Reed Kay, Visiting Artist Lecture 1954

Reed Kay gives a lecture talking about the formal and technical qualities of color. Kay gives live demonstrations where he grinds color and tells the participants how to observe the difference of behavior between different colors. Kay teaches them how to work with commercially prepared casein color, and explains to them the differences between synthetic resins and other water techniques, egg temperas, and gouaches. Kay explains these demonstrations in meticulous detail and outlines a course plan for the participants that will teach them how to concern themselves with the property of materials. Kay states that learning this will be of utmost importance, for painting is a fairly fragile affair and is particularly susceptible to changes over time. Kay also states that the fact that someone can use oil against another material does not mean that they have to close their eyes to detail. They can still search for different ways of expression. Kay ends his lecture and demonstration by telling participants that it is possible to express anything in one medium that you can express in another, one just has to search for different terms.