April Showers Us in Blue
Excerpt of ‘Dolphin’ — 7” wide x 5” tall
If you read this blog, you’re aware that we’re featuring color-themed months in 2021. As a “color maximalist” who believes in “Color as Curative,” it’s a chance for me to create a year-long rainbow and give you insights into the power of each color. Read about February: Red and March: Green.
Blue is my peaceful, calming color as many of my blue-infused paintings have ocean imagery in them. It seems more versatile and interesting with so many various shades from royal to cobalt to cerulean to blue green to turquoise to teal! It can easily go light into sky blue and other variations!
The “blues” sometimes conjures up sadness but I find the blues in nature to be utterly exhilarating and inspiring. The depth of dark blue in the ocean reminds me of the Jungian associations with the unconscious:
"Carl Jung, a renowned psychiatrist and proponent of art therapy, encouraged his patients to use color because he felt this would help them express some of the deeper parts of their psyche. It is believed that the color choices you make reflect a deeper meaning about your personality traits. For example, introverts and extroverts are likely to choose different colors – blue and red respectively.”
A few of my favorite words they’ve associated with blue are:
Acceptance • Balance • Calmness • Cooperation • Depth
Dignity • Freshness • Harmony • Introspection • Peace
Reflection • Serenity • Trust • Virtue • Water
This article on Bourn Creative gives a very rich discussion of blue and addresses many of the ways we use the color blue and the word, blue, to express ourselves.
"The color blue has positive affects on the mind and the body. As the color of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming and exude feelings of tranquility. Blue helps to slow human metabolism, is cooling in nature, and helps with balance and self-expression. Blue is also an appetite suppressant.
However not all blues are serene and sedate. Electric or brilliant blues become dynamic and dramatic, an engaging color that expresses exhilaration. Also, some shades of blue or the use of too much blue may come across as cold or uncaring, and can dampen spirits."
Many of you know I love red so much and do call myself a color maximalist. And yet! My bedroom is mostly soft blues and greens, to be a serene and quiet place. Here’s a rare invitation into my bedroom.
We’ll update this blog post at the end of the month and share our Instagram images. For now, here are a few paintings available for purchase in the Shop, in case you want to bring some fabulous blue into your home or office! I also accept commissions. A few of these are my 5’ x 7’ abstract originals. If you purchase three, we will select a fourth as a free gift for you!
