The world we see is filled with color. Color is important in art and in various cultures around the world. People of the world see colour differently. This is because tradition, religion, and symbolism affects how people feel about color. The following text is written to be comprehended by most students.
How We See Color | Color Theory | Color in World Culture
Color in Symbolism | Art Lessons in Color
How do we see color?
The color we see comes from our sun and from light bulbs. Our sun gives off light that lights up our world during the day and indirectly lights us at night as a reflection off the moon. The moon may seem to be shining on us like a flashlight but really we are only seeing sunlight bouncing off the moon. Light from the sun includes all colors of the spectrum (See picture below) and when every color is present, the light appears white. The absence of all color appears as the color black to the eye. As we all know, when there is no light it is dark.
We see color several ways. We see color from lights and colors that are reflected back to our eye from two-dimensional and three-dimensional surfaces. The interesting thing about surfaces is that they soak up colors differently. The surfaces of apples suck in all light except for the color red. This color is reflected out and is seen by our eyes. Have you noticed that colors are duller at sunset? This is because much less light from the sun is there and being reflected by surfaces.
Once the colored light reaches the eye, the eye sends a signal to our brains through our nerves and our wonderful brains make sense out of the color. Our eyes are also wonderful machines. There is a hole in the front of them called a pupil. The pupil closes or opens depending on how much light there is. In bright light, the pupil closes to keep it from getting too bright and hurting our eyes. When the light goes inside our eyes it goes through a lense just like the lenses on glasses you or your friends wear. The light goes through this lense and hits the back of the eye called the retina. The retina has lots of sensors called rods and cones. The cones then send a signal to the brain about what it sees.
Eye cones are special machines too. They are made to see three different colors: red, green, and blue. When the color blue goes into the eye, the blue cone tells the brain, "Hey, that color is blue." Because we have only three different colors of cones, we aren't able to see all colors. Ultraviolet light is a color that isn't able to be seen, for example. Some animals and insects have more cones and can see colors that we can't see. People who are color blind have damaged or missing cones.
Colour from lights
As I said earlier, we see colors two ways- from lights or from reflections off objects. When you have a light bulb that is red, it makes everything look red. Photographers who make prints have to make them in "dark-rooms." Dark-rooms had red lights in them called infra-red lights. Red will not ruin photo paper or film because it is made not to be sensitive to the color red. Another way we see colors from lights is from televisions, and overhead projectors. Televisions actually only shine three different colors- red, green, and blue- just like the cones of our eyes. When more red lights are lit, the colors on the TV or overhead appear reddish. When more green lights are lit, colors appear greenish. Depending on how many other colors are lit, the green light can be seen as yellow.
Color from surfaces
Color is very important to artists who create things in color. As I said earlier, the colors we see from surfaces are actually colors that are reflected off an object. Each surface and object soaks up different colors. This includes paint and ink. Paint and ink soak up different colors too. Red paint soaks up all colors except for red. The color red then bounces off the paint and goes to our eyes. Ink that is printed on paper also soaks up different colors. People who think they know how things soak up colors will use big words like atomic vibrations and rotations, molecular orbitals, ligand-field effects, and charge transfer.
Color Theory
Most of us study color by looking at color wheels. Color wheels have all the colors go around in a circle. The simplest color wheel shows three colors: red, yellow and blue. We call these primary colors because depending on how much of each color is mixed, we can mix all colors with them. Most elementary students who play with mixing colors usually end up with the color brown. This is because when you mix these three colors together, you get the color brown. They end up with brown because they don't clean their paint brush well or they mix the colors too much.
When you mix two primary colors, you get secondary colors. When you mix red and blue, you get the color purple (violet). When you mix red and yellow you get orange. When you mix blue and yellow you get green. Purple, orange, and green are secondary colors. When you add one color to secondary colors you get tertiary colors. Yellow-orange and blue-green are tertiary colors. Colors on the opposite side of the color wheel are called complimentary color. The complimentary of green is red. The complimentary color of blue is orange. You can see them in the color wheel below. They call them complimentary colours because they compliment each other. Complimentary colors look good together.
Tint, Shades, Value, Saturation, Tone, and Intensity
Tint is the lightness of a color. You can make color a lighter tint by adding the color white or if you are painting in watercolor, use more water. If you add the color black to a color, you make it a darker shade. So when you lighten a color change its tint. When you darken a color you change its shade. The lightness or darkness of a color is called a value. Intensity is the brightness or saturation of a color. A color is more intense when it is a pure color and not mixed with white or black. When you mix a color on the opposite side of the color wheel to your color you change its tone. Jay Johansen is an artist who uses colors with more intensity.
Color in World Culture
Color means many different things to different people and cultures. We all have our own favorite colors. People like different colors like they like different foods. Color also represents feelings, people, countries, cultures, and color symbolism. In the western world, the color red is seen frequently of symbolizing anger or aggression. Some car insurance companies charge more for red cars because some of the owners of red cars are more aggressive or take more risks.
Symbolism of Color: Using Color for Meaning
Like emotions, colors also symbolize different things. Color symbolism can have a powerful effect on human emotion. The color black represents evil or sadness. This is why the color black is used more in funerals. Black is also used when celebrating birthdays of people reaching middle age. The reason for this is that everyone is supposed to be sad that the person is getting old. When black is used this way, it also becomes funny. We call this irony, but that topic is for another time and another website. The color white symbolizes purity and life. This is why you see the color white in weddings and usually see angels dressed in white gowns. Color symbolizes different things in different parts of the world. For example, in Asia and the orient, the color white is considered a sad color. Colour symbolism is also important to companies around the world. When we think of certain colors and shapes we think of certain companies. McDonalds had yellow arches, Starbucks has a green and white symbol. A fun website that presents interactive animations and films on color communication and color symbolism is found at Color in Motion.
Here are other color symbols from around the world:
Western world:
Traffic lights: Red means stop, yellow means caution, and green means go. Yellow signs also warn drivers of upcoming curves, pedestrian crossings, and a animal crossings.
Patriotism: Most, if not all countries have a flag. The colors of each flag are usually seen as patriotic. Red, white, and blue symbolizes patriotism in the U.S.A.
Holidays: Red and green are favorite Christmas colours. Colors of Autumn such as orange, brown, yellow and red are associated with Thanksgiving with black and orange associated with Halloween. Pastel colors are used for Easter.
Emotions: Blue is seen as conservative. Red is power and aggression. Brighter color such as yellow and orange represent warmth not only with emotions but also with temperature. Cool colors are blue, green, black or any color with a dark shade.
Ecology: Obviously green is the major color symbolizing ecology. The new phrase for people or companies who find ways to cut back on electricity, fuel, or things that damage the environment is "going green."
Eastern World:
Marriage: White and pink are favorite just as in the western world.
Green: Eternity, family, harmony, health, peace, posterity
Happiness: Red
Helpful: Gray
Wealth: Blue, gold and purple
White: Children, helpful people, marriage,
mourning, peace, purity, travel
Gold: Strength, wealth
Evil or sadness- Just like in the western world- black.
Religion:
Colors are also used in religious ceremonies or represent aspects of religion. Native American include colors in religious ceremonies. The Navajo Nation considers four colors to be important: Turquoise, white, yellow, and black. These colors represent four sacred mountains. The Apache Nation also considers four colors to be important: Green, white, yellow and black. These are sacred colors of the white mountain and are also used in government. The Iowa Nation also considers four colors to be sacred: Black, yellow, red and white. They represent direction, their flag, and what they consider to be four races of man.
Use in Therapy:
Colors are sometimes used in therapy. Colors have a huge effect on people who have brain disorders or who are emotionally troubled. The color blue has a calming effect on many people and lowers respiration and blood pressure. Red has the opposite effect. Some therapists use green to sooth and relax emotionally disturbed people who suffer from anxiety or depression. Some claim that the color violet is good for migraines but I doubt that claim because it would be used more extensively in the medical field. Yellow help energize people and relieves depression.
Lessons in Color
Books
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