A useful simplification and condensation of Johannes ltten's major work. The Art of Color, this book covers subjective feeling and objective color principles in detail. It presents the key to understanding color in ltten's color circle and color contrasts.
The Elements of Color
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Language Notes
Text: English, German (translation)
--This text refers to an alternate
Hardcover
edition.
From the Back Cover
BY THE SAME AUTHOR: Color Star Johannes has long been considered the definitive color theorist of the twentieth century. His books on color theory and application are standards throughout the world. Now his Color Star helps designers explore a myriad of harmonious colors. The Star consists of eight stencil like disks that can be placed over Itten's color wheel. Designers and artists can selectively examine the relationships of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors by using this unique system. Cool and warm values, complementary colors, and different hues and intensities can all be compared individually, as the designer uses the stencils to see the stencils to see only the wanted colors while masking the rest of the wheel. The Color Star is a useful and innovative tool for everyone who works with color, including students graphic designers, industrial designers, advertising designers, artists, illustrators, color theorists, interior designers, and architects.
Design and Forum
This is the most complete document of one of the landmarks of modern education in art-the famous Basic Course at the Bauhaus in Weimar, Germany. Itten was the teacher who organized it at the invitation of Walter Gropius. First published in 1963 when Itten was still alive, the book has been revised and updated by Itten's widow, Anneliese Itten and includes new material from the basic course at the Bauhaus, as well as visual examples and descriptions of the refinements made by Itten in later courses in Berlin (1926-1932), Krefeld (1932-1938), and Zurich (1938-1960). The basic course at the Bauhaus was designed as a trial to judge students with varying education, to help them in their choice of a career in the arts, Each of the over 200 illustrations reproduced is described in detail to help the reader understand the purpose of art teaching. The student's original works include studies if nature, pure forms and abstractions, three-dimensional work, and projects in the applied arts. In addition the book includes exciting material on the evaluation of modern art education. The book has universal appeal for a basic course as a means for individual creative growth and it can be used today by students and art teachers as a foundation for their own basic courses.
The Art of Color Nearly 160 full-color charts, diagrams, and paintings illustrates this first publication of the color theories of the famous Bauhaus teacher and painter. Both the physical and emotional nature of color is studies. The seven basic color contrasts are examined in detail, and clarified with 28 full-color reproductions of painting masterpieces, from the stained-glass art of Chartres to the glowing canvasses of Picasso and Klee. The psychological, symbolic, and intellectual effects of color are explored in detail. Included also are an exposition of compositional order, a discussion of color effects in nature, and valuable demonstrations of techniques for bringing two or more colors harmoniously together.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
86 of 88 people found the following review helpful
By jim kelley
Format:Hardcover
Itten's analysis and application of color is thoughtful and scientific. As a practicing art director, I have successfully used the theories and methods explained in "Elements of Color" for over twenty years. I also teach them to my design classes. Whether you use a paintbrush or a mouse, his "seven color contrasts" will prove invaluable.
60 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been a professor for 15 years. "The Elements of Color" has been required reading for many of my courses. It is not only enriching as a color theory document, but it helps expand the artist or designers possibility of using, arranging and conceiving color.
52 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By carmel
Format:Hardcover
I took an art course to learn about colour and learnt nothing. Then I read this book...It answered all my questions and informed me about areas of colour theory I had never dreampt of. Now I paint with knowledge and confidence.
112 of 130 people found the following review helpful
By H. P. Tellez
Format:Hardcover
It's been difficult to give a balanced critique. On one hand, "Elements of Color" has a wealth of information, but on the other, it takes serious committment to fully understand and comprehensively apply the information Itten presents. There is much valuable data, but it's interspersed with almost stereotypic, outmoded "Teutonic" concepts; e.g. assigning "Blond Types" springtime, bright, vivid colored topics, while "Dark Types" should be assigned "Night, Burial and dark room" topics. There is much valuable, technical information, but it is like digging through hard stone to find the gold; overwrought and culturally centered, judgemental statements are very common ("red expresses intermediate degrees between the infernal and sublime"... what's this?!?!). Other statements seem value-laden, i.e., "sentimental blue", "angelic pink", "blue reigns supreme"... Some excuse may be found in realizing the concepts in this treatise may have been developed before the Post Modernist Age, which accepts cultural and ethnic diversity, that accepts art and the use of color as being open to various interpretations, that color is certainly relative and greatly subjective, that many statements about color are only opinions... and that there is no absolute truth as to what color is "right" or "wrong". Unless the reader is studious and very serious about trying to unearth the information contained in this book, he or she is much better served by studing Albers or others. Too bad there is no editing, no index, and no glossary. What would Itten think of the book, "Chromophobia"? ... Pablo Tellez
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Devrim PINAR
Format:Hardcover
Itten, himself is one of the greatest color theorist of our century, and the masterful mind behind the Bauhaus School.
In this book Itten describes his color theory and the facts of his famous "Color Star", which is one of the most strongest tools for color harmony for designers and alike.
Most color books have samples of color harmonies you choose from when you design, or talk about complementary colors, but cant tell you why u use such combinations or so.
If you have an analytical approach to design, rather than just copying what others do, you will love this book. You will begin to understand the language of colors.
Have u ever heard of "the Seven Color Contrast", if not then it is time for you to get familiar about it.
This book is an evaluation of Ittens masterpiece "Art of Color". The chapter on subjective experience of color is very limited in this book.
If you are willing to invest more on color matters buy "Art of Color"
If you are happy to stay with the basics then this book is adequate for your purposes.
In this book Itten describes his color theory and the facts of his famous "Color Star", which is one of the most strongest tools for color harmony for designers and alike.
Most color books have samples of color harmonies you choose from when you design, or talk about complementary colors, but cant tell you why u use such combinations or so.
If you have an analytical approach to design, rather than just copying what others do, you will love this book. You will begin to understand the language of colors.
Have u ever heard of "the Seven Color Contrast", if not then it is time for you to get familiar about it.
This book is an evaluation of Ittens masterpiece "Art of Color". The chapter on subjective experience of color is very limited in this book.
If you are willing to invest more on color matters buy "Art of Color"
If you are happy to stay with the basics then this book is adequate for your purposes.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased this book because I wanted to understand colors, color schemes and theory(ies) better in order to apply to my necklace designs. It's a good book to have in your library, but it won't answer all the questions you may have about some applications. Itten's other books however cover pretty much everything; try The Art of Color, for example, if you'd like learn more about color effects on moods/feelings.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By E
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've seen printed versions of this book and I've been thinking about getting it for a while. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the kindle version would be in black and white. When discussong color and showing diagrams showing the actual colors really helps. I am soo soo disappointed with this purchase. The books content itself is amazing but I'm going to rethink ordering ebooks from amazon in the future.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Although witten for artists who mix colors for an effect, this small book has a wealth of information for fiber artists and quilters. How do translucent colors interact with other colors? Illusions in color? Which colors can be used in conjunction with other shades and tints? It is all here in this book. Many illustration,color plates,and well written text.
Very scientific, but easily readable. Good reference book on color.
Very scientific, but easily readable. Good reference book on color.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Elements of Color: A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes...
This was a terrific purchase-- a great price for this important text for any color theory course. I'll be using this for my upcoming Color Strategies course.
Published 12 hours ago by Marilyn Propp
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Artist should have this in their library!
If you are interested in color theory, this is the book to have before any other. Very clear and concise and a good overview of Ittens original printing of his large book on Color... Read more
Published 16 days ago by The Owl
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Most Important Book on Color Theory
The Elements of Color is by far one of the better books I have seen on color theory. It gives you a brief history of the study and then dives right in to explaining different color... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bill Rodella
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wring book but makes my husband happy
For some reason I thought I was going to get Jisef Albers book ... the price was great so I am keeping and my husband really likes it. He paints. I still have to get Albers book.
Published 3 months ago by Marilyn Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
A color theory basic!
A great reference book that supplements in more detail the color theory class that I am taking.
Will be using this for many years.
Will be using this for many years.
Published 4 months ago by BlacstoneD
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
Received this promptly , it was in perfect condition and is an excellent book on the subject. If you want to know about color this is a required read.
Published 5 months ago by Beachbum
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reasonable price, helpful, succinct
Much less expensive than Albers' book on Color and quite as good. Arrived promptly, in great condition. Useful for a color theory class.
Published 5 months ago by Monaghan Tyrone
2.0 out of 5 stars
Way over my head!
This book was recommended by an instructor. I am new to this crazy pursuit of oil painting. My instructor called this her "bible" of color theory, but I honestly didn't... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Bonnie Rydell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
This book is really helpful for learning about color theory. Its technical but really interesting so you can get through it easily.
Published 9 months ago by Mbhoos
5.0 out of 5 stars
Itten The Elements of Color
I was so very pleased to review the art book which arrived in pristine condition. I would have rated it in Excellent condition, rather than very good. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jean Eckert
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 1
book:
59
books
cite this book:
See all 59 books citing this book
- Design and Form: The Basic Course at the Bauhaus and Later, Revised Edition by Johannes Itten in Front Matter, and Back Cover
- Understanding Color: An Introduction for Designers, 2nd Edition by Linda Holtzschue on 6 pages
- The Power of Color: Creating Healthy Interior Spaces (Construction Business and Management Library) by Sara O. Marberry on page 2, page 3, and Back Matter
- Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color by Philip Ball on page 311, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color by Philip Ball on page 335, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Child Care Design Guide by Anita Rui Olds on page 229, and Back Matter
See all 59 books citing this book
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