Color psychology is the study of how colors affect perceptions and behaviors. In marketing and branding, color psychology is focused on how colors impact consumers’ impressions of a brand and whether or not they persuade consumers to consider specific brands or make a purchase.
“Color provokes a psychic vibration. Color hides a power still unknown but real, which acts on every part of the human body.” - Wassily Kandinsky ``
Artists have long believed that color can dramatically affect moods, feelings, and emotions. I like to think I paint with color, rather than painting with paint. In the painting above, Enso Raven II, dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity. The red heart represents true love. Yellow triggers strong emotions such as happiness, and the pale greens encourage us to feel things from a new perspective, to make a fresh start.
While a lot about color affecting how we feel is still unknown, the review, “Color psychology: effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans”, by Andrew J Elliot, Markus A Maier (1), clearly shows color can carry important meaning and have a measurable impact on human cognition, and behavior.
Colors guide my brush to paint what I feel. In the painting above, Enso Raven II, I let the colors inspire me as I surrender to paint what I felt - confidence and peace. Allowing color to be a key inspiration leads me to paint how I feel, as well as what I want to share with others. The soft almost hypnotic calming nature of greens, wraps around the raven, while the intense yellow sun shines through. Enso Raven II is about the creative space… love… confidence… and calm.
1 - Elliot AJ, Maier MA. Color psychology: effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans. Annu Rev Psychol. 2014;65:95-120. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115035. Epub 2013 Jun 26. PMID: 23808916.
