2022 is here and I am thrilled about all the exciting things you can do this year with your art and your sales.
One of the important things to know is exactly what your paintings are saying to the viewer. What draws them to your paintings? Do you know how you created this magic?
Well, color and knowing the meaning of the colors will help you immensely. The key is to know what you want the painting to say BEFORE you start.
Do you want it to be calm? Exciting? Loud? Reflective? Moody?
Color is your friend so take advantage of knowing all you can so your sales will be where you want them this year.
Did you know 90% of snap judgments are influenced by the psychological effects of color alone…90%…. so it is super important to know what each color means and the emotion it gives to the viewer.
Now does this mean you put on all our colors on one painting. Not unless you want the viewer to be confused and remember…. a confused person never buys.
For artists color is super important. We love color. But with so many colors out there how do you select the correct color for your painting…. especially if you want to increase your sales.
What colors sell best?
There is an old art world saying that goes, “If it doesn’t sell, make it big. If that doesn’t work, paint it red.”
Of all of the colors, red is the best-selling color in art.
However, it’s not the only color that people buy. Bright greens, blues, and yellows also sell very well.
But the decision you need to make as you are selecting your colors is…..what do I want the painting to say?
If you want your painting to be filled with excitement, power, and passion then Red is one of the colors you would select.
Red is on the warm spectrum with orange, and yellow.
These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.
Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are blue, purple, and green. These colors are often described as calm but they can also project the feeling of sadness.
Then there are the neutral colors…. To me these are the hero colors. They are often overlooked as not important. These colors are white, grey, brown, and black. I call these colors “support colors” as they offer a calm place for the eye to rest so the center of interest color can shine.
Without neutrals your painting will struggle.
Artists throughout time have use color to enhance a mood or send a message, either in a positive or negative way.
Klimt’s painting of “The Kiss” portrays passion and romance. It was created in a happy yellow, supported by a luscious brown. Remember, brown is a color that is associated with comfort and honesty. Using it as a support color gives the couple stability.
In the early 1900’s Picasso sank into a deep depression. We know this because his figures were painted in blues.
Van Gogh showed us the turmoil in his life with his portrait done in varying shades of blue.
Let’s face it: colors can make us feel happy, sad, relaxed or even hungry. All these reactions are rooted in psychological effects, biological conditioning, and cultural imprinting.
Knowing what the colors mean and portray is something you want to have in your mental painting library.
Also please leave a comment below …. that would be super.
Don’t forget to download your list of colors and their meaning.
Let’s make this your best year ever!
Hugs,
-gwen
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