Radiating Joy: Our obsession with yellow

Radiating Joy: Our obsession with yellow

Nov 19, 2020 Read More

Dive into the art history and meaning of yellow, a color we’re *obviously* a little crazy about. To us, yellow is so much more than a color. It means creativity, optimism, and joy. It’s a mood and a state of mind. That’s how we got our name, and what we mean by “welcome to the bright side.”

Yellow in Nature: Warm and energetic tones

When many people think of yellow, the natural world first comes to mind. Wildflowers, bees, fruit, and exotic fish. Sunlight, starlight, and the changing leaves in the fall. “There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot,” Picasso notably remarked, ”But there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into sun.” Yellow is the color most closely tied with light and energy. It’s a visual embodiment of a warm day and a dose of vitamin C.

Mellow Yellow: How it impacts the mood

Rise & Shine from the yellowpop core collection

In his book, The Art of Spiritual Harmony, Kandinsky writes of how yellow radiates and approaches the viewer, “leaping across the border” and “streaming out aimlessly on all sides.” Jung notes that people who are drawn to yellow are intuitive and full of insights, calling it “comprehension in a flash of light.” When it’s deeply saturated, yellow can be stimulating and exciting. In lighter forms, it’s soothing and serene. Ask 100 people what’s the happiest color, yellow will win every time.

Yellow Art: Van Gogh, Kasama, and Rothko

When many people think of yellow, the natural world first comes to mind. Wildflowers, bees, fruit, and exotic fish. Sunlight, starlight, and the changing leaves in the fall. “There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot,” Picasso notably remarked, ”But there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into sun.” Yellow is the color most closely tied with light and energy. It’s a visual embodiment of a warm day and a dose of vitamin C.

Custom neon for @grice_grove, photo by them