Why study color theory? Well, the easy answer is so that you will have more information to guide you when you are creating things. A more complete answer is also a more complex one.
My bet is that you don’t realize that color is energy and therefore the best way for you to control that energy is to learn to harness it. To harness it you must first understand the kind of power it holds.
Each color has a different energy and just like people, colors behave differently in combination with other colors. We can call that the interaction of color a system. It is a system based on theories made and asserted hundreds of years ago. Though those theories still stand to this day, we add new and intriguing information to the system all the time. We now know more about how light is seen by the human eye, how color affects the human psyche and that the colors we see with our eyes are our brains way of making sense of the light waves moving through the atmosphere.
Back to that easy answer, “to guide you when you are making things”; learning to harness the energy of color, understanding the interaction of colors and becoming acquainted with as many varieties of color as possible will make it easier and more enjoyable for you to make more beautiful, interesting and successful art, quilts, jewelry, whatever your heart desires.
So, come along with me, art quilter and instructor, Heather Thomas and let me introduce you to a system that just might rock your world as you learn new meanings for the words scale, value, harmony, texture and so much more.
Class Sessions
Session 1: Introduction: Why Study Color Theory
4:22
In this segment, you will be introduced to the system of interacting color. Heather will walk through all of the major areas of study covered while taking this class. She will use a large selection of small quilts and other artwork as she introduces you to the color wheel, the color scale, visual and tactile textures, value, intensity, saturation, visual temperature and more. She will also show you some tools to have on hand that will make learning about color easier and talk about how to set up your creative space and how to arrange you color media, be it fabric, beads, paint etc. so that it is easy to see and therefore easy to utilize.
Session 2: The Color Wheel and Color Scale
38:22
In this session, Heather will show you how most color wheels are organized. She will help you understand how all colors are formed from the primary colors of red, yellow and blue as she introduces the idea of secondary and tertiary colors. At the same time she will teach you all about the color scale which includes color in its pure hue, tints, tones and shades.
Session 3: The Value of Value, Inherent & Relative
14:19
This segment is about that overused and often misunderstood word; value. Heather will instruct you to paint out or use fabric to create value scales as you learn how the inherent value of a color affects how it works in combination with other colors.
Session 4: Texture, Print and Raising Surface
11:57
This session is all about visual and tactile texture and learning how to use them to create movement, rhythm, surface tension, dominance and so much more. Heather will help you understand how what is printed on the surface of a fabric or its visual texture, can affect the piece and in turn the viewer.
Session 5: All About the 12 Colors
12:23
Here is where the fun begins. In this session, Heather will introduce you to the twelve colors in the color system. She will instruct you to either paint out color scales for each one or show you how to use fabric to do so.
Session 6: The Interaction of Color
24:57
To help you understand how colors play off of and with each other, Heather will guide you through the exploration of the following exercises; working with neutrals, monochromatic play, exploring direct complements, working with complex complements, using analogous runs, playing with triads and creating with tetrads.
Session 7: Principles of Design
9:14
In this final session, Heather will introduce you to the idea of working toward a sense of balance while using variety and striving for unity in each new piece you create. She will show you how color can come into play as you are striving to create a balanced and unified piece of work and how you can use value and color scale to increase variety.
Your Instructor
Heather Thomas
Heather is a mixed media fiber artist with a passion for color and a dedication to teaching. After a decade of making original yet traditional work, she began venturing out toward art quilting, embellishments, and mixed media work. With more than 12 years of studying and teaching color and design under her belt, she wrote her second book, A Fiber Artists’ Guide to Color & Design, which came on the heels of her very popular first book, Fabric Embellishing: The Basics & Beyond.
In 2011 Heather was a guest writer for Quilting Arts magazine with a multi-part feature on Free Style Machine Quilting. She also participates in group and individual instructional DVDs produced by the Creative Crafts Group. You can visit Heather’s blog at heatherthomasblog.blogspot.com.
Bonus Material
Class Resource PDF
Download this PDF as a guide to creating your own set of color scales.
Class Resource PDF
See Heather's painted and fabric color wheel examples.
Class Resource PDF
Download this PDF for a visual guide of Pure Hues, Tints, Tones & Shades.
Meet the Instructor Video
Heather shares how learning about color has changed her life and how it can change yours too!
Class Supply List
Download this PDF for a detailed class supply list.
Blank Color Wheel
Download and print this PDF for a blank color wheel allowing you to create your own version
Bonus Materials available for download after purchase.
FAQs
How do I know what the Class covers?
Every Class has a free Preview video you can watch, to give you a flavor of the Instructor and the skills or project that will be covered. In addition, the Overview tab includes a thorough written description of the Class. And finally, each Class Session has a brief written summary of the content in that Session, including the length of each Session video. You will get a good feel for the Class content by reviewing these resources.
Do I have to be a Member of National Quilters Circle to purchase a Class?
No you don’t. While Premium Members will receive regular offers for special deals on NQC content, Classes are not reserved exclusively for Members. If you buy a Class as a non-member, we’re sure you’d also enjoy having access to our full library of great quilting videos and articles as a Member, so give it a try.
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First you should decide that the Class is what you want. Review the Class Preview video and the various written descriptions of the Class and each Session before you purchase, so you have a good understanding of the Class content. When you’re ready to purchase and gain access to the Class, simply click the “Add to Cart” button, and proceed through the Checkout process.
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Once you’ve paid, you can access/view your Class by going to the MY ACCOUNT section of National Quilters Circle. The MY ACCOUNT link is in the upper right-hand area of the website. Within your MY ACCOUNT, a section labeled “My Content” is where the class you purchased will appear, including a link to watch the video of your Class. You’ll also receive an email confirmation after your purchase, which will include a link to view your Class. You can access your Class as many times as you wish, and you’ll never lose access to your Account information. Just be sure to “Log In” for access to MY ACCOUNT.
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Is there a limit on the times I can view my Class?
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Until you purchase a Class, the Bonus material (any extra videos, download materials, etc.) will not be accessible. Once you purchase a Class, and go to view your Class, each individual Bonus element is accessible by simply clicking on each item. You’ll find the Bonus Materials directly below your main Class viewer frame. You can access the bonus materials as many times as you like and/or save them to your device.
Can I print out Class details?
For any Bonus Material that is a PDF Download, yes you can. Just click on the icon/button for the Bonus element you want, and print with your local printer.
What are PDF downloads?
These are simply documents, plans, or written materials that are formatted in a way to print out and retain for reference. By simply clicking on the icon/link for any PDF Download that is included with a Class, you can print that document on your own printer or simply view the contents on your computer/mobile device.
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Can I get a refund if I don’t like the Class?
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If your question is about the Class content, please use the Contact Us Link – and you'll receive feedback from the Class Instructor. Even your fellow Class participants may jump in to offer tips and advice from their experience. If you have other questions or need help, you can email us at nationalquilterscircle@program-director.net or call us toll-free, at 1-855-253-0822. Service Representatives will be available Monday-Friday, from 8:00AM to 4:30 PM Central time, excluding normal holidays.
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