Color Preferences & Process

Flash comment.

We obtain our color preferences at a young age from happy, sad, or traumatic times - color memories.  Lilac stirs memories of your grandmother's bedroom where she read you her favorite story.  Red recalls your favorite peppermint candy.  Orange flashes back to the time your were frightened by the zoo tiger roaring so load.  Sage is a sore subject as it was worn frequently by your high school English teacher that you hated.  What is the color that you cannot make yourself like?  What past association comes to mind?  The answer may take some time and could probably pop up when you're not thinking about it.  Associations do that.  Know the reason behind the preferences of those you live with.  It will save a lot of arguing.

We also respond to colors via styles and trends of the season.  Happy times yields happy colors.  Times of struggle reflect muddied colors and extreme neutrals.  Warm hues are popular in summer, cool in winter.  (Maybe that should be switched.  Let's cool off with blues on a hot summer day.  Warm up in winter with sunny yellows and oranges.)

Where we grow up affects our color preferences.  Local culture, topography, and ethnic traditions influences how we use color on a daily basis.  Coastal residents favor blue families where as mountain folk  favor greens.  Holidays reveal colors seen in the festivals both small and large.

We are all wired differently when it comes to color acuity.  How well we see color is determined by the retina, the color cones perceiving the color, and the brain's ability to process the image.  This is reason not to criticize one who describes a color differently than you.  Trust your own color acuity.  Only you see color the way you do.  Throw caution when you ask for another opinion.

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