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The Psychology of Color

As I was researching for this blog post, I discovered that information on the psychology of color is everywhere. There are blogs, articles, and books stating yellow is bright and cheerful like the sunshine, red is bold, black is classic like the little black dress but could be somewhat mysterious, and green is the color of money. You can also read that blue is a calm and restful color, orange is the most edible color with pumpkins and carrots, and brown is the color of nature representing stability.

I was very frustrated as to what to write about that would be original. I decided to take a break and do my grocery shopping. As I was in my car driving over the causeway to leave this wonderful little island that I live on, I was greated by a wonderful site that flooded my vision with color. On this sunny day the water in Tarpon Bay was a clear turquoise blue/green. The sky was a light blue with just a smattering of fluffy white clouds. The bridge in front of me was a steel gray and black that showed its permanence. The sails of the sailboats were dotted all along the water, fluttering in the soft breeze.

I walked into the grocery store to find a myriad of colors in the produce department – red peppers and tomatoes, yellow bananas, a large variety of greens in the broccoli, celery and lettuce section. The apples were greens and reds. White onions, brown potatoes and even purple eggplant.

Later that day we went to the beach for a few hours of relaxation. It was a beautiful day and there were many people on the beach with the same idea. As it was quite sunny, the umbrellas were up in full force. There were dots of red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple for as far as you could see. What a lovely sight.

At that point I didn’t really care about the psychology of each individual color. I knew that I loved being surrounded by all the colors. What a wonderful cheerful feeling it was. I am so thankful that my world is full of color. Now to complete the picture I need to see a rainbow after a spring storm and find the pot of gold at the end. Wouldn’t that be nice!

2 Comments

  1. You are absolutely correct. Often colors are chosen just because you have an immediate positive and almost miraculous reaction to them. And that is the point– there is always emotion attached to color and how wonderful that you recognize that!!

    Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman

    Director Eiseman Center for Color information and Training and
    Pantone Color Institute

    blog: Eisemancolorblog.com

  2. Vicky says:

    Great post and so true. Today I am surrounded by the blue sea, blue sky and the green grass along with the very pale green of new shoots on the bushes and trees and the bright yellow of daffodils bobbing in the breeze.
    Regards
    Vicky
    http://www.c-vas.eu

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