Josef Albers' Interaction of Color
Class | Available
LOCATION NOTE: This class will be taking place at our South Lake Union Location.
Josef Albers' book Interaction of Color, published in 1963, was the summation of his experience teaching about color at The Bauhaus, Black Mountain College, and Yale University. In this ten-week class we will work through many of the projects described in the book, using Albers' preferred material, colored paper collage. We will also learn about the history of the book itself, its impact on 20th century painting, and continued influence today.
Please note, this is not a painting class per se, though painters should find it enlightening; rather, it is a class in which we challenge our preconceived notions about color and how we perceive it.
- Most of our class projects will make use of Color-aid paper, a specialized product that was also used by students in Josef Albers' original classes. In order to make efficient use of our time, it would be best if every one has this paper before the first day of class.
In order to simplify things, I have had the Blick Art Materials store on Capitol Hill put together a kit containing a box of Color-aid paper (4.5 x 6 inch sheets, 314 colors), an X-acto knife and blades, a non-slip ruler, a cutting mat, and paste. The store is offering a small discount on the kit. The kits are on order as I write this (mid-August), so you might check with the store first before visiting: (206) 324-0750.
You can also purchase Color-aid paper from various sources online, including coloraid.com, Amazon, Blick Art Materials, and others. You can get it in different size sheets, but I suggest 4.5 x 6 inches as the minimum. It is available in boxes of 220 and 314 colors; I would buy the larger quantity unless it is prohibitively expensive. Blick Art Materials appears to be the only store in the area that carries Color-aid paper. They also stock packs containing the larger size sheets, if you prefer that.
If you'd rather buy your other materials individually, here is the basic list:
Something to cut paper with - An X-acto knife with #11 blades or a scalpel will work well. Scissors can also be used if you prefer.
A self-healing mat - 8.5 x 12 inches or larger.
A ruler - preferably with a non-slip underside.
Something to paste paper with - I have found that clear UHU Stic glue sticks work quite well.
Rigid surfaces to paste paper onto - I've used scraps of mat board or chipboard (non-corrugated cardboard).
Additional materials:
The more colored papers you have, the better - Hardware and paint stores that give out color sample cards are a terrific source, as is your recycling bin. I've saved colored paper wrappers and packages to use in my studies.
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