blog @ Sci\ART

I just had a wonderful reunion with one of my favorite students. Lauren Battistini flew in from Texas to attend the Color Mixing and Matching I course that I taught in Homosassa, Florida. Lauren is a leading American image consultant with whom I have had the pleasure to collaborate for several years.

Lauren has already been certified by Sci\ART Global as personal color analyst. Her business, Color My Closet (www.colormycloset.com) is very successful. But In her capacity as a professional wardrobe consultant, she recognizes the importance of continuing education to stay on top of what is going on in the color industry. To that end, she took advantage of this opportunity to learn not only how to duplicate the millions of subtle color variations we see every day, but why nature mixes those spectral hues to sustain harmony in our environment.

I certified Lauren as a Personal Color Analyst in 2007. I am impressed with her natural eye for color even more now than I was back then. We asked her to share some of her thoughts about Sci\ART and this class. Here’s what she said:

“I’m a stickler about being at the top of my game, so I always seek out the best training possible. Sci|ART remains on the cutting edge of this industry because the system they use is based in science. It’s very thorough because it measures color 3-dimensionally.”

“Color is my passion and I want to learn as much about it as possible. This type of continuing education keeps me competitive and up-to-date, and it enables me to give my clients my very best effort.”

“I’m a tactile learner and the way Kathryn teaches fits me to a tee. She’s hands-on, points you in the right direction and then lets your practice on your own before guiding you to the next level. Kathryn builds on the foundation of her teachings in a very logical order. Her book (Understanding Your Color — A Guide to Personal Color Analysis) is the same way. It’s amazing.”

“This course was even more thorough than I thought it would be. I’m planning to take Sci\ART’s Color Mixing and Matching II class just as soon as I can.”

I’d like to thank Lauren for those kinds words. When it comes to color, Lauren “gets it.” She especially learned a great deal about mixing warm, cool and neutral flesh tones. Pardon the pun, but she passed her final exam with flying colors!
If you would like to learn more about the color education courses we offer at Sci\ART, visit http://www.coloranalysis.com/category_s/124.htm.

In the meantime, remember: When it comes to color, beauty and health are inseparable

Here are some photographs of Lauren that were taken during the class:

People sometimes ask me how I learned so much about the art and science of color. They seem to conjure a vision of me in a classroom for years on end, studying textbooks about theory, art history, chemistry and biology.

That vision is convenient – even flattering – but erroneous. The truth is I have used my research, experience, creativity and determination to develop my own color curriculum. That path was taken not by choice, but because there has been a remarkable unavailability of formal education about color. (Check out this article by Christopher Willard http://www.colormatters.com/willard.html. It was first published 11 years ago, but it accurately portrays the dearth of color education in academia at the time. Sadly, the situation may have actually worsened.)

I was introduced to the illusionary nature of color in a design class. It piqued my interest and I set out to learn more. I was disappointed to find there were no other courses to further my education about color. So, I began my independent research while continuing to work as an artist and as a professional colorist at Munsell. The Munsell Color System, of course, remains the gold standard for color communication, and it is the foundation upon which I began to build my studies about the science of color.

As I developed my own understanding of both the art and the science of color, I gained the confidence to do as my colleagues suggested – teach those who shared my love of color.  And it eventually resulted in my first book, Understanding Your Color — A Guide to Personal Color Analysis, as well as a very unique color curriculum.

By creating a curriculum that always relates color to human being, students who take my color courses are assured that they are the recipients of truly unique training.

My next “Color Mixing and Matching I” course will be held Nov. 14-16 in Homosassa, Florida. Details are available at http://www.coloranalysis.com/category_s/125.htm. If you’re curious about what a significant impact color has on you life, this will be an eye-opening experience. I hope to see you there.

Until then, always remember: When it comes to color, beauty and health are inseparable.