Lafayette Journal & Courier

Purdue students put color theory to use

By TIM BROUK
April 1, 2007

Professor Petronio Bendito's seven Color Aesthetics students thought they saw in color before his class.

Now they are realizing they might as well have been wearing sunglasses their whole lives.

Bendito is teaching the first color theory class at Purdue, and students such as Yvette Shen have found that learning the theories and science behind color is essential in design and art.

"I've never used color theory," said Shen, a visual communication and design graduate student. "Before, I would go with gut when I'm designing a project. Now I know the science behind color."

Shen and her classmates will be showing what they've learned in a digital, abstract art exhibition called "Color by Design." It runs from Monday to Friday at Purdue's Patti and Rusty Rueff Galleries inside Pao Hall for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Bendito's students immersed themselves in the theories of artists and designers such as Faber Birren, Johannes Itten, Josef Albers and Albert H. Munsell. Decades ago, these men broke down colors they used every day and found the science behind saturation, the cause for complementary colors and the value of values. Without the help of computer programs such as PhotoShop, they published their findings in books that are being used in color theory classes around the world.

"What if these guys back then had the tools we have today?" Shen asked. "Who knows what they would come up with?"

In "Color by Design," Shen has put Albers' theories on color value and transparency and Birren's take on tint, tone and shade in her funky designs of circular patters. Her digital prints will appear in small and large squares.

Eric Troyer's take on visual vibration is guaranteed to perplex some pupils. His piece of neon yellow and orange paper strips glued on a black background appears to dance along a wall. The computer graphics technology senior attached the paper strips equal distance apart. He only attached the ends of the long strips to allow air to get through and enhance the visual.

"The closer you look, the more it takes effect," Troyer said.

Jon Ealey, a senior in computer graphics, decided to go more realistic with his work. One of his untitled pieces consists of five squares placed vertically. Red dominates the work, and Ealey used an image of the moon and created a design of hearts and arrows in black. His use of the red, black and a few splashes of white evokes anxiety, stress and pain, he said.

Bendito believes color theory will help his students when they get out into the real world.

"Color theory is essential in interior design, product design and architecture," Bendito said.