Maine Adult Education

Instructor Ed Higgins has conceived of a new type of color theory class for artists that’s fun and intuitive. Many artists get frustrated and confused by color. Either they abandon the theory side of it altogether in favor of value tints of local hues (green for trees, red for apples, etc.), or they try to follow some useless recipe and swatch based system to try and gain reproducible color that never seems to work. The problem is twofold. First, too many artists rely on reference photography and screen images for color, so instead of using color intuitively through realtime observation and analysis of nature and light, they mix colors based on something that has already narrowed and curtailed the range of visible colors drastically. That’s why there are so many dull, fussy “looks like a photograph” paintings out there. Color is what Josef Albers called “The most relative medium in Art.” It is always interactive. The perceptions of it are personal and subjective. Color changes in your vision the second you put a color next to another color. See color in a whole new light with a practical, no nonsense approach using the trial and error you once struggled with. It’s actually the key to your understanding and creating your own theory of color! *No Class: 12/25, 1/1, 2/19. **Special note about art materials: Please do not call our office about materials. Come to the first class with your favorite sketchbook and drawing pencils & pens. Suggested materials will be discussed by the instructor on the first day of classes. Thank you.