Color

Author: Gao Tianxiong Yuan Yuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Compared to sketch classes, our color classes face and experience more problems. This is because sketching, as the cornerstone of artistic training in art academies, has relatively unified basic understanding. Almost every instructor has gone through this path. In art academies, we are clear about the training methods, direction, and desired outcomes of sketch classes. Even if student quality varies or levels differ, it does not hinder the orderly progress of this training process, let alone the relatively simple factors involved in sketch teaching. In contrast, color training is quite different. As for basic color training in art academies, I personally believe there are several aspects that need further research. Based on my personal teaching experience, color is color that depends on form, especially in the basic teaching of art academies. Purely abstract color training is not within our main teaching scope. Therefore, the level and effectiveness of color teaching largely depend on the students' understanding of basic shaping factors such as surfaces, light and shadow, black and white layers, and aesthetic preferences achieved in sketch teaching. In color training, students have to consider many more factors, and integrating form and color is far from being achieved overnight. Differences in skill levels are not concealed but rather amplified in color teaching. Particularly in more challenging courses, such as human anatomy classes, the performance and skill gaps among students are significant. Some students with weaker sketch foundations struggle to keep up during training, finding it difficult to reach even the basic level, let alone fully benefit from the training. However, it is difficult for teachers to lower the course difficulty, as this would deprive high-performing students of adequate training opportunities. Therefore, balancing the difficulty level in color course design is a challenge in color teaching.
Additionally, there is an issue with the painting materials used in our color classes. Currently, most students prefer to use oil painting materials, regardless of their actual control level, and teachers cannot enforce strict regulations. As a result, apart from a small number of top students, most classmates spend a lot of time and effort mastering oil painting materials and tools, neglecting the more fundamental requirements and principles of color class study.