Color Symbolism in Life and Art
By Kathleen Karlsen, MA
Last Modified 8-10-2008

Introduction to Color Symbolism
The Color Symbolism of the Spectrum
Color Symbolism and Secondary Colors
Color Symbolism and Shades and Tints

Introduction to Color Symbolism

Color symbolism affects nearly every area of life: clothing, interior design, graphic design, computer interface design, fine art, consumer product development and packaging, food choices and corporate identity.

Color symbolism is closely related to cultural associations with various colors. The information below is based on Western color associations unless otherwise noted. The study of color psychology and color symbolism reveals an in-depth perspective on both society and individuals.

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Color Therapy and Healing Art
Color therapy in particular has had a long history in many societies and is closely intertwined with cultural associations with various colors. Some modern color therapists take a purely biological approach to color therapy and healing art.

Color can be introduced to the body through colored light therapy directed at the organs or through light shone on energy meridians in much the same manner as needles are used in acupuncture. Other practitioners use color to adjust the energy field, or aura, around the body.

Warm and Cool Colors in Healing Art
The colors used in healing art can also have therapeutic value. Warm colors (red, yellow and orange) can be used to alleviate depression and to stimulate metabolism. Cool colors (green, blue and purple) can help to offset fevers, relieve exhaustion and encourage relaxation.

Thus, a painting of a bright meadow filled with marigolds or buttercups would be appropriate healing art for someone with a "cold" and a blue ocean scene or would be appropriate healing art for someone in need of rest and recuperation.

The Color Symbolism and the Spectrum

The basic colors of the spectrum are the most fundamental colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. These colors combine with each other and with white and black to create all of the other colors that we can see. The color symbolism of the basic light spectrum are summarized below.

Red Color Symbolism

The color symbolism of red includes pleasure, desire, vitality, will to win, love of sports and the survival instinct. The “warm” colors red, orange and yellow are considered to be stimulating colors.

Orange Color Symbolism

The color symbolism of orange is creativity, confidence, intuition, friendliness and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Yellow Color Symbolism

The color symbolism of yellow is enthusiasm, cheerfulness, sense of humor, fun, optimism and intellectuality.

Green Color Symbolism

The color symbolism of green is perseverance, patience, growth and healing. Green is also related to work, wealth, and career. In the United States, our money is green. Green is a highly adaptable color that lends itself in interior design to areas for children, especially places where learning takes place.

Blue Color Symbolism

The color symbolism of blue is related to freedom, strength and new beginnings. Blue skies mean optimism and better opportunities. Blue is cooling and relaxing. Blue symbolizes water, the source of life. Agricultural people have traditionally worshipped water in the form of rivers, clouds, mist and rain. See complete article on The Symbolism of the Color Blue.

Indigo Color Symbolism

The color symbolism of indigo is wisdom, self-mastery and spiritual attainment. Indigo has an inward rather than an outward orientation. Indigo connects the conscious and unconscious minds. Indigo should not be used for a person who is depressed, as it can also deepen negative moods.

Violet Color Symbolism

The color symbolism of violet is the psychological quality of transformation, transmutation and the balance of power and love. Additional meanings include charisma, charm, magical abilities and tolerance.

There is also an infinite array of colors that are variations on the basic colors of the spectrum. Yellow, blue and red are primary colors and are mixed to create secondary colors: green, orange and purple. From there, tertiary colors are created that are combinations of the secondary colors: yellow-green, orange-yellow, orange-red, etc. Each of these colors have slightly different meanings. These secondary and tertiary colors are usually the colors that appeal to adults, as they tend to be more sophisticated colors.

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Color Symbolism of Shades and Tints

Additional colors can be also created by adding white to make a tint or black to make a shade. These colors also have their own generally accepted meanings in color symbolism.

For example, pink is related to warmth and love, gentleness, beauty, and an outward orientation. White is symbolic of purity, inner illumination and spirituality. White softens the sometimes harsh impact of red.

Pink is a more sophisticated color than red, which often makes it more appealing to most adults than pure red. Pink is also gentler and more appropriate for healing. Pink can be used to relieve depression. As the color of warmth and love, pink is a comforting color associated with gentleness and beauty while encouraging motion and an outward orientation.

Designers like to give variations of these colors attractive names of their own rather than calling them "orange-red" and so forth. Thus, colors like fuchsia, aqua and turquoise are born. For consumer appeal, complex colors are often given longer names: light sea green, deep royal blue and rich chocolate brown.

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©2007 Living Arts Enterprises LLC

See other articles related to symbolism:
Tree Symbolism and the Mystery of Forests
Flower Symbolism Guide
Garden Flower Symbolism and Flower Facts

RESOURCES:

Books
Chiazzari, Suzy. The Complete Book of Color. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1998.

Sloane, Patricia. The Visual Nature of Color. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, 1989.

Websites
http://www.colorassociation.com
http://www.colormarketing.org
http://www.colorpuncture.com
http://www.colourenergy.com

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