Colors and Emotions

1)

Color has numerous effects on emotion. Colors have the ability to create a perception of feelings. This is noticeable by artists such as Monet, van Gogh, and Goya (just to name a few). There are certain ways that color can do this. One example is painting a scene on the side of the river in which the focus is simply on the colors. One the areas of color are placed, the details can be added. Natural colors that are expected in nature allow the viewer to visualize being there. The mix of greens, blues, whites, and browns create a natural environment. On the other hand, contrasting colors can symbolize confusion and strife; along with unnatural pairings of colors.

Cool and warm colors can be used to paint "temperatures" as well as serenity and anger, respectively. Bright, vibrant colors evoke strong emotion and importance over an artwork. Dulled colors hint at darkness and disconnection from other subjects within the painting.

The way colors are used and where they are used in an artwork are invaluable to the overall execution of the piece.

2)

Glazing is the most important and interesting aspect of color theory. Glazing was a revolutionary concept when it was first introduced. The use of a light layer of color underneath, letting it dry, and carefully utilizing more (or a different) color over that based created never-before-seen style of painting. Colors used to only be used in very basic form. The use of glazing allowed for more lifelike effects of colors and lights in artwork.

3)

The point of the Color video that I found fascinating was Monet's thoughts on nature. He believed that if you looked at nature long enough you would just see color. Monet's natural paintings were color driven; the colors created the artwork. This is fascinating because of his, what seems backwards, view of creation. Instead of creating the outlines and filling it with colors...he allowed the colors to create the boundaries of his objects. The effect on emotion that this has is nature becomes more alive than before. The colors flow from one part of the painting to the other.

4)

Goya's work was by far my favorite part of the Emotion video. The way Goya used dark, muted colors in the one painting was fantastic. He places himself on the far side from the royal family and what looks like in the shadows. He explains his disconnected thoughts for the family he works for through his use of color. He uses the bright colors over the royal family in order to please them by making them appear as the important shining subjects in the painting. There is so much to be said by a work of art--color can do much of the talking.