The Psychology of Color in Art
People often ask me why I am drawn to certain color palettes. I use warm, muted earth tones in one collection and soft blues and greens in another. I always follow my intuition first when choosing colors. However, the psychologist in me notices patterns, and there's real science behind them.
Color is information before it’s decoration
Long before we have words for our feelings, we react to color. Our nervous system processes color quickly, and it carries emotional weight. In controlled studies, people simply looked at colors while their bodies were monitored. Brighter and more saturated colors reliably increased arousal, which was measurable in skin conductance and heart rate. Softer, less saturated colors were calmer (Wilms & Oberfeld, 2018).
This is why I don’t see color as just decoration. The palette of a painting communicates something to your nervous system, whether you notice it or not.
Warm, earthy tones
Ochres, rusts, and warm browns feel grounding, which is why they appear often in my Grounded collection. They reflect the colors of soil, bark, and autumn light, things our bodies have long linked to safety and stability.
Soft blues and muted greens
These colors remind us of water, sky, and calm forests. Research shows that blues and greens are consistently associated with positive, low-arousal feelings—calm rather than excitement (Jonauskaitė et al., 2025). I find myself reaching for these colors when I seek calm.
What your palette might say about your needs
However, one important point from the research is that color meanings are not strict rules. A leading overview of the field concludes that color does affect mood, thinking, and behavior, but its effects depend heavily on context, personal associations, and culture (Elliot & Maier, 2014). The same shade of blue can feel peaceful to one person and sad to another, depending on their memories and current mindset.
I wouldn’t read too much into it, but generally speaking, if you are currently attracted to warm, grounded tones, you might be looking for stability. Soft, cool tones may indicate a need for rest. Brighter colors often signal a desire for energy and activation. Whatever draws you in, trust that instinct and your immediate reaction to a piece of art. You don’t need to understand why. The colors you like might be providing something you need.
— Mari
Sources: Elliot AJ, Maier MA. Color psychology: effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans. Annual Review of Psychology. 2014;65:95–120. | Wilms L, Oberfeld D. Color and emotion: effects of hue, saturation, and brightness. Psychological Research. 2018;82:896–914. | Jonauskaitė D, Mohr C. Do we feel colors? A systematic review of 128 years of psychological research linking colors and emotions. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 2025.
Follow the palette that speaks to you — explore my original paintings, canvas prints, and paper prints.