Another look at RED....

Yesterday I made an entry about the colour red, and I have not been able to stop thinking about it. Well, about colour for that matter. The actual meanings and uses, and psychological effects of using or seeing a colour. As I have mentioned, and if you know me at all, I love colour. Bright colours, dark colours, muted colours. I may not use them in my home, or in my day to day clothing, but I admire many, many colours, and combinations.

I decided to do some more research into the colour red, and here are some fascinating tidbits around the history of red:
-Red is said to have protective powers against evil, to give strength and to ward off illnesses, fever and even miscarriages (The painting I posted dated 1434, entitled Arnolfini Wedding, is said to illustrate this belief...)
-Red garlands and red scarves are part of many wedding customs. In fact Red bridal gowns were worn by Ancient Romans, and are still worn by Chinese Brides today
-People wear red to bring them luck.
-It is both the colour of Satan, and of the Roman Catholic Church (power, need I remind you?)
-Its excellent visibility in extreme darkness lead to its use in stop signs, danger signs, fire trucks, and brake lights.
-Red may cause restlessness and insomnia if used in bedrooms, but is regarded as a great colour to use in excercise and play rooms. (And as I mentioned yesterday, in rooms showcasing art!)
-It appears closer then it actually is, so a room with red walls will feel like it is closing in on you.
- And finally, for you who love red, but not the intense energy it gives off, then try a muted earthy red like red ocher, venetian red, or even brick red......

I'm sure if you look through all my photos, you will find a shade of red that is just perfect for you..

Hope you enjoyed this little trivia session. I know I did!

Seeing Red...

Red....the colour of love, passion, anger, and aggression. Did you know that at one time many fast food restaurants used the colour red in their interiors in order to create a passion and desire to eat more food. The funny thing is it also was used to hurry the diners up and get them out in order to have a greater turnover, thus more sales.

At home, especially in the 19th century, and early 2oth, red was often used in dining rooms. Red is a very flattering colour to most peoples skin tones, and combined with candlelight it made for a very cozy, flattering, and enjoyable evening. It was also used alot in drawing rooms, especially those with salon type walls chuck full of paintings, sketches, and photographs...Red seems to show off art work well. I believe there are even red walls in part of the exhibition spaces at the AGO here in Toronto.

Did I mention my kitchen is red? It is indeed. I always wanted a red room, and now I have one. I love it.

When I take a lot of my photos, especially when I focus on colour, pattern ,and texture, I always associate a feeling to the photograph. I also envision many of them hanging in people's rooms. Usually in large format, much like some huge painted canvas...I think colour is so important to each of us, and it often means different things to different people, hence the millions of colours available to us to purchase in the form of paint. There is an energy in colour, whether it is strong and vibrant, or soft and strong.. There is a colour pallet for each of us. Have you found yours? What is your favorite? How do you react to certain colours? It is such an interesting topic don't you think?

Enjoy your day, and I hope I have you seeing red..