June 4, 2020 |

Color Psychology - Purple

Color psychology suggests our mood can be impacted by different colors, each supposedly having a unique effect based on an individual’s personal experiences and culture.

Scroll down to enjoy a collection of beautiful work created by different artists on Strathmore papers; each featuring different shades of the color PURPLE.

PSYCHOLOGY OF THE COLOR PURPLE:

As artists, we know different shades of purple can be made by mixing reds and blues. Each shade of purple can carry a different meaning and evoke a different type of reaction. Common associations with the color purple include:

Creativity and Imagination
Hues of purple are both calming and stimulating for the mind, creating a harmonious balance that promotes imagination and creativity. It’s a great color to surround yourself with when creating art and brainstorming your next project. In writing, the expression ‘purple prose’ is used to reference exaggerations and imaginative pieces.

^{Colored Pencil on Strathmore 400 Series Toned Tan paper by @franknitkiewicz}
Luxury and Royalty
Purple used to be one of the most expensive colors to reproduce. Its rarity and cost of the original dye made purple attire attainable for only those with an elite status. For a time, the color purple was largely worn only by royals. The number of purple gemstones is quite small in comparison to other colors like blue, red and green that have hundreds of varieties to choose from, making them precious. To this day purple is still associated with royalty, wealth and power.

^{Colored pencil on Strathmore Mixed Media Paper by @headspace.illustrations}
Magic and Otherworldliness
The color purple is often used in fantasy art. It is not a color that occurs often in nature, making it feel otherworldly. It has been used to depict magical galaxy skies, unicorns, dragons, powerful gemstones, space, and Pandora’s Tree of Souls in Avatar. What examples can you think of?

^{Mixed Media on Strathmore 400 Series Toned Tan Mixed Media Paper by @georgina_kreutzer}
Fulfillment and Peace
The color purple combines the calming elements of blue and the powerful energy of red. The mix of attributes from both primary colors creates a sense of balance, fulfillment, and peace.

^{Colored Pencil on Strathmore 400 Series Toned Gray paper by @laurafilipovics}
Beauty
Purple’s scarcity in nature makes it particularly special when it does occur. Certain flowers like orchids, lilacs, violets and lavender are considered precious and beautiful. Because purple is created by combining warm and cool colors, it has a unique quality making it one of the most beautiful colors.

^{Soft pastel on Strathmore 400 Series Toned Gray Paper by @lenokdih}