The meaning of colors: How to use colors in your art!

Everywhere you go, you see colors: white clouds in the sky, green vegetation inching up gray stone structures and red brick buildings, grounding brown soil beneath your feet. You don’t just see these colors…you feel them.

Each color has a different meaning and can evoke different emotions in people. Color psychology is a branch of color theory that studies how you can use each color to create emotion, mood, and feeling in art. 

Where do color meanings come from?

Color meanings come from a variety of places. Some are primal, like the color green’s association with growth and fresh vegetation. Others developed later from modern environments people found themselves contending with, like the color green’s association with poison and death for 18th-century Europeans (due to the era’s green dye containing arsenic). And sometimes color meanings can change over time, like how green’s association changed from the color of poison to the color of freshness and vitality (an association you’ll see today in many eco-conscious and plant-inspired brands).
Beyond that, other color meanings appear to have developed purely culturally, like how the color orange is associated with happiness and prosperity in Japan and China. Some color meanings that initially seem purely cultural can be traced to historical innovations or associations. One example of this is South Africa’s association of the color red with mourning. It’s associated with bloodshed and sacrifice and thus, mourning for those who lost and sacrificed their lives. In contrast, many other cultures designate white or black as mourning colors.

The meanings of colors:

• Red: Red is associated with passion, love, anger, and danger. It is a warm color that can be used to create a sense of excitement or urgency. Symbolizes energy, passion, and intensity. It can create a sense of urgency and draw attention. Use red as a focal point or to represent strong emotions.
• Orange: Orange is associated with energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. It is a warm color that can be used to create a sense of warmth or excitement. Represents enthusiasm, creativity, and vitality. It can add energy and excitement to your artwork. Orange is frequently used to draw attention and create a lively atmosphere.
• Yellow: Yellow is associated with happiness, optimism, and creativity. It is a warm color that can be used to create a sense of brightness or cheerfulness. Signifies happiness, optimism, and warmth. It can add vibrancy and brightness to your artwork. Yellow is commonly associated with joy and can be used to evoke positive emotions.
• Green: Green is associated with nature, growth, and fertility. It is a cool color that can be used to create a sense of calmness or peace. Symbolizes growth, harmony, and nature. It can create a sense of balance and freshness. Green is often used to represent natural landscapes or to convey a sense of tranquility. 
• Blue: Blue is associated with peace, calmness, and trust. It is a cool color that can be used to create a sense of relaxation or serenity. Represents calmness, tranquility, and stability. It can evoke a sense of depth and space. Blue is often used to convey a serene or peaceful atmosphere. 
• Purple: Purple is associated with royalty, luxury, and mystery. It is a cool color that can be used to create a sense of elegance or sophistication. Signifies royalty, spirituality, and mystery. It can evoke a sense of luxury and elegance. Purple is often used to create a sense of depth or to convey a mystical or dreamy atmosphere. 
• Pink: Pink is associated with love, romance, and femininity. It is a warm color that can be used to create a sense of softness or tenderness. Symbolizes love, femininity, and tenderness. It can create a soft and gentle ambiance. Pink is commonly used in artwork related to romance or to evoke a delicate and nurturing mood. 
• Brown: Brown is associated with the earth, nature, and stability. It is a neutral color that can be used to create a sense of warmth or coziness. Brown is a natural color, associated with the earth and as a result, gives a sense of stability and support. Given its link to the earth and nature, brown brings to mind farming and agriculture, and other outdoorsy activities. It feels very earthy and natural.
• Black: Black is associated with power, sophistication, and mystery. It is a neutral color that can be used to create a sense of drama or elegance. Represents power, sophistication, and mystery. It can add drama and contrast to your artwork. Black is often used to create a bold statement or to convey a sense of elegance and depth. 
• Gray: Gray is more than just light black. It’s a middle point between black and white. Represents neutrality, stability, and practicality. It can create a balanced and calming effect. Gray is often used as a backdrop to highlight other colors or to convey a sense of sophistication.
• White: White is associated with purity, cleanliness, and innocence. It is a neutral color that can be used to create a sense of brightness or spaciousness. Signifies purity, simplicity, and innocence. It can evoke a clean and minimalistic atmosphere. White is commonly used to create a sense of space or to convey a feeling of purity and clarity. 

When using colors in your art, consider the following tips:

• Color harmony: Choose colors that work well together and create a balanced composition. Experiment with complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel) or analogous colors (next to each other) to create harmonious combinations.
• Color symbolism: Understand the meanings associated with different colors and use them intentionally to convey specific messages or emotions in your artwork.
• Color temperature: Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) can create a sense of energy and vibrancy, while cool colors (blue, green, purple) can evoke a sense of calmness and serenity. Consider the desired mood or atmosphere and choose colors accordingly.
• Color contrast: Use contrasting colors to create visual interest and make certain elements stand out. Contrast can be achieved through differences in hue, value (lightness/darkness), or saturation (intensity).
• Color psychology: Colors can evoke emotional responses in viewers. Consider how different colors might influence the overall perception and interpretation of your artwork.

Remember, the interpretation of colors can vary across cultures and individuals, so it's essential to consider the context and audience when using colors in your art. Experiment, explore, and trust your creative instincts to find the color combinations that best express your artistic vision.