Getting to know Blue - Symbolism and Personality of Color

Blue on Blue by Randam Art.

There have been many studies focused on color and its impact on our daily lives.  There is no argument that color can influence our emotions, but our reaction to color is not always conscious.  Color can not only affect how we feel, but when used in art it can also portray an expression of feelings and emotions within our work. 

I would like to introduce you to my own favorite color, based on research, historical significance, and word association studies, this information should give you some insight into the generally accepted color associations and how we typically react to the color blue.

Blue is the overwhelming "favorite color." I have already mentioned that blue is my own favorite.  Although I truly do love color in general, and could honestly say I love most colors, blue has been the color I have called my 'favorite' for as long as I can remember.  Most people like some shade of blue as is the least "gender specific" color, having equal appeal to both men and women.

As the color of the sky and ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives and denotes peace, hope, and inspiration.  It is often associated with depth and stability.  Generally considered  to symbolize trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, dependability and commitment, it also signifies communication, tranquility and spiritual awareness. In heraldry, blue is used to denote piety and sincerity.

Blue is considered beneficial to both mind and body. It produces a calming effect, opens the mind to realities beyond our physical senses, and creates peace of mind and harmony of spirit.  Darker shades of blue represents prestige, strength, knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness. It is linked to consciousness and intellect.  Light blue is associated with health, healing, understanding, and softness.

Shades of Blue

These words are synonymous with blue or represent various shades of the color blue:

Sapphire, azure, indigo, navy, royal, robin's egg blue, cyan, cornflower blue, slate, baby blue, beryl, cerulean, (caerulean) cobalt, cornflower blue, corporate blue, midnight blue,  Prussian blue, royal, sky blue, steel blue.

Peace, tranquility, calmness, harmony, trust, loyalty, honor, sincerity, devotion, patience, spirituality, intuition, inspiration, healing, dependable, truth, productive, stability, confidence, communication, creativity, water, ice, sky, ocean, protective.

Culture and the Meaning of Blue

• In many cultures blue is significant in religious beliefs, is thought to brings peace, or is used to keep the bad spirits away.
• In Greece, the color blue is believed to ward off "the evil eye." Those who believe in this Greek superstition often wear a blue charm necklace or blue bracelet for protection.
• Blue, blue-green, and green are sacred colors in Iran, where they symbolize paradise.
• In Iran, blue is the color of mourning while in the West the something blue bridal tradition represents love.
• In Aztec culture, blue symbolized sacrifice.

 Sayings Depicting the Color Blue

•     True blue - someone loyal and faithful
•     Blue ribbon - first rate, top prize
•     Blueblood - person of noble birth, royalty
•     The Blues (capitalized) - popular style of music
•     Baby blues - Blue eyes
•     Feeling blue - feeling sad or depressed
•     The blues (not capitalized) - depression, state of sadness
•     Singing the blues - bemoaning one's circumstances
•     Into the blue - entering the unknown
•     Out of the blue - unexpected
•     Blueprint: a detailed design of an object or idea
•     Blue plate special: a special priced meal at a restaurant

Interesting Information About Blue

A native Australian bird, the Satin Bowerbird collects items to decorate its nest, called a bower, in order to help attract a mate.  They will gather items found in nature, or discarded items from humans, such as bottle tops, pens, or anything that it finds which it can carry.  While the Bowerbird will sometimes use other colors its clear favorite is blue, and usually the bower will be filled with items of this color.  They are even known to “paint” the walls of their structures with chewed berries.  The mature male Bower birds have clear blue eyes, and although they appear uniformly colored black, light diffraction of the feathers results in an almost metallic sheen of a deep shiny blue appearance.

Over the past decade, scientists have reported the successful use of blue light in the treatment of a wide variety of psychological problems, including addictions, eating disorders, impotence, and depression.

People are often more productive in blue rooms.

Pablo Picasso's "Blue Period" refers to a series of paintings in which the color blue dominates and which he painted between 1901 and 1904. 

I hope you enjoyed getting to know my friend, the color blue.  

Until next time,

Want to see some of the ways I use the color blue?
Come visit me at my website -

Randam Art: www.randam-art.com

Hand Made Gifts: www.handmadegifts.us