EMOTIONS, THOUGHTS, AND COLOR SPOTS

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the effect of color on the emotions of those who view the artwork created for this research; this is attempted through a systematic application of color combinations combined with abstracted portraiture. This series of artwork is focused on five emotions: joy, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust. With emphasis placed on these five emotions, the goal was maintained within these limited boundaries to test the idea behind how color, color association, and memory intertwine while also researching different color theories and applications of design. The results of this research concluded with no concrete answer, which challenged the authority of color theorists since there seems to be a push to bring concepts about color into definitive confines. However, the idea of affecting the peoples’ emotions using specific colors in conjunction with abstracted portraiture is possible. It has also been discovered that through my analysis, artwork, and findings instigate that there is a dialogue that needs to be further explored, especially in regard to color and the human experience.