Materials Lab Workshop: Annette Lemieux’s Available Portrait Colors

In this workshop on Friday, Sept. 15, led by artist and medical student William Shen, attendees will begin by viewing the exhibition "Seeing in Art and Medicine" to discuss how representation of skin colors, or lack thereof, has influenced art and medicine throughout history. Practitioners of art and medicine are trained to discern fine details and changes in skin coloration. But what even is “skin color”? Explore the biological origin of skin color (in tissues through bodily pigments) and learn how artists recapitulate this process through paint and synthetic materials. Shen will demonstrate how to dissect complex hues into their primary constituents and how to recreate these hues with acrylic paint. Paint a miniature replica of the painting "Available Portrait Colors" by Annette Lemieux and mix skin color as the newest available portrait color.

The hands-on session will take place in the Materials Lab on the Lower Level. The materials fee is $15. Registration is required and space is limited; registration will open online beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 10am. Materials fee must be paid to confirm registration. Please email am_register@harvard.edu or call 617-495-1440 to join the waitlist. Participants must be a minimum age of 14, and no previous experience is required.