The Importance of the Color Blue

Blue. It's bold, yet soft, like an embrace or a deep breath and has a variety of different shades. This primary color appears in almost every painting and represents serenity, stability, inspiration, wisdom and health. The beauty of this color has made it one of the most powerful colors and creates the most beautiful artwork.

Blue and its History in Art

As a primary color across all models of color space, blue maintains an intense and deeply profound affiliation in nature. It is the color of the ocean and the sky and often symbolizes serenity, stability, inspiration, wisdom or health.

Color, in general, is one of the most exciting components of any painting. In both configuration and abstract painting, color can be utilized for a multitude of purposes, whether it's for aesthetics, to create mood or to express or arouse an emotion. In nature and in art, color has a profound effect on the viewer.

As with most things in life, just because we don’t notice the importance of something doesn’t mean others haven’t too. The truth is most businesses, interior enthusiasts and artists around us understand the subtle way colors influence people and they use it to manipulate your emotions, lean towards their products or alter your moods ever so slightly.

Tangled - Let Your Dreams Be Your Guiding Light by Thomas Kinkade Studios - Wood Sign

Blue, more specifically, has been known to evoke feelings of calmness and spirituality as well as security and trust. Consequently, artists exploit these feelings to derive such sentiments amongst consumers. Take the Tangled - Let Your Dreams Be Your Guiding Light as an example by Thomas Kinkade Studios. The soft and cool blue undertones exemplified in the painting demonstrates a soothing river that Rapunzel and Flynn calmly float on; setting the intensity for their growing love story. The blue and yellow tints display a thousand floating lanterns glowing, which stand out against the starlight of the night sky, showcasing how even the smallest light can fill a darkened room and love can indeed conquer all.

It seems this calming sentiment about the color blue has been consistent throughout centuries. The first blue color was produced by ancient Egyptians in 2200 B.C. in an effort to create a permanent pigment that could be applied to a variety of surfaces. Since, the color has continued to evolve, and its association with calming, natural elements like the sky and clear water have solidified it as a universal favorite among artists, interior designers and other disciplines.

Harley Quinn by Lisa Lopuck - Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Over the course of art history, artists of all medium have utilized the abundance of unique shades of blue as a means of expression. Pablo Picasso himself underwent a “blue period” where all his paintings were created in shades of blue and blue-green to create a subdued, melancholic atmosphere. These stylistic pieces continue in contemporary artwork today as seen in our Harley Quinn by Lisa Lopuck, with deep blue pigments evidenced in the painting playing homage to her dark and dismal past; particularly underneath her eyes. The use of blue to inspire ideas and emotions was fairly prolific in the second half of the 20th century, with painters like Mark Rothko using blue as “only an instrument in expressing human emotions tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.”

Aquaman by Blend Cota - Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Aside from emotional expression depicted in early 20th artwork, Blue was also seen as a color which was authoritative without being threatening. This underlying notion is fairly poignant to our Aquaman and Catwoman canvases by Blend Cota; the prototypical protagonist whose main character arcs are to save the day and fight the perils of evil in the comic-book world. Aquaman is synonymous with the heroic and admirable warrior archetype and an undeniable force to be reckoned with and Catwoman is one of the most progressive, beautiful and well-rounded characters in all of comic, and I believe it is a fair statement to suggest that the intensity of blue cascaded across both canvases truly highlight these sentiments throughout.

Catwoman by Blend Cota - Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Decorating with Blue

Glacier Cobalt Rug Collection

The color blue has many different shades, that are widely used to decorate your home and a popular choice for interior design as it can represent a tranquil and calm space. In the home, this shade is instantly welcoming and calming, whether used in a pale powder blue for a more subtle space, or a deep navy blue for a touch of drama. Whatever shade of blue you choose and whichever your decorating style, blue-centered artwork can help accentuate your room and flaunt your interior design skills.

The Little Mermaid by Thomas Kinkade Studios - Wood Sign

Whether your artwork incorporates hints of blue or it is completely submerged in this color, this can highlight a room. This creates a central focal point within a room, however bold or simple the design. If following a natural and nautical theme, why not incorporate The Little Mermaid design by Thomas Kinkade Studios? It’s not only a beautiful piece of art but a fantastic talking point. 

Mermaid Accent Table

Whether calming, relaxing, powerful and pure in nature - blue has many layers in the natural world, bringing depth and emotion to many pieces. It’s multifaceted and has an aura that is compelling and beautiful when incorporated in landscapes, canvases, or drawings, hence its desirability amongst many famous painters and artists across generations.

Our homes could all benefit from more calmness and relaxation, especially in recent times when many of them have been doubling up as workplaces. So, if your home is in need of a pick-me-up, decorating with blue themed art might stop you from feeling so… blue!