All about red

Color stories red, vibrant, root chakra.

“Energizing and passionate”

The color red is deep, slow and energising. Vibrationally it is the lowest color on the spectrum and many find it very stimulating and full of powerful energy.

Personally I used to be very scared to paint using red. It always made me feel uneasy. However, since running the Creative Color Challenge where I encourage myself and others to use new colors in our artwork, red has become a color I have started to explore more.

How much red do you have in your life?

Red in design

Red gets your attention. It promotes action and activity, so you will find that many companies use red in their logos and designs. It can also signify danger. A good use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element.

Like many colors, red also has its fair share of both positive and negative connotations:

Positives include: love (red roses and red hearts), passion (red-blooded), sexiness – (red lipstick, red sports cars) and festivity (Christmas, Santa Claus)

Negatives include: war, revolution and anarchy (red flag), danger (stop signs, traffic lights, and fire)

Red is considered a warm color in landscape design. Its appearance in the garden has an energetic effect and of course is the complementary colour to the green in a garden

Red stories

* In China, red is associated with good luck and fortune.

* Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight.

* Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity (particularly if your front door faces south)

* Bees can’t see the colour red

Red energy

Think about the way that red makes you feel.

When you wear red you will feel confident and in control. The different shades in the red family have many variations, from ‘raspberry’ through to ‘tomato’.

Wearing red will bring excitement into your day. Some people wear it to show their importance or to get themselves noticed. It is a great color to wear at the end of the week when your energy levels might be flagging.

Red is the color for the base or root chakra. This chakra and the color associated with this energy represents being grounded, as well as standing for trust and belonging. It is said to lessen feelings of mistrust.

Art, design & photography – some of Louise’s work and explorations in red

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Red for the 5 senses

Smell: “Red is a colour associated with passion and seduction” — Aromascope.

Taste: Red foods such as cranberries, peppers, tomatoes and raspberries have healing qualities (as well as being juicy, tasty and aromatic)

Listen to: “Red, Red Wine” by UB40

Say: “Painters use red like spice.” — Derek Jarman

See: Why not grab your camera and explore the world outside your door to find red in the world around you?

This article was published in the February 2013 issue of Moyo magazine – the worlds first online magazine all about surface pattern design. {brought to you by “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design“}