Given that today is Valentine’s Day, one might expect that my thoughts would be firmly fixed on the traditional palette of reds and pinks. However, having spent much of my early adult life teaching science, I have long been more intrigued by the psychological and physiological effects of colour than by its purely romantic associations. The way different hues can subtly alter our emotions, behaviour, and even our sense of time and space has always held a particular fascination for me. Not long ago, I revisited a 2022 article on the BBC website that explored the relationship between colour and mood in greater depth, and one example featuring the colour pink stood out. The article discussed an experimental trial conducted in a prison in the United States, where certain cells were painted a soft, delicate shade of pink. Observations over time indicated a notable decrease in aggressive incidents and violent behaviour among the occupants of these cells. While the mechanisms are still the subject of ongoing research and debate, the findings suggested that something as seemingly simple as a change in wall colour could contribute to a calmer, less confrontational environment.
Have a read here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20220713-the-hidden-meaning-of-your-favourite-colour
Whatever you chose to believe about the links between concentration, mood and thinking, the colours an artist chooses for a painting will carry significant meaning, acting as a powerful, non-verbal language that influences emotions, conveys themes, and shapes a viewer’s experience.
Look at the elephants. Do they make you feel romantic, or caring, or even jealous? Somehow the pastel colours will have an effect on your mood.
