Art Librarian to Talk on ‘Picturing Paintings: Art Books and Perfect Color’ April 17 at Cal Poly

Visual resources and art research librarian Carl Schmitz will give a presentation titled “Picturing Paintings: Art Books and Perfect Color” from 11:10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 17, at Cal Poly in the Baker Center (Building 180), Room 114.

Schmitz’s presentation will combine art historical perspectives with practical experience, addressing the challenges of reproducing artwork for publication and detailing state-of -the-art, color-controlled digital imaging technology. He will discuss original photography, color profiling, proofing, and the complete publication process — from RGB captures and CMYK match proof to the advanced possibilities of ink printing.

Schmitz is the visual resources and art research librarian for the Richard Diebenkorn Foundation. For almost a decade, he has researched and photographed the work of American painter Richard Diebenkorn (1922-93) for a forthcoming comprehensive, annotated compilation catalogue of the artist’s work.

Schmitz has traveled extensively to document Diebenkorn’s work in both private and public collections. The four-volume catalogue will feature more than 4,000 reproductions of artwork, including paintings, works on paper, mixed-media projects, and sketchbooks. The catalogue is a joint project of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Richard Diebenkorn Foundation.

Schmitz’s presentation is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by Cal Poly’s Art & Design and Graphic Communication departments, with support from the Diebenkorn Foundation and the College of Liberal Arts' Lottery Speakers Fund.