Color Workbook
 Becky Koenig
 (Guest Reviewer - Christine Reilly Carter)
 2002 Prentice Hall
 ISBN: 0130933171

Both a color theory reference & a workbook of hands-on color & design.

Guest Reviewer Christine Reilly Carter writes:

Color Workbook by Becky Koenig presents & illustrates in an inspiring & clearly understandable manner every aspect of color & design.

• Part One Koenig presents both two dimensional & three dimensional color systems.
• In Part Two she presents the concepts of design in black & white before complicating it with the element of color.
Having created a basis for understanding the visual experience, Koenig adds the variable of color. It is then easier for the reader to see color as an enhancement to design & movement & to see that shape, size & position of a color alter the perception of that color.

Part One of this 300 page workbook focuses on the basics of color: the physics of color, numerous color wheels, the vocabulary of color, artists' materials & computer color. The simple definitions of terms & the abundant illustrations clarify the concepts both mentally & visually.

The reader experiences each lesson in color simply by reading the uncluttered text & taking a moment with each illustration.

Koenig continues her comfortable teaching formula in Part Two where she focuses on Designing With Color. The reader may jump to Part Two & return to Part One after being inevitably inspired to try the lessons in movement, mood, texture, composition, unity, harmony, disharmony or any of the design exercises that are clearly described & illustrated.

Part Two concludes with a brief yet comprehensive lesson in art history. Once again, illustrations & concise text clarify the color elements & design in each of the works chosen to represent the art movement. Koenig chose a painting by Caravaggio to illustrate The Baroque as Light & Movement. She chose a painting by Henri Matisse for Fauvism as Color Expression, & a painting by Mark Rothko for Abstract Expressionism representing the expression of Inner Light. The comprehensive glossary defines terms used in the language of color & design.

It is not surprising that Becky Koenig is a teacher. With ease she incorporates science, history, theatre, & psychology into her lessons. Her years of experience presenting the complexities of color & the use of color in graphic arts, fine arts & computer art has enabled her to simplify concepts to the point of easy understanding & enjoyment. By using her students' art to illustrate her lessons, she offers a diverse point of view & style. It is clear that she understands the basic fact that individuals learn in a variety of ways.

Teachers, students & professional artists can benefit from Color Workshop. Koenig's book is an invaluable reference book & an inspiring textbook. It can be enjoyed in little pieces or devoured large bites. For easel/computer artists it encourages them to tackle the learning curve that is necessary when approaching a new software program.

Color Workbook should also be on the shelf of every elementary school teacher, although teachers of all grades will find its easy lessons invaluable for their curricula, regardless of age & experience.

To quote Becky Koenig “Color is at the center of our strongest sense, vision...Color study is an under-taught yet ever-evolving field.”

The way Becky Koenig teaches, even non-artists can take giant steps along the path of understanding, experiencing & enjoying color.

Christine Reilly Carter is author & illustrator of The Collie of Castle Hill as well as Between the dog bowl & the closet, Tea Time with the Author & Change is never easy
(08/24/03)

Guest Reviewer - Christine Reilly Carter
2003©Christine Reilly Carter