Elements of Creativity

There are important components to any work of art that include form, texture, line, light, color, and shape. Unless you are working in black or white, color and color combinations are a very important part of the creative process. Sometimes color alone can be the most important element of a painting.

Observations of nature is one of the best ways to see how colors work with and interact with one another. I would suggest starting a color journal of colors and color combinations you see in nature, and also colors of the seasons. This will give you an almost infinite inspiration and will also train you to begin seeing and capturing colors that you are moved by.

Colors evoke powerful emotional responses. Warm colors like reds and oranges tend to feel energetic and passionate, while cool colors like blues and greens often appear calming and serene. Artists throughout history have leveraged these emotional qualities - think of the peaceful blue periods of Picasso or the passionate reds in Rothko's work. When selecting colors for your creative projects, consider not just what looks pleasing, but what emotions you want to evoke through your work.

Color And Personality

I just read an article that stated that research showed that people who prefer primary colors (red, yellow, blue) tended to be more impulsive and extroverted, and people who choose more neutral or muted colors tended to be more reserved and introspective. Does this ring true in your observations?

Bright, pure colors are rare in nature. Think about the plumage of a male bird, or the bright fluorescent colors of fish in the oceans. Can you imagine a world where everything had that level of brightness or intensity of color!? Would it be a world you would embrace or a world that you might find overstimulating?

A New Favorite Color Palette

I just happened upon a very lovely color combo that I want to share with you. Please let me know if you also find it as lovely as I do.