My City March 2023

MYARTS

Color Theory Made Easy

This book presents an alternative approach that cuts through the tangle of established but contradictory concepts to give artists a universal theory that really applies to their work. Most artists are taught that red, blue and yellow are the primary color hues that cannot be created from any combination of other colors. However, as a result of years of study, author and artist Jim Ames has concluded that the true primary colors are cyan (a greenish blue), magenta (a violet red) and a yellow that does not lean toward either cyan or magenta. In Color Theory Made Easy, Ames explains the importance of these three colors as the basis for all of our thinking about color. The Ames COLORWHEEL The 8.5-inch circular colorwheel has a movable dial on both sides. There are 24 pure hue colors located on the outside edge of the wheel. The front-side is 100% pure hues. The cut-out on the front-side dial shows 30% and 50% shades of the selected color. All the colors come from various percentages of cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY). The three circular codes show the percentages of CMY of the selected color. The back-side displays

THE CHALLENGE WITH THIS PIECE (ACRYLIC) WAS “TO PAINT THE WHITE FEATHERS WITH COLOR.”

international trade journals, art galleries and businesses in several states, and in the homes of private collectors." Another very talented artist, Rich Tesner, helps Ames teach the watercolor class at FIA on Fridays. "I enjoy teaching," Ames shares. "I like to help other artists get better." How did Ames become interested in art? "I was born with it; it is a natural talent," he admits. "If you have a natural talent, it never goes away. Not everyone is an artist. You either have it or you don't." What does art mean to Ames? "It's my whole life!" he exclaims. What he is most proud of is teaching others what he knows. He re cently ran into a doctor in Saginaw who had taken one of his classes. "She couldn't say enough about how much she learned. That's what makes it all worthwhile – that and seeing Anni (Crouter) become a world renowned artist." As for his long and successful career as an artist and educator, Ames offers a final thought: "It's amazing to me that I'm still going!"

50% tints of the 24 pure hues. Source: jimamescolortheory.com

32

MYCITYMAG.COM