Sunday, June 12, 2011

Color me Yellow


"Yellow is sunshine. It is a warm color that, like red, has conflicting symbolism. On the one hand it denotes happiness and joy but on the other hand yellow is the color of cowardice and deceit.
Yellow is one of the warm colors. Because of the high visibility of bright yellow, it is often used for hazard signs and some emergency vehicles. Yellow is cheerful.

For years yellow ribbons were worn as a sign of hope as women waited from their men to come marching home from war. Today, they are still used to welcome home loved ones. Its use for hazard signs creates an association between yellow and danger, although not quite as dangerous as red.

If someone is yellow it means they are a coward so yellow can have a negative meaning in some cultures.

Yellow is for mourning in Egypt and actors of the Middle Ages wore yellow to signify the dead. Yet yellow has also represented courage (Japan), merchants (India), and peace."
—Jacci Howard Bear's Desktop Publishing Colors and Color Symbolism

Color is what many of our decisions are based on when purchasing items, painting, including landscaping. Color rules my life. Yellow is such a happy color, sunny and bright. Use as an accent or dominant color with a complimentary accent. A versatile color. Gender neutral, as they say.
When I worked in an art department, I always thought the entire department should dress up as Pantone chips for Halloween. We are all colorful in our own ways. I was always going to be PMS Process Yellow. Yep, a big yellow Pantone chip, that was my color. I have since evolved to a version of Pantone Purple complementing my yellow days.
Your homework today, put a little (or a lot) of yellow in your day. Me, I'm walking on Sunshine.