Master Course Syllabus

ART 1001 Color Theory

Purpose of Document
This document contains important information about this course’s objectives. It may be helpful for you
to retain a copy for your records, along with the class specific syllabus. This document will be especially
helpful if you decide to later change your course of study.

Pikes Peak Community College and the Colorado Department of Higher Education have determined that
graduates should have a broad range of learning skills as well as discipline related skills. Both types of
skills are detailed below.

Course Description
Explores the properties and concepts of color for application in fine art, commercial art and/or applied
arts using various traditional fine art techniques and materials.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 75 (15 Lecture, 60 Lab)

Course Learning Outcomes

I. Use a variety of traditional fine art materials and techniques to explore the physical properties;
Hue, Value, Intensity
II. Illustrate and evaluate the ¿seven contrasts¿ of color; Hue, Value, Temperature, Complementary,
Simultaneous, Saturation, Extension.
III. Explore color harmonies; Complementary, Split Complement, Triads, Tetrads and Analogous using a
variety of materials/media.
IV. Analyze and evaluate color interactions and how a color will appear different depending on its
adjacent color or colors.
V. Prepare and evaluate artwork that demonstrates a variety of subject matter such as figurative,
landscape, still-life or abstract.
VI. Compare and contrast additive color; color as seen in light and subtractive color; color as seen in
pigment.

Topical Outline
I. Physical properties of color
A. Hue

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 B. Value
C. Intensity, Saturation
II. Color Wheel
A. Pure Hues
B. Tints
C. Shades
III. Color Harmonies
A. Monochromatic
B. Analogous
C. Complimentary
D. Split-complimentary
E. Triads
F. Tetrads
IV. Color Interaction
A. Contrast of Hue
B. Contrast of Value
C. Contrast of Temperature
D. Complementary Contrast
E. Simultaneous Contrast
F. Contrast of Saturation
G. Contrast of Extension
H. After-Image
V. Subject Matter
A. Objective
B. Subjective
C. Decorative
D. Symbolic
E. Expressive

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