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What are warm colors? They consist of orange, red and yellow, along with combinations of these and similar colors. As the name indicates, they tend to make one think of warm things such as sunlight and heat. Warm colors are capable of making large rooms cozier. Artists have used these colors to create a sense of warmth. Let's look at the warm colors in detail.

Warm Colors

Red is one of the first warm colors which can evoke many emotions depending on its use. It has very intense characteristics which portray strong reactions. For example, YouTube, use red in their logo as a way to accent their brand name and attract viewers. Red is also a very passionate color, whether it be anger, aggression, or love.

Orange is a blend of the warmth of red and the optimism of yellow. It is much like red color and is also seen as an attention grabbing shade. It is considered a strong, energetic color. Many sports teams incorporate the color in their jerseys and branding. As every other shade, when overused or displayed too brightly, it can have the opposite effect.

Yellow is arguably the bright and intense. As a result, it triggers strong emotions. Yellow is associated with sunshine and happiness. It is a color which can attract your attention and is one of the colors which is very sensitive to your eyes. It is a color which can stimulate brain activity. It is also connected to appetite stimulation, for example, fast food restaurants like McDonald's incorporate it into their branding and marketing strategy.

Warm colors are associated with heightened emotions and passion as well as joy and playfulness. Think of the vibrancy of a bright orange or the intensity of a deep, rich red. Warm colors can be stimulating, making them a good choice for rooms that see a lot of activity.

Neutral Colors

Neutral colors are muted shades which appear to lack color. For examples, beige, gray, cream, brown, black, and white are considered neutral colors. They can be complex in tone as mixing different shades create other unique colors. These are named neutral colors, that is they are neither warm nor cool.

Black is the first neutral shade; it absorbs all light on the color spectrum and appears heavy from a visual standpoint. The color is generally associated with power and authority yet takes on different meanings in different contextual environments. In the Chinese philosophy, black belongs to the element of water. Cultures in Egypt and Middle East associate the color with rebirth.

White is the next neutral color, and it is on the opposite end of the spectrum. It is a shade often associated with safety and openness; it is seen as a peaceful color which projects clarity. Similarly, white has a pure, clean feeling and it is used in hospitals and hotels. In the western world, it represents purity and elegance, but in eastern cultures, it is associated with death and mourning.

In Summary

In general, in art, the artist learns that cool shades make things appear farther away, while warm shades make them appear closer. It is very important in creating landscape paintings where you give the illusion of depth and distance. So distant mountains would be painted in cool blues or grays and a nearby stream and grass would be painted in warmer blues and warm greens.

The colors you are drawn to in works of art will help you decide the ideal location to display the piece. In the alternative, you may be looking to place art in a specific room, and using the psychology of color will help you choose the right work.

Manesha Pieris