Ezine

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Life and color

Everybody’s life could do with a little or lot of color. Colors add spice to life-- I mean literally and figuratively. Today, I want to explore what color means to each one of us, besides, the obvious one that it adds a little spice to life.

Most women’s and feature magazines carry articles on the significance of color and the content often is centered on, statements like, blue stands for moods and red for energy.
As a child I was obsessed with the color red. Whenever I had a red colored dress I used to wear it all the time so much so, that people would begin to notice it and even comment on it. The little rebel in me refused to conform to what people wanted me to do and I continued wearing red all the time.
However this is not what this post is about. I want to explore whether one’s liking for a particular color has something to do with inherent tendencies? Is there a deeper psychological significance to the use of color. I had once read a book( I have forgotten the name) which had a set of cards in 7 colors with the book. You were asked to pick the cards and the order in which you picked the cards revealed certain aspects of your personality.
I do not know how accurate  the analysis was, because, when I first  looked at the cards, I didn’t like any card in particular, as all the cards had a slightly dull shade of that particular color. It  comprised of a dull red, dull blue, green was bright and so on. It honestly was hard to pick one or actually decide whether the book gave an accurate explanation. The whole exercise was however quite thrilling, similar to getting one’s palm read or one’s handwriting analysed.
Do colors have a meaning beyond the obvious? I wish many people comment on this post so that I could get a wide spectrum of views to derive a conclusion. Please feel free to comment on what color means to you and why you choose a particular color? Do you feel colors have a deeper psychological significance?

8 comments:

  1. color is an interesting topic. Colors for me definitely make me feel certain ways but it depends on if we are talking about clotheing or nature colors. I love red, black and navy clothing but dont like pink, yellow or orange clothing. I would never have a red or black room. In my home I prefer soft but bright colors. I find blue calming and would have every room in my home in a shade of blue if my husband liked it as much as me. Brown and green tones would be my next favorit.
    In nature I love brilliant colors and love oranges, reds, pinks and yellows. I love to go outside just to observe the brilliant colors in nature.

    I think instead of color cards you may find a more emotional response to color if you used different colored objects and scenery pictures to see what emotion is evoked when the person looked at it.
    I will be interested to see what others think.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well Julia, the cards were chosen by the writer of that book who was some kind of a psychotherapist. It is interesting to note what color means to you.
    Even I have a great affinity to blue, which could be in my room, car, or clothes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the play between colors. I think I lean towards dark rich colors. When I am doing my post production work on my photographs, I tend to favor the images which I can really may pop by increasing the black.

    More than color though, I love the aestetic of design. I like there to be negative space. I am troubled when there isn't. It isn't a big deal, but I wish the post had a blank line between the paragraphs.

    I believe that design, if done correctly, is as important as the colors. The golden ratio is a great example.

    Great topic.

    Brian Meeks
    http://extremelyaverageone.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for responding Brian! your comment provides an interesting perspective to the article. I completely understand that from the aesthetic perspective of the photographer colors would take on a whole new dimension. I don't completely understand what you mean by negative space, would love it if you explained it.
    Cheers!
    Laya

    ReplyDelete
  5. Colors create aura. They are like energies corresponding to yours...I mean when one is sad, he/she might go for dull colors..but if you have occasions which stimulates your happiness such as marriage and festivities, one tends to like bright and lively colors...Also one's personality has a lot in the favourite color's selection...It's all about the inner self in harmony with outer self, Color!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is indeed an interesting explanation Nidhi. I however have one question you say when one is sad, one goes for dull colours, shouldn't it be the other way round. I think some people surround themselves with colour/music/laughter when they are sad. They do anything just to drive away the pain, even shop like crazy--what do you think?
    Cheers!
    Laya

    ReplyDelete
  7. One might go for dull colors matching to his/her feelings but if one is determined to get away from agony, he/she would try to fill life with vibrancy. So it all depends on how you treat your life and related problems....and color it the way you want...very objective!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I guess you agree with me, often we do the opposite to hide things. To drive away loneliness we make friends, to drive away pain we use colour or listen to music or shop like crazy.

    ReplyDelete