It is a Great Time to Take a Look at Color Theory Videos
What is it about videos, which makes learning so much easier? Color theory videos are just one very small part of that.
In this series of videos, I set out to tackle color theory. As a person who sometimes does not seem to see or understand colors well, or get how design works, I have found studying theory to be a much more productive exercise than an artist simply telling me, “It just works!”
But how?
I hope my dive into color theory can help you, too!
Color Theory
Let’s break into some more extensive color theory, shall we? It can almost serve as a kind of mathematical framework for better design.
You may or may not like the idea of converting art into what is practically an equation. But it can really help you if you are as design-challenged as I am! So, if 1 + 1 = 2 is easier to understand than yellow + purple = a pretty decent color combination at times, then here ya go.
Color Theory – Red
The color of lipstick and blood, red has more personal associations than any other color. And it is best to not even get into the political connotations of red. Stop, in the name of Valentines and classic lipstick!
Color Theory – Pink
While we may associate pink the most with makeup and the ballet, that is not all it is. Did you know that red’s lighter cousin was not always so synonymous with femininity?
Color Theory – Orange
How can you have Halloween without orange? Or your morning orange juice? But what about carrots? And… reflective gear for hunters?
And, sorry orange lovers. But it, brown and yellow, tend to be the least favorite colors for a lot of folks. People may even associate orange with cheapness.
Color Theory – Yellow
Duller than gold, but just as vital a primary color as red and blue, yellow is kind of an odd, heh, duck.
Sunshine and lemons! Bananas and jaundice? The things we tend to associate with yellow can be a little … strange.
A Look at Green
Green goes beyond ecology and the environment. Also, most of us probably cannot think of living plants without thinking of at least some green.
But we might also think of rot, or penicillin mold, if nothing else. Or the patina on weathered copper. Is it easy being green? Maybe not. Sorry, Kermit.
It is also something we associate with aliens. And queasiness?
Color Theory – Gold
Gold has connotations of wealth, scarcity, and status. It can also have a sports vibe. Because only the winners get the gold, after all.
We also associate gold with marriage (wedding rings) and with durability. Durability? Why, yes, since it is hard to dissolve gold. You need to use aqua regia. Gold is also a pretty standard material in cell phones.
But recognize that too much gold can sometimes appear tacky.
Color Theory – Silver
Shinier than gray, silver denotes something precious—but not as unattainable as gold. Beyond second place in sports, the color silver can mean family fortunes. Or at least the cutlery.
Color Theory – Copper
Most people wrap their feelings about copper together with their feelings about bronze. Small wonder, as bronze is mostly composed of copper.
Copper can feel like roofs or pennies or cookware. And copper is also a vital part of generating electricity.
Bronze is of course third place in games. And a long time ago (as in, before I was born), people used to cover baby shoes in bronze in order to create a keepsake. But you do not really see that so much any more.
Color Theory – Blue
For a lot of people, blue serves as their favorite color. Whether it is the idea of sea and sky, or the emotional connection many of us have with blue jeans remains to be seen. But blue and the blues can also mean depression.
And the color blue can even have an erotic connotation, as in so-called blue movies. Plus there is the current political connotation.
And while I have never actually sat down and counted, I strongly suspect that of all the colors that show up in songs of any type, blue is likely to be the runaway favorite. But at Christmastime, it does get some serious competition from white, red, and green.
A Look at Purple/Violet
Royal purple adds a flamboyance to nearly anything. And as for violet, when it is used as the name of a girl in popular culture, that girl is often kinda different. If you do not believe me, hear me out, okay? Just consider Violet in Peanuts or Violet Bick in It’s a Wonderful Life.
Oh, and what is the difference? You can find violet on the visible color spectrum. As in, it serves as the V in the ROYGBIV acronym. But purple is the combination of mixtures of red and blue light.
In common parlance, violet is usually felt to be redder, and purple is bluer.
Indigo, by the way, is even bluer than violet.
Color Theory – Brown/Tan
Brown and tan describe human skin tones better than nearly any other adjectives. They are the basis of description. So ditch the food and wood metaphors! There is nothing bad about using the actual color names.
And for the love of writing, please describe all of your important/main characters! If you only feel the need to describe the skin tone of people of color, then do some self-examination. Because you may be seeing white (Caucasian) as the default.
Brown is also a common last name (as are Black and White).
To be more specific than simply writing brown, try using prose about warm (reddish) or cool (bluish) tones in your descriptions. And talk to a sensitivity reader if you are ever unsure about whether you are unknowingly being offensive.
Color Theory – Black
Chic, slimming black can also make people think of death. It can feel negative, punk, goth, or empowering.
Or it can feel like a funeral.
What do you see when you gaze into the void?
A Look at Gray in My Color Theory Videos
The essence of compromise, gray can feel dull and drab, but also soft or even powerful. Silver’s duller cousin has depth.
Oh, and if you have gray eyes (I do!), then you are in a pretty exclusive club! Only about 1% of all people have gray eyes, in contrast to over half having brown eyes.
So, as a result, the color theory of gray is complex. And is it gray or grey, anyway? Well, that kind of depends on if you are British. And this is not even getting into fifty shades thereof.
A Look at White
In western cultures, we often think of brides when we think of white. And that is mainly due to Queen Victoria wearing white at her wedding. Otherwise, before that, it was not a tradition.
Yet white can also mean mourning and death in some cultures, mimicking the pallor of a corpse. Also, considering that hair often turns white when we are a lot older, it can also be a reminder of the grave.
Or maybe someone just needs to get outside more often…? Yeah. That person would be me.
Do You Want More of Color Theory?
If color theory works for you, then please be sure to check out my other articles about how color works with covers and more. And maybe one of these days I will finally get around to updating these!
Explorations to Go Along With My Color Theory Videos
† Color Theory
• Part 2
† Color Theory, Part 3
also,
• Part 4
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And Do You Want More About My Videos?
If my experiences with videos resonate with you, then check out my other videos and pages covering various and sundry topics.
Videos and Visual Communication
† Inspiration Videos
• Interview Videos
† Videos (uncharacterized)
Color theory dovetails with covers, of course.
Want More About Creating, Commissioning, and Deciding on Book Covers?
If my experiences with color resonate with you, then check out my articles about getting the best cover for your book. Because, like it or not, we all use them to judge books.
Book Covers and You, the Writer
† Working with a Cover Artist, Part 1
• Working with a Cover Artist, Part 2
† Covers, Working with Them
• Video on Working with a Cover Artist
† The Weird World of Being Published
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