The Deeper Meaning of Blue – Blue Changes Its Expression According to Color Combination
When we combine colors, we often concentrate on the aesthetics. This is only part of the story. A color will change its energy psychologically according to its neighboring color. Just as a person would do. Someone who is extremely extroverted, has a loud voice and is always the center of attraction, will have to adapt somewhat to the introverted, peaceful energy of partners, or simply overwhelm them totally. This would mean that no communication can occur.
Let me give you an example with blue. Blue has various qualities and according to its combination with other colors, each quality will be accentuated or diminished. Blue represents foremost the universe and infinity. It is also the color of our oceans and sky and consequently extremely familiar to us on a daily basis. Blue is symbolic for such qualities as compassion, dedication and selflessness. And, last not but least, it represents deep intellectual thinking. As the symbolic color for the mind, it is the most powerful color on a mental level.
When it is combined with its complementary color, orange, it changes its energy considerably. It is no longer aloof, but takes on a friendly, almost paternal, quality when combined with orange. The vital energy that orange radiates seems to effect the normally calm, dignified blue and bestows it with a lively intensity. Too much orange can visually override the blue. Blue tends to recede and orange projects forward. To create balance, you need to use one third orange to two thirds blue in a color combination. Combined this way, they are an extremely pleasant pair and emanate joy and, at the same time, consistency.
Blue is also a spiritual color, and so it naturally harmonizes with violet. However, since it is considered passive and violet active, on a spiritual level, blue becomes sub-dominant to violet when combined. Blue is the color of concentration and violet of a deep, active spirituality, bringing belief with action on earth. This can be experienced visually when they are combined in a color arrangement. They without doubt harmonizes when combined, but blue seems to loose some of its radiance and is sub-dominant to violet.
A total change in energy occurs when blue is combined with red. They are both forceful colors in their own realms. On a mental level, blue is the most powerful of colors and represents profound, analytical thinking. Red is the most forcible color on a physical level and is always used to symbolize aggressive, physical energy. So when these two colors are combined, there is a lot of tension. Two very powerful energies are combined. If they both respect their individual qualities and are combined to express them respectively, this will be a powerful color combination.
Combined with green, blue takes on a more material, mundane quality. It becomes the color of nature, the water, the sky. It expresses great peace and harmony, looses some of the abstract quality we associate with the endless universe, and becomes part of this world. Blue and green are always pleasant, relaxing and unpretentious when combined as a color arrangement.
Blue and yellow combinations create tension, different to that of blue and red, more playful and abstract. Both are colors representing the mind. Blue represents slow, deep and analytical thinking: yellow fast, conceptual thinking. Yellow is such a bright color and can totally override blue. If yellow is to shine forth brightly without completely obliterating the withdrawn blue, it should only be used in a ratio of one to three thirds of blue. The radiant yellow will still dominate, even in a balanced combination. If the two colors are well balanced, the effect is very pleasant and refreshing. It is almost as though the blue finds the creativity of yellow amusing and inspiring, but does not take it too seriously, feeling far superior.
When blue is combined with black, it comes into its own profound depth of meaning. Black is the only hue which allows blue to reveal its undeniable, powerful nature. The almighty black takes on a sub-dominate role to blue. They are an extremely elegant pair to use as a color combination when a noble quality is required.
As all colors, blue has many faces and many meanings according to its combination. This will help to understand why so many people experience blue so differently. It will also help to combine colors to suit the right objective.
Author: Doreen Richmond
If you would like to learn more about colors for the home and for hobbies, you are welcome to visit my blog: http://www.colorcherish.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doreen_Richmond
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Tags: psych