color associations

we learn about colors early on in our lives, even before we go to school. in elementary school, color associations were introduced in my art class, like red for passion and anger, or blue for peace and serenity. From an early age, we could associate color with specific emotions or feelings. I recently stumbled upon an article for writers creating characters from these color associations, and thought these could be applied to artists creating characters as well. these are typical North American color associations so these may vary in different cultures. by using certain colors in your art, you can tailor the viewer's experience and feelings without using any words at all.

in the article about writers using color associations, the comment section was open to writers who could create a scene using these colors to display the mood and setting in one paragraph. i just thought, artists and writers have so much in common...between creating characters from scratch, setting a scene for the audience, and using creative color and or word choices to tell a story, why don't they share brainstorming methods? if you're starting a new project, finishing an old project, or just doodling, these color associations can help put meaning behind the color choices you make in your work. I am an artist who primarily designs in black and white but to me, that makes color even more valuable when i do decide to include it. if i add color, it's for a specific reason. this chart will remind me to choose colors that make sense with the mood of my piece and correlate with the message i am trying to send. so, in conclusion, take a screenshot of this chart so you can reference it when you need some character designs, background color, or just a small pop of meaningful color. creating art with intention behind each decision can only make you a better artist.