Our colour journey this month is through YELLOW - a welcoming colour much like the phrase, Hello Yellow.
When I research my thoughts, I spider-gram them - remember this task? Today as I look at Yellow, I am instantly referencing the image of the sun, its warmth, energy and symbol of power and growth. Then I notice that my spider-gram is now a 'sunagram'.....thought lines stretching out in rays of colour, room theory, symbolism, and history. Cool!
Yellow is a diverse colour in theory and feeling. In languages the root word in Yellow is YELL, the colour is therefore is associated with the action of CRYING OUT for attention. We see this in caution, warning or images and in design rooms or elements that need to be highlighted to draw in out attention.
Yellow evokes a wide range of the feelings from happiness & joy. It also is associated with HIGH actions in Leadership & Achievement, ENERGY, Wisdom & Intellect, and of course Wealth & Glory.
We are going for GOLD!
But can contradict itself as it has also been used at the colour negatively, with betrayal, cowardliness, jealousy, and sickness. For instance the colour of the person was a sickly yellow, and of course you have the leader of the animal world as the lion, but we also have the cowardly Lion! YELLOW NOTE: if yellow is overused, it can stimulate agitation - an example is that studies have shown when overused in a baby's room it will actually promote crying. As it heightens emotions. So funny that it should be used at time with caution.
In the colour wheel, YELLOW is the pure hue found between green and orange. Its both fresh, bold and loud. But can be warm, soft, light and un- intimidating, yet dirty or dull.
Yellow is the colour we associate with LIGHT. Look at the spectrum breakdown, and how light effects this colour intensity and saturation.
Yellow is the perfect accent to cold hue of Blue and Green, and is amazing when paired with violets and purples. My love is Yellows and Eggplants - try that combination.
In its pure hue, its LOUD. We do assimilate the colour with the sun, gold, warmth and power.
In art history, Yellow has been dated back 17,300 years to the cave of Lascaux in the Yellow Horse painting. Then in the middle ages, the Milkmaid by Vermeer shows us the simple beauty we find in yellow - mixing his own pigments for this expression, this was a refreshing stand for painting of this time as prior to it was a colour of contradiction and betray. Then again later we can see this beauty explored by Van Gogh, however he was was the first painter to use shelf purchased paints, and embraced Yellow in many of his works, like Sunflowers. If we look at modern art I share one of my favorite Andy Warhol pieces, who was the artist in bringing us face to face with pop culture and the images around us.
In interior design, I use YEllow and tints and tones in many designs. This can be in a paint colour for a wall or in harmonizing accents and textiles in the room. See how your kitchen space changes with a bowl of lemons on the counter, try it! Yellow is thee perfect colour in kitchens, laundry, entry halls and family spaces - evoking feelings warmth, welcoming and sharing in these spaces. Personally I have grown in many versions of yellow in my own space from a child, by childhood bedroom was butter cream yellow (white canopy bed with gingham yellow textiles, and floral wallpaper!) and today my lounge and dining area is a mixture mellow yellows, of warmth and shared conversation. The most favorite YELLOW accent is my fireplace wall -as it sparkles when the sunshine fills the space. Its a floor to ceiling feature of yellow onyx mosaic tiles - a stunning jewelry box effect. But its also that mood it allows the space to evolve into........love and happiness.