Back Oh, those vibrant colors!


 
 

Colors and words have a lot in common. We all learn how to use words at an early age but unfortunately, few learn how to use color effectively. Unless you spend many hours mixing paints and trying out their various effects and nuances, speaking with colors can be like talking in a foreign language.

Most people don't learn the second language. In their color preferences, few ever go beyond primary colors. The following is based on US survey, made by artists Komar and Melamid for http://awp.diaart.org/km/painting.html in 1995.

1st favorite color   2nd favorite color  
Blue
Green
Red
Black
Purple/Violet
Brown
Pink/rose
Beige/Tan
White
Grey
Yellow
Mauve
Fuchsia
Maroon
44%
12%
11%
4%
4%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
Blue
Green
Red
Black
Purple/Violet
Brown
Pink/rose
Beige/Tan
White
Grey
Yellow
Mauve
19%
17%
16%
7%
5%
4%
6%
3%
4%
3%
3%
2%

 

Colors only work in combinations.

Inside (smaller) squares have the same color

"A" and "B" squares are exactly the same

 

Our mood plays very important role too. Walk in a garden and look around you. Nature doesn't make mistakes with color. No matter how vivid or subtle, they always seem to work together. Why? Because the garden is pleasant..

A "focus group" mockery

Komar and Melamed didn't stop with colors. They have sent a long list of questions around the world, then "painted by numbers" the result.

USA Most Liked USA Least Liked

 

They asked questions like these:

Do you prefer seeing bold, stark designs or more playful, whimsical designs? bold, stark: 39% playful, whimsical 49%  
Do you tend to favor paintings with sharp angles or ones with soft curves? sharp angles 22% soft curves 66%  
Which patterns do you like better: geometric patterns or more random uneven patterns? geometric 30% random 62%  
Do you like to see colors blend into each other or do you like it when different colors are kept apart? blended 68% separate 18%  
In general, which would you say that you prefer? When the artist uses more vibrant shades, paler shades, or darker shades of color? vibrant 36% paler 32% darker 22%