Color
Color is a very complex and important subject in the visual arts field. Colors have extreme psychological effects on our brain. About 80% of all information received by our brain is visual. And anything “visual” in our world is closely related to color. So the next time you look at a work of art ask yourself which colors speak to you. You will be surprised what you find out.
This article explores the key concepts associated with color.
What is “color”
Firstly, color is a human perception. Light is the source of the sensation. Light sources are mixtures of wavelengths of light. Merriam Webster defines color as: “a phenomenon of light (such as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects”.
Harmony
A pleasing arrangement of parts creates harmony. In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. This is particularly true about colors. Some colors are in harmony with each other and create harmony, while others do not. You will feel the harmony when the artwork you look at pleases you.
Color Meaning
There is no real scientific proof about the following descriptions when it comes to the “meaning” of various colors. People have attached the following meanings to colors:
Red – means fire and blood and it is associated with danger and love.
Yellow – sunshine. You will be happy seeing yellow.
Green – means nature and freshness. And mostly representing safety.
Blue – is the sky and the sea and is associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.
White – is light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be of perfection.
Black – means power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.
Favorite colors
People are naturally attracted to certain colors they like more than others. One’s color preferences come to light in the color they prefer for their dresses. If you wear blue shirts all the time, then blue is your favorite color. A person who likes to wear blue all the time is likely to prefer blue in the colors of a painting. Nowadays, art and fashion are related to each other.
In 1995 artists Komar + Melamid conducted a study. They wanted to determine what Americans preferred in paintings. One of the survey questions was “Favorite color?” And the results were that most people in various countries preferred blue. And from the results, the artists determined that blue was the favorite, at least in the year 1995. This is not accidental, however. Blue is associated with stability, trust, faith, and truth. Your favorites, when it comes to colors, change very often. In fashion, for example, it is a yearly event.
People judge products (and a painting is technically a product) almost entirely based on color.
Conclusion
It would appear that for most people, blue is the most favorite color. It is calming and soothing. It is the most dominant color of freedom as can be seen HERE.
