The Language of Colour in Art
In art, colour often tells much of the story - because colour is one of the most immediate ways we experience the world. Even before we understand words, we respond to colour: its warmth or coolness, its energy or calm. In art, design, and daily life, colour shapes our moods, choices, and even our memories.
But why do certain colours make us feel certain ways?
Red pulses with intensity. It often evokes passion, power, urgency, and sometimes - anger or danger. In contrast, blue is calming and trustworthy. It’s associated with serenity, the sky, and the sea, that perfect blue of a clear, cloudless day. It invites reflection and steadiness. Yet, it’s also a colour we use to describe sadness or melancholy.
Yellow radiates warmth and optimism. It’s the colour of sunlight and fresh beginnings, though in excess, it can feel overwhelming or even anxious. Green speaks to balance and renewal. We connect it with nature, health, and harmony, it can be both grounding and refreshing.
Purple, with its rich, deep tones, stirs feelings of mystery, creativity, and spirituality. It carries a sense of the imaginative, even the regal.
Warm colours like red, orange, and yellow can express energy, passion, or even aggression. Cool colours - blue, green, and violet - suggest calm, introspection, melancholy, or spaciousness. I love working these together on one canvas, often shifting palettes to create something like a dance - a question and answer, fire and water.
Then there’s black. It can suggest elegance, depth, or mourning. And white, often connected to purity, simplicity, or emptiness - depends entirely on its context. I personally never use black in my paintings. To me, it sucks the life out of the colours around it. Instead, I work with deep shades of indigo, grey-blues, or dark blue-greens.
Of course, our personal and cultural experiences shape how we interpret colour. It’s both universal and deeply personal - a quiet, constant language that speaks directly to our emotional world.
I love breaking the rules of traditional colour theory, clashing colours for vibrancy and disruption, soft pastels and whites to evoke silence and intimacy. The possibilities are endless.
Especially in abstract art, colour takes centre stage. It becomes a tool for honesty - not explaining how something looks, but how it feels. Without objects or narratives to interpret, colour in abstract painting asks us to feel rather than analyse. It creates space for reflection, where the viewer becomes part of the artwork.
You’re always invited to visit my studio and home gallery - to step inside the palette, and be part of the colour, whenever you feel like a colourful day.
With lots of love,
Kirana xx
What's On:
This spring, I’ll be returning from an artist residency in the South of France - full of fresh inspiration, sun drenched colour, and stories yet to be painted or even lived. I don’t know yet what this next body of work will look like… but I know it will be infused with the beauty, emotion, and discovery of this creative adventure.
Please save the date, Saturday 18 October at 3PM, for a special exhibition unveiling these new works - paintings created straight from the heart, across oceans and time zones, and eventually ready to be shared with you.
I can’t wait to welcome you into the world I’ll soon be creating.
More details to come soon.
Saturday 18 October at 3PM
Open Studio - Wednesdays + First Saturday Of Each Month
Next date - Wednesday, 2nd of July
The studio will be open on Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm and the first Saturday of each month from 9am to 12pm.
Pop in for a look around, a cup of tea and a chat. We are looking forward to seeing you here.
Monthly Walk-In Art Class
Next dates - Saturday 5th of July
Join me on the first Saturday of each month for a creative morning at my studio! Whether you’re an experienced artist or simply looking to explore your creative side, this relaxed and welcoming class is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the joy of art.
10am - 12pm | $70 per person (GST inc) | All materials included
One on One Art Lessons
Can be booked suitable to your timetable, tailored to your needs and all ages.
$110 p/h (GST inc) | All art materials included
Final Notes
All the above are also great gift ideas for a loved one who would benefit from some breathing space and would love to try something new.
If you would like more information on any of these workshops or to book, simply reply to this email or contact me on 0448446466.
With lots of love,
Kirana xx