Light & Color

                                                                 

            Light and color go hand in hand. Without light, color would not exist. When a ray of sunlight passes through a prism, the sunlight is refracted into a beautiful array of colors, which are arranged in order of the colors of the rainbow.  Color is one of the most important visual elements, because it has the most significant effect on us and brings us the most pleasure. However, certain colors may not be as pleasing to one person as they are to another.

            Color affects us psychologically, in the way it makes us feel, the influences it has on our mood, and also our responses or actions. For example, if a person is sitting in a room that is painted gray they may begin to feel groggy or sad because it is not pleasing for them to be surrounded by that color, whereas the same person sitting in a room painted orange or yellow may feel awake and happy. The color combinations in a painting have an effect on us as well. In Edvard Munch’s painting, The Scream, the warmest colors are furthest from the center of the picture, drawing us to the cooler, grayish tones.  The expression of the person in this painting is one of fear, therefore leaving the viewer with some sense of uneasiness, fear, or despair.  On the other hand, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Has more of a glowing and magical feel to the piece, giving the viewer a sense of happiness, curiosity and making them feel as if they are in a dream. Even though Van Gogh uses cool colors in his piece, the are more vibrant and rich, making Starry Night and The Scream complete opposite paintings in the way they effect the emotions of the viewer.

            Overall, color affects us and our emotions in many different ways and on such a basic level that most people do not notice that it is effecting them because it comes so natural.  However the effects differ depending on culture and personal feelings and experiences. No color, or piece of artwork affects each person in the same ways. 

Edvard Munch’s,  The Scream

Vincent Van Gogh's, The Starry Night

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon Album Cover (prism)