various cultures that espouse them. Not only is this critical approach consistent with the practical guidance the book offers, it enables readers to apply theory to practice. By placing basic tenets of color theory such as the color wheel and color primaries within the Western industrial context that generated them, artist and educator Aaron Fine helps readers connect color choices to color meanings. Because the real issue is not "How do I mix this color?" but rather "What color should I mix?" Topics covered include color models (color wheels, charts, etc), color mixing and interaction, theories of perception, materialist and romanticist perspectives, color in the age of reproduction, as well as modernist and post-modernist color strategies. These issues are approached chronologically, beginning with ancient and classical cultures and concluding with contemporary globalism. In each chapter readers will find clearly highlighted key points, illustrations, primary source readings, and exercises.