Editorial by - Tina Martin-Brown

As the artist creates it is a good idea to keep in mind how colors play upon our perception and the meanings we associate with them. We can take a light playful look at each end of the color spectrum. In the natural selective process red would be our frontier because it is hot, stimulating and gets attention. Red is an action color. Its does not sit in the background, it leaps up at you. It denotes speed, confidence, danger. It's a strong color that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil. In humans red, as in the color of blood, can be seen as a life sustaining color, Creating a physical reaction, the color red can actually increase respiration and elevate our blood pressure. Red is seen as an exciting warm color. Red can signify a human heart which brings us around to Love. Valentines day comes around with a warm melody of reds and pinks combined. Red is power, the red power tie for business people and the red carpet for celebrities. Stop signs, stop lights and flashing red lights get our attention and alert us to emergencies or danger. In some cultures red is synonymous with joy, prosperity, luck and even purity, being the color worn by many eastern brides while being the color of mourning in South Africa.

Then the pendulum swings and we have blue which is cool, calming, comforting and nurturing. It can be strong and steadfast or light and friendly. Blue is importance, stability, unifying, intelligence but sometimes depressing. It is indicative of trust, loyalty and superiority. Almost everyone likes some shade of the color blue. In 1999 Pantone named the sky blue color of Cerulean as the color of the new millennium. Pantone selected the color Blue Iris as the 2008 Color of the Year telling us: "Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, Blue Iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement." A natural color, from the blue of the sky, blue is a universal color. The cool, calming effect of blue makes time pass more quickly and it can help you sleep. Blue is a good color for bedrooms. However, too much blue could dampen spirits giving us a blue mood.

Warm colors rev us up and get us going. The warmth of red, yellow, or orange can create excitement or even anger. Cool colors Blue, Green calm us down. In nature blue is water and green is plant life - a natural, life-sustaining duo. Neutral colors are Brown, Beige, Ivory, Gray, Black, White they are seen as cold, impersonal, antiseptic color. Are there colors that define you and your style