RED
I had an art opening a few years ago, and this guy came up to me after he looked at my work (probably for only a second), and asked me “What are you so angry about?” Well, I just stood there for a second, and replied, “I am not angry”
What I really wanted to say is, “what are YOU so angry about?”, but being polite and non confrontational, I held my tongue. (I wouldnt today)
It turns out that he had read some book on the phychology of color, and what each color represents. Apparently this book informed him that red is an angry color, and wanting to show me how proud of himself he was for being able to talk about color, he spoke without really seeing what was there.
I bring this up, because I still feel drawn to red, and use it a lot. I seem to be affected by his words, or I wouldn’t be writing about it.
I don’t feel “angry”, but maybe I am. I am also many other things, and have many emotions, feelings and thoughts.
My red is about passion and fire. Life and energy, warming my heart. I LOVE IT.
Though, if you really look at my paintings, you will see that there is much more than red.
I have been in and out of a lot of emotion lately, I am feeling so much. My work tells me a lot, and sometimes is intense, but I like intensity. I like it in art, and in music. And as much as I love the intensity, I love subtlety.
I love richness and depth.
A theme I have, is traveling through the layers. Layers of sound, color and texture, as well as thoughts, emotion, and feelings.
What does my spirit want?
Right now I am swimming in an ocean. It is hot and cold, and VERY deep, but I am in healing waters.
I still see red, and my spirit loves this. It’s my heart.
My healing heart.
December 5th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Paint the town red, baby! The color of your heart’s vitamins. : )
December 5th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Hi Lois!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy to see you :)
This chick is all about some red, and paints the universe.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:51 am
If the guy had any extra training in understanding the relationship between color and psychology he would have learned that though red is the “traditional “color used to illustrate anger ( usually accompanied by black) there are many other uses for Red. It is personal to the individual artist using it. Like ARline many choose red to illustrate love, pasion, healhty blood flow, life energy, passion. Only through discussion with the artist/creator can we fully understand a meaning. The viewer or witness will have their own emptional response which may or may not jive with the creator’s. Your inclination to wonder what he was mad about is a smart observation. It’s how we perceive things that brings out our own emotional state. Even after 13 years of being a practicing art therapist counselor, I continue to learn from others and work hard to avoid pinning someone into a category just because of the colors chosen to represent an art image, the clothing one wears or the thougths expressed. Everything in life is a critique and there are always individual differences.
December 6th, 2006 at 12:02 pm
Hi Arline!!!!!!!!!!
NICE. :-D