All Color Theory is Bunk
Fitzpatrick--In spite of the fun Pittsburgh Paint interactive game at www.thevoiceofcolor.com, I tend to think that most color theory is bunk. Color is the most subjective thing in the human sensory experience. Culture, sex, experience, memory, association, all come into play in an individual’s experience of color. This hasn’t stopped legions of color charlatans from flogging their theories, books and seminars.
I once let an intern of mine select the wall colors for a new client’s office. She chose a rich deep chili red for once wall. The company owner’s wife’s opinion was “warm wonderful.” The office manager’s opinion, “angry, threatening.” Same color, two women, two completely different experiences.
Sometimes I feel that only Jungian analysis would be sufficient to truly discover the mechanism behind our color preferences. I’ve yet to locate a book on such a thing, but if someone knows of one, drop a line.
I once let an intern of mine select the wall colors for a new client’s office. She chose a rich deep chili red for once wall. The company owner’s wife’s opinion was “warm wonderful.” The office manager’s opinion, “angry, threatening.” Same color, two women, two completely different experiences.
Sometimes I feel that only Jungian analysis would be sufficient to truly discover the mechanism behind our color preferences. I’ve yet to locate a book on such a thing, but if someone knows of one, drop a line.
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