Feeling Blues

In our last blog we discussed about the warm colours, the colours of festivals and merriment that we create around us. Opposite to them are the cool colours: greens and blues and violets that are around us all the time; these are the colours of nature.  The skies above us and it’s reflection in water are all blue. The trees, grass, moss, the insects are all shades of green. White the colours of transition, blossoming of seeds and flowers, of petals and butterflies, of young leaves and birds are shades of violet. Though warm colours like red, orange and yellow brighten our spirits, it is the cool colours in nature that we see for longer visual span and period. Although we call white as the colour of peace, it is blue, green or violet that soothes our eyes. What effect do these colours in nature have on us? If man has strived to create and worship energy in warm colours, what significance do these cool colours have in our life?

All these three colours are around us in ample amount, moreover green and violet both consist of blue element and have its qualities of calmth and completeness. Blue has been and till date is the most used colour by human kind, although not found in any natural element like fruit, vegetable or leaf. It was used to paint the large scale paintings and was a prized possession in form of lapis lazuli in the early and medical centuries till 15th century CE. It is the colour that gives confidence and trust and dominates the corporate identities and uniforms in every part of the world. These feelings obviously come from its association with skies and oceans, of depth and infinity as only dependability. Green is the most feel good colour, since it is the nature itself. It brings out memories of splendour and completeness and of good life. It is thus part of nutrition products, children’s games and clothing. The colour are been predominantly used by Islam to give hope in the vast deserts of Arabic regions. Violet is the colour of dreams, of fairies and jinn’s, of love and friendship. Combination of red of life and blue of trust, the colour and its shades create an imaginary world that looks dependable and makes reality much more bearable.

Although called cool these three are not the colours of winter, winters are made of grey and white and the cools actually add colour without breaking the natural harmony in cold climates and regions. These colours are thus used to represent gods and ideas that stay with us against the warmth of red that comes occasionally on festivities. Cool colours balance the warm colours and vice versa. Too much of warm colours can bring too much aggression, temper or vigour which is generally balanced and neutralised by the cools, like the sprinkle of green coriander on a spicy red tandoor, or the garlands of orange marigolds with mango leaves. Christmas too has green and red in equal amount that gives pleasure to the eyes and air of positivity. Cool colours are thus also used to represent all that is constant, unattainable or beyond understanding, like Vishnu/Krishna shown blue, Shiva shown blue, Mother Mary adorned in blues and violets likewise elves, fairies, dwarfs, kinnara and many more.

Blue has been used interestingly in paintings all around the world, to create an illusion of depth and infinity like in Renaissance paintings of Europe or Miniatures from India/Central Asia. No one can possibly forget the beautiful stroke of green in the portrait by famous Fauvist Henri Matisse, or the Blue period of Pablo Picasso that portrayed his loony world. Feeling blue or green or violet are feelings of tranquillity, jealousy or depression at the same time of nostalgia, curiosity or love. Cools are temperamental colours and can adapt with your moods unlike the warms that dictate their tendencies. Cools are more habitable and paintings in these colours can be your best friends for lifetime.