So, what is color psychology?
HI there! It is winter holiday here in Norway, and I am taking some days off to relax. Colors are amazing (and can help me to relax). They bring so much joy to our lives.
Different colors conjure up different emotions and can be therapeutic. As an artist, it is important to have some understanding of what different colors could mean so that you apply them appropriately in your artworks. So, what is color psychology?
Color psychology is the study of colors in relation to human behavior. Human emotions and perceptions are as varied as their cultural backgrounds. However, some color meanings are more generic.
The influence of color can never be underestimated in the day-to-day living. That is why it is prudent to be mindful of your color choices for your living area or even your office, as they will not only affect your mood but also the mood of others as well. The broad categorization of colors as warm or cool can be used to describe the generally accepted impact of the colors.
Effects of warm colors on our psychology
Warm colors generally bring some exciting buzz into the brain function. For example, the color orange is indicative of warmth, happiness, enthusiasm, stimulation, energy, and excitement. The other interesting thing to note about color orange is that it is associated with food. A mere glance could tune your brain to thoughts of food and you could get hungry. Yellow has similar effects. It a cheery color that brings about optimism and laugher. However, it is not all sunny for the yellow color. It could symbolize anger and frustration. How ironic!
The color red (hello Valentine’s Day) as you have guessed is a symbol of love, romance, and life (blood). Also, it signifies excitement and intensity. The color that is so sweet that it could be “eaten” is pink. Images of cuddled babies spring up when you think of pink. Probably the reason for the name “baby pink” for a hue of pink.
Effects of cool colors on our psychology
Cool colors such as blue and green bring about a sense of calmness. These are perfect colors to utilize when you want to bring a spark to your creativity. Cools colors “rest” the brain and can be utilized on bedroom walls. What color to have in your office? Shades of purple are a good idea. Purple is a blend of blue and red and will bring about serenity and stimulation, a perfect combination for an awesome office environment. Purple is also a sign of royalty, mystery, wisdom, prosperity or wealth and sophistication. Purple also has some spiritual connotation to it.
Effects of “neutral” colors
Neutral colors such as white, black and grey also have different meanings attached to them. Black, for example, is a symbol of power, authority, strength, and intelligence. On the same breath, it is associated with evil and mourning. Grey is a combination of white and black and as expected is a sign of neutrality and practicability. Color white makes our brains think of purity, cleanliness, and innocence. In some societies, it is associated with mourning.
I hope you found it useful and like to try it out. Did you know that you get a printable digital artwork, and a calendar and more if you sign up for the VIP and If you like this post, feel free to share with your family and friends on Facebook.