ABOUT COLOUR: BLUE

About Blue

How does the colour blue affect you? Does it make you feel happy or sad? Many people believe that colours have a psychological association.

Blue is abundant in nature. Look up to the sky and you may find a pale blue of daytime or a rich dark blue-black of evening. Look at the ocean or the sea and you will find various colours of blue depending on the season, time of day and where in the world you are viewing it.   If you are viewing a calm body of water you will associate calmness and serenity with the colour blue. It is very soothing and enduring.  When the sky becomes stormy and the waters wild blue will hold feelings of energy, strength and spirit. If it is winter and you are in Canada you will associate blue with coldness.  Blue represents wisdom, infinity, depth, nobility, and spirituality. Blue is associated with the nervous system. Blue is shadowy.   In the Catholic religion the Virgin Mary wears blue, a blue and white gown and a blue veil often encountered in paintings of the Annunciation. Blue represents profound faith. A blue sun filled sky has an active and vitalizing effect while the mood of the blue moonlit sky is passive and elicits nostalgias.

Blue in Different Cultures

• In Western Culture blue is embraced as the colour of heaven. It is used in corporate identity. Several banks use this colour as in their logo. It represents trust and authority. Blue is embraced as the colour of heaven. The police were blue. A dark blue suit is professional business attire. Blue can also be very casual as in blue jeans (worn around the world).
• In Eastern and Asian Cultures blue corresponds to immortality, wealth and self-cultivation.  In China blue is a feminine colour unlike in Western cultures. In Korea dark blue is the colour of mourning.
• In Iran blue is associated with death. It is the colour of heaven and spirituality.
• In Indian culture blue is the colour of Krishna – a central figure in Hinduism and Hindu gods. The colour blue represents strength in a lot of indian sports teams.
• In Japan children visually represent the sun as a big red circle.
• If we research the meaning of colours and their importance to Native American Indians we would find that each colour holds a special sacred meaning and symbolism. This is according to the beliefs of the tribe and their purpose. The colour blue used for face paint would mean something different than that used for war paint. Blue symbolizes wisdom and confidence. It also represented the sky, lakes, rivers and water. The Navajo tribe consider the colour blue important as it represents one of four sacred mountains. In certain Native cultures, blue can represent cleansing waters, peace, or sometimes winter and renewal.

The Theory of Blue

• Blue is a primary colour. No two colours can create blue. Blue is considered a cool colour as it is located on the cool half of the colour wheel along with green. Here blue is sandwiched between blue-green and blue-violet.
• When blue is surrounded by yellow it has a very dark effect lacking in radiance.
• When blue is surrounded by black, blue will gleam in bright, pure strength (from Itten, the elements of color).
• When blue is surrounded by a dull orange, like burnt sienna or burnt umber, the blue gets excited and the dull orange/brown awakens.
• Blue surround by red-orange becomes luminous.
• MANGANESE: is a blue-green so is Cyan and Cerulean Blue. These colours contain some yellow making the blue greenish. They are considered cool.
• ULTRAMARINE: is a blue containing some red. Therefore, this blue leans towards warm.

A Poem – About Blue

“What is Blue?”

Blue is the sky that envelopes me,
Blue is the water that is wild and free,
Blue lyrics share feelings that rest inside
Blue is a tradition with a bride.

Blue is the water I drink everyday.
Blue is not to be seen on my fish filet.
Blue is fruit delicious and sweet
Blue is powerful and on wallstreet.

Blue is one of three primary colours.
Blue can be mixed to make others.
Blue is seen in green and violet.
Blue cannot be seen in scarlet.

Author: Donna Wilson

Check out Donna’s website at www.donnawilsonartist.com