If he initially came to prominence in the art world for his paintings of aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife at the height their international celebrity, Robert Brackman consciously avoided what could have been a lucrative gig doing commissioned portraiture of Rich Folks. Instead, Brackman settled into a lifelong and committed creative investigation of the aesthetic concept of the "value of color." Brackman's career spanned six decades (1916-1978) and focused on figural works, landscapes and portraits, and a new show, "Robert Brackman: Thinking in Color," opens Friday at the Mystic Museum of Art. (A painting of his wife Francis is shown here). The exhibit also includes 18 more of his iconic pieces, including the pendant portraits of the Lindberghs, which are on loan from the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College. Brackman, a native of the Ukraine who lived for years in New York, eventually settled in Noank. He taught generations of students in his home studio, at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art, and at the Madison Art School. He committed greatly to the Mystic Museum of Art and even served as its president. "Thinking in Color" runs through Sept. 23. At 5:30 p.m. July 13, author Lois H. Constantine, a former student of the artist, will discuss and sign copies of her new book, "Robert Brackman Remembered." The Mystic Museum of Art, at 9 Water St. in Mystic, is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is free. For more information, call (860) 536-7601 or visit mysticmuseumofart.org.