Colour perspectives, a brief look at how colour red could impact on the viewer.
Colour Perspectives
As an artist, and particularly one interested in healing art, the impact of colour is important to me. It is something I bear in mind when creating new pieces. In this blog I just want to briefly highlight the colour red.
Articles on the Use of Colour
I have written several articles about the use and effects of colour.
One in particular, ‘Colour Creates the Mood’, talks about the colour red and says
“Red raises your energy levels, orange stimulates your creativity and yellow stimulates your mental activity, not good recipes for going to sleep.” It goes on to say “The stimulating colours of red, orange and yellow can be used to good effect at home, school and in the office.”
However, clearly too much red overstimulates the senses.
Education and the Use Of The Colour Red
One pioneering head teacher, whose pupils wear a red uniform, appears to have recognised the impact colour can have on pupils, according to an article in the Daily Mail. Here is a short extract :
“Headmistress Gillian Knox sent pupils home with a letter saying: ‘Red is often used to energise body and mind, and some research indicates that it can increase heart and breathing rates. [This is] not the calm, relaxed learning state we hope to achieve.
‘A recent study linked red to impaired performance on achievement tasks.
‘Our staff feel that red needs to remain a key element of our uniform but that it would be best used in small amounts, for example, in our school tie.’”
Apparently this has met with some resistance from parents, though backed by the staff. Experts are divided with some saying it is nonsense and others saying there might be something in it and it is worth a try. What do you think? I’m with her all the way!
This article was originally published in 2016 and amended and republished 28 March 2022.
Before you go
My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.
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Thank you for reading!
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