PAIC 0020W - Still Life: Light and Color

Course Description

Edouard Manet once called still life “the touchstone of painting.” Characterized by an interest in the insentient, this genre of art has been popular across movements, cultures, and periods, with major figures like Paul Ce´zanne and Pablo Picasso sharing Manet’s view. The still life gained prominence during the 16th century and is derived from the Dutch word stilleven, but its roots date back to ancient times. Still Life: Color and Light will utilize the practice of observational still life painting with a focus on the history and evolution of color, its organization, relationship, interaction and arrangement. Color, in a way unlike any other tool in visual communication, is very complex and frequently misunderstood. By focusing on the visual and aesthetic interactions of color, the science of color perception and the metaphysical nature of color perception we will create paintings that create a better understanding of the use of color. The course utilizes the major theories of colorists such as Munsell, Itten, Albers, etc. as a primary structure in which to study distinct color properties and functions. The course fee covers admission to the MFA museum for a class tour.