Color - Emotion, Representation, Abstraction

“Words like ‘gloomy’, ‘drab’, and ‘glittering’ each bring to mind a general climate of colors, a palette of relationships.” (p. 81)

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Color tells a story and evokes emotion, they can make us feel happy or sad, and they can make us feel hungry or relaxed. These reactions are rooted in psychological effects, biological conditioning, and cultural imprinting.  Since these connotations of color are so deeply rooted in our society, "colors that sit near each other on the spectrum or close together on the color wheel are analogous. Using them together provides minimal color contrast and an innate harmony because each color has some element in common with others in the sequence”  (Lupton 227). Using complementary or contrasting colors affects the visual energy and mood of any composition.

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When it comes to clothing I like to play a lot of colors. My style can vary from monotones to bright pops of color. Through wardrobe, I can use color to express my emotions and how I want my community to view me. Color through fashion is a cultural development of the embodied identity. Most commonly, fashion is defined as the prevailing style of dress or behavior at any given time, with the strong implication that fashion is characterized by change. Change of events, personalities, and even emotions. Color provokes those changes.

This week I chose to play with color through my personal style. From the reading, I learned that color is intertwined with emotions, and choosing those emotions relates to colors on the color wheel. The first 4 photos display color through monotones and contrasting backgrounds. Analogous color schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. To me, monotones create a put-together harmonious feeling and usually match well to produce serene and comfortable designs.

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I purposely chose a background that was complementary to the monotoned outfit on the color wheel to formulate an imbalance. “Using colors with contrasting values tends to bring forms into sharp focus while combining colors that are close in value softens the distinction between elements”(Lupton 238). The juxtaposition of monotones and their complementary color causes a high contrast and vibrant look, especially when used at full saturation. The high contrast forces the viewer to focus on the outfits.

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In this final outfit, I decided to utilize the color-blocking technique. The process of color-blocking refers to wearing blocks of colors, traditionally colors that consist of two or three different complementary colors together in one outfit. It is also considered color-blocking even if the colors are not direct opposites on the color wheel. By using the color-block method, each element of the outfit is highlighted. The color palette emulates a bright, joyful, and happy emotion.

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Excerpt From: Ellen Lupton. “Graphic Design.” Apple Books. 

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Thank you to @isagee_ for modeling 

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