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Main | Commissioned Fine Art | Colour Psychology
Communicating with Colour
The easiest ways to transform, uplift, or change our space is by the colours we choose. Studies have shown that colour can calm, reduce stress, introduce vitality and energy, and affect our outlook on life. In my art, I use colour as a way to express the beauty and vibrancy of the painting. It is another way that I can communicate emotion and depth of feeling.
Each colour has a different affect on us and its own unique characteristic. The colours around us- in nature, our home, our work environment… feed us constantly, whether or not we are aware of this. There are two responses to colour. The first is psychological which is the human response to colour. It is based upon our learned reactions, personal experiences, cultural conditioning and early childhood memories. The second is Physiological. It is our Instinctive response to colour- how we react to colour even with our eyes closed.
Following is information about many of the colours we see daily and how we can use them to create the best environment, style, and success in our lives and to create environments that are comfortable to be in as well as aesthetically pleasing. See, through your own eyes, how this work can bring about such inspiration and vitality.
The characteristics of each colour
Red
Courage, passion, deep emotion, warmth. These are some of the words to describe the colour red. It stirs the senses and stimulates strength and energy. Red is associated with joy, happiness and excitement in life. Restaurants use the colour red because it makes food more aromatic and entices people to eat more. If you feel that your life is in a rut, red is the perfect colour to stimulate activity and growth. This colour is great for exercise rooms, but should be used as art, accessories, and signature pieces of furniture in other rooms since it is so stimulating.
I created the Celtic piece of art called "Celtic Dance" with a red background because I love the colour red and in Feng Shui, red symbolizes fame and success. I wanted to do a piece of art that brings life to career and passions that people want to see grow in their lives. The colour and design of "Celtic Dance" is meant to inspire and to motivate individuals to follow their dreams.
"Mid-day Dream", "Mystical Retreat", and the "Trinity Knot" express themselves as paintings to be seen, felt, and to stir the senses.
Orange
Orange stimulates creativity and brings joy, happiness, and pleasure. It is a motivating and social colour and encourages organization. It draws attention quickly and marketing professionals have taught us to associate the colour orange with sales and lower prices. This is a good colour for rooms where people gather to have fun, such as in party rooms.
I have created several paintings which incorporate the colours of orange and yellow, such as in the "Claddagh", "Faery Dance", and "Cat Wishes". Even though blue is usually a calming colour, used with the vibrant warmer colours they create lively, fun, whimsical pieces. You can't help but smile or feel inspired to be creative yourself.
Yellow
When you are surrounded by a soft yellow, you cannot help but feel cheerful, warm, confident, social, and joyful. Yellow, the colour of the Sun, welcomes and promotes communication and expression and is the colour the eye registers the quickest. It stimulates learning, intellect and alertness. It is a great colour for a home office and in a kitchen makes a happy cook. Yellow homes sell the best, but planting yellow flowers in front will be beneficial as well. Yellow expands space and is wonderful for children's rooms since this colour promotes positive feelings and contributes to the development of thought process.
The Mexican Hat Flower painting named "Serenity" blends the warmth and welcoming nature of the yellows and peacefulness of the greens to signify strength, confidence and balance. This particular piece finds its home in a kitchen to create a happy, uplifting and cheerful environment.
Green
Green is the colour of nature. It is refreshing, nurturing, calming and balancing. We feel safe and secure around green. It is the colour associated with growth and new beginnings and conveys trust, hope, and balance. It sooths and helps make people feel loved. Green is good for any room of the house and is used in Hotels to make people feel at home. Deep green is a High Class colour (along with burgundy) and brings a sense of strength and stability. The deeper greens are best used as accents, accessories, and in art.
The paintings "Peaceful Knowing" and "Ancient Freedom" represent the feeling you have when you go for a walk in the woods, parks, and rolling hills. They are calming and refreshing, helping you reduce tension and stress. You can't help but feel a little clearer and focused for what is ahead for the day after peering into these peaceful, pure nature scenes.
Blue
This is the colour of Wisdom, Peace, trust and deep inner peace. Blue is calming and restful leaving a person feeling relaxed and refreshed. Whereas red warms and stimulates, blue feels cold and is a soothing colour. People eat less on blue plates since blue reduces appetite. Dark blue gives a feeling of respect and signifies a responsible person- which is why you will see logos and business clothes using dark blue. Wear royal blue to win public debate, negotiate contracts, interview for a job, participate in a panel discussion, appear on TV, etc. This is a colour of devotion- found in churches, stained glass, etc. and is good for meditation rooms.
The painting called "Reflections" is soothing and calming, helping you feel peaceful, as if you were relaxing by water. Like nature, this scene helps people wind down and focus their attention inward as they are drawn down the river channel. When compared to the vibrant red paintings, this is a good example of how our mood and senses change as we focus on quieting colour such as this.
Purple/Violet
Purple/Violet represents wisdom, spirituality, service, and positive motives. This is the colour that stimulates intuition, dreams, inspiration and creativity. It is a royal colour associated with prosperity and wealth. Mystery, Drama and Artistry unfold when this colour is used as inspiration in music and the arts. This is a very powerful colour and should only be used as accents, art or as a very light hue.
I love painting pansies because of their rich, vibrant color and stately appearance. I have always been fascinated with the color of the inner-most part of flowers. "Your Inner Beauty" was created to see the perfect blend of colors chosen by nature's palette. The deep purples and reds evoke mystery and provide the frame to showcase the rich oranges and yellows. The blends of colours express creativity, inspiration, and strength of character.
The artworks found in the Gallery named "Beauty Sleeps", "Peaceful Love", and "Life's Mystical Journey" are other examples that portray the wisdom, inspiration, and soul qualities that this royal colour represents.
Pink
Love, tenderness, and compassion describe the beauty of this colour. This is the colour of the highest form of love and nurturing. It is a colour that attracts and represents faithfulness, trust, affection and sweetness. It is great for Master bedrooms. Pink is also used in sporting visitor locker rooms since it weakens physical strength and it inhibits specific hormones that contribute to aggressive behavior. It is also known to decrease anger and violence within 10 minutes.
White
White is the colour of purity, innocence and softness. It is a clean colour but is sterile if used too much. This is a colour that enhances all the colours and allows you to introduce colour through art, accessories, flooring, etc.
Black
Power, strength and authority describe this colour. Used in small amounts, it can signify dignity and sophistication but is best when used with another colour. Black is a mysterious, independent colour but can be intimidating and discourages openness and friendliness. This colour encourages the worst in people with criminal tendencies and can bring out a feeling of depression in 45 seconds. (Faber Birren). Use very sparingly in a room. If too much is used it can be overwhelming and depressing and this colour encourages clutter to accumulate.
Brown
Brown is the colour of stability, earth, security, and informality. Use sparingly- it is heavy and conveys gloominess and dullness and can be repulsive to the opposite sex. Brown is best used in its natural state as wood floors and furniture.
Gray
Gray suggests intelligence and wisdom, but can be passive, depressive and lifeless. It promotes indecisiveness and procrastination. This hue leaves people feeling chilled, much like the colour of cement, so it is best to be used sparingly in its lightest shades coordinated with colours such as red, orange, and yellow tones.
Monotone/Beige/tan:
Monochromatic = same colour in a variety of shades. Some people feel more comfortable using safe colours such as beige and tan, but it actually produces feelings of sadness and unrelieved monotony. Many people think they are playing it safe, but they are actually creating an atmosphere where it is hard for them to get moving in their life.
Beiges and tans are a perfect backdrop for accents in art, accessories, colourful furniture etc. not as a palette to be used alone.
Playing with Colour
Colour creates the mood and the feeling of any environment. Art is an easy way to uplift and create life, beauty, elegance and sophistication in your surroundings. If you wish to create a relaxing, soothing, and calming environment, choose colours such as blue and green. If you wish to bring more joy, excitement and passion into your life- reds, burgundy, yellows and pink are good colour choices. Experiment with colour and see how you feel. Trust the colours you are drawn too. Using accents and signature pieces of colour is an easy and safe way to create positive results in your life.
"The Purest & most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most."
~ John Ruskin, 1852
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The simple act of adding the right colour to your environment can transform how you feel, live, and express yourself in the world. |
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