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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 109"
COURSE NAME: "Color Theory and Studio Practice"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: David Mozzetta
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: M12:30 PM 3:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This class requires a materials fee of €75/$85 to cover all basic art supplies.
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course is a practical study of one of the fundamental elements of visual art and design: color. Artists use color as a compositional tool in developing pictorial form and space. Color transmits meaning and emotion, and is everywhere in our daily lives. Focused exercises help students both to understand the perceptual aspects of color and to manipulate color using specific techniques. The course begins with the perception and control of gradations of light and dark, treats the practical issues of physically mixing pigments, explores the alteration of color caused by the placement of adjacent colors, and arrives at expressive, poetical uses of color in compositions. Students learn the correct terminology needed to analyze color effects both in their own creations and in historical masterworks, and demonstrate their growing confidence and mastery of color in a portfolio of creative work.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Throughout the semester, students will explore color through discussions, lectures, presentations, and a series of studies and projects.

Color is a fundamental element of visual art and design, yet it is not absolute. Its perception is always relative—shaped by surrounding hues, lighting conditions, and individual perception. As a constant presence in daily life, color serves as a compositional tool for artists and designers to develop pictorial form, create spatial relationships, and convey meaning and emotion.

Students will gain a deeper understanding of the relativity of color and its interaction with other visual elements. They will learn key terminology and study relevant references to build a strong foundation for future work in painting and design. The course will also encourage critical exploration of the aesthetic, historical, and psychological dimensions of color.

 

Colors are both physical and digital entities, but also optical illusion. We will consider colors as organisms in constant transformation, hard to consider outside of their context. We will focus on the idea that Color Exists in Context. We will explore art theory and design practice, industrial applications, and commercial use, to address the many possibilities and few limitations of colors. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

During this course students will be able to:
- Understand how to see and interact with colors
- Recognise basic properties of colors
- Apply the basics of major color theories in the mixing of paints and the production of work
- Apply the basics of digital color (RGB) and print (CMYK) theory in the production of diverse works
- Identify colors from real life objects and images and convert them into paint, RGB and CMYK colors

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
The Interaction of Color: 50th Anniversary EditionJosef AlbersYale University Press9780300179354  
Dictionary Of Color Combinations - Volume 2Sanzo WadaSeigensha Art Publishing4861527724  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance 10%
Weekly AssignmentsDuring each session, students will be expected to complete various assignments. 30%
Midterm ProjectStudents will create a new artwork, after conducting research in art history and color theory.30%
Final ProjectStudents will work on a children's book (or artist's book) with their artworks/paintings using different color palette and composition. 30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality shows excellent mastery of the course content along with exceptional levels of technical skill, artistic awareness, originality, resourcefulness, commitment, quantity of work and improvement. There has been excellent collaboration and leadership in group projects, and there have been no attendance problems.
BA highly competent level of performance with work that directly addresses the content of the course, with a good quantity of work produced.
CAn acceptable level of performance: the work shows awareness of the course content, but is very limited in quantity, quality, commitment and skill.
DThe student lacks a coherent grasp of the course material and has failed to produce much work.
FNegligent in attendance, academic honesty, engagement with the course content, or production of work.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance is required.

 

Learners are expected to attend every class period.  If they are ill or have obtained an excused absence (in accordance with JCUs official attendance policies), learners are required to notify the instructor in a prompt and timely manner.  Furthermore, if learners must miss a class, they are responsible for acquiring the missed information and completing assignments before the next class.  Medical excuses without documentation from a physician are invalid.  Unexcused absences will affect your participation grade: 

 

2 unexcused absences = forfeit of one letter grade*.  

3 unexcused absences = forfeit of additional letter grade. 

4 unexcused absences = forfeit of additional letter grade and mandatory student meeting with instructor and department chair. 

5 unexcused absences = Five unexcused absences (one third of the course experience) will prevent you from passing the course.  

 

 *Refers to learners’ participation letter grade. 
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

1.Monday 1st September

Colors Exists in Context: Introduction To Color Relativity

 

2.Monday 8th September

Colors Exists in Context: Introduction To Color Relativity II

 

3.Monday 15th September

Properties of Color: Hue 

 

4.Monday 22nd September

Properties of Color II: Value

 
 

5.Monday 29th September

Properties of Color III: Saturation

 

 

6.Monday 6th October

Color Relationship: Pairing, Matching and Palettes

 

7.Monday 13th October

Color Relationship II:  Reference from Art History to Contemporary Design

 

8.Monday 20th October

Midterm Presentations & Review

 

9.Monday 27th October

Using Colors: Color Wheels, CMYK, RGB, Hex Codes & Pantones

 

10.Monday 3rd November

Using Colors II: Extracting

 

11.Monday 10th November

Using Color III: Mixing with CMYK

 

12.Monday 17th November

Final Project Work

 

13.Monday 24th November

Final Project Work II

 

14.Monday 1st December

Final Project Work III

 

DATE TBC

FINAL REVIEWS