April Newsletter
Monthly Newsletter
In this issue of my monthly newsletter, I will reveal a new collection, talk about the launch of my online shop, and give you a guide on how you can use color psychology to your advantage when choosing colors to paint your walls.
Artist Updates
I just recently turned nineteen, which feels a little strange! I am working on how my business will look going forward. In other news, I just launched my online store, and I’m working on a ton of new things, including a new collection.
The Shop Is Open!
I just finished setting up my online store, and am ready to start selling and shipping my art. I have original art, prints, stickers and more available now! Go to the shop tab and you can check out what I have and follow me on social media to get updates about new products. You can also sign up for my email list for those updates, and get access to my future newsletters early, right in your inbox.
Using Emotion as Fuel- Rage Art Collection
Recently, I have found myself getting frustrated a lot. From things as simple as technical issues with my laptop to more complicated issues, I’ve found myself getting upset and needing to find a new outlet. My solution to this has been art, more specifically what is called rage art.
Rage art is when you use your anger and create art without worrying about the outcome and just focusing on the process. For example, one rage art piece I created was thrown around, cut up, and then sewn back together. The idea is that your art supplies don’t have feelings, so if you feel like punching something, you can punch your canvas. You essentially turn your anger and frustration into fuel for your creativity and create without holding back.
I have created several rage art pieces to start off my new collection. These pieces are more abstract than my other work. I will continue to add to this collection over time, and some of these pieces may be turned into prints, stickers, and other products later on!
Artist Favorite
One thing that has been bringing me joy this month is smores. I have been making them in the microwave for desert, and they are ridiculously good. If you have ever wished your marshmallow was larger when eating a smore, just microwave them. They puff up like a ballon. Just keep an eye on them and don’t leave them in there too long or that mallow will get to big to even eat.
Color Psychology- How Color Choice Can Change Your Home
For many artists, color psychology is constantly being used, but you might not think much about it if you aren't an artist. Everyone knows the basics of color mixing, and even if you aren’t an artist you probably already know that certain colors can affect your brain in a certain way and are associated with different things. But many people don’t know which is which. While color theory and psychology may not be something you are constantly using, you can still apply it to several aspects of your life, and I want to dive into one aspect in particular: the color palette in your home.
Recently, my family and I repainted several rooms in our house, including my bedroom, and my sibling’s rooms. It got me thinking about wall color choices and their effect on the mood of a room. So, here I will present a simple guide to how colors can affect the feeling of your house so that you can keep psychology in mind as you choose your paint, and use it to your advantage to make your house feel like home.
Starting with the basics, here is a quick summary of what emotions each basic color group is associated with. Keep these things in mind when choosing paint colors, as it can affect how a room feels.
Reds: Red is associated with strong emotions, strength, excitement, and passion. It is also associated with hunger and eating, so it is more commonly used in kitchens than in other rooms. I wouldn’t recommend painting any bedrooms or office spaces red, as the color can be distracting especially if it’s a bright red, so it can make it hard to focus, and hard to sleep.
Pinks: Pink is associated with love, kindness, and softness. This color is used for kids' rooms a lot, and sometimes in creative spaces like craft rooms. Keep in mind with all colors that the more bright a color is, the more distracting it can be, so while a very light pink can be a good choice for your craft space, a neon pink probably won’t be as it will be very distracting.
Oranges: Orange is associated with success, creativity, enthusiasm, and warmth. This can be a good color for a comfy space, office space, or craft room. Remember that the hue of the color will affect how a room feels. For a comfy space, a more desaturated orange is better, while a creative space might need a lighter shade. However, orange is a very strong color and it may be best to just use it for an accent wall rather than a whole room, especially if you are using it in a space where you need to focus. A darker, more desaturated orange could be a good choice for a bedroom, but keep in mind that the room won’t be as bright.
Yellows: Yellow is associated with happiness, and optimism, as well as hunger, making it a possible choice for kitchens, and sometimes bedrooms, especially kids' rooms. Be careful with how saturated of a yellow you pick as it can be a very bright and intense color.
Greens: Green is often associated with growth and harmony, and it can be a very relaxing color. It can be a great color choice for bedrooms, but you can pretty much use it for almost any room. The only room that you might not want to use green for is a gym, as it’s not typically an energizing color, but that can depend on the shade of green, and what you use the gym for. It’s also a good color for bathrooms, as it is often associated with a feeling of refreshment and cleanliness.
Blues: Blue is associated with calm and stability, which makes it a great choice for bedrooms, bathrooms, kids' rooms, and creative spaces. You can see examples of this in places like certain stores, hospitals, and places like spas. Remember that if you plan to use a brighter blue or a navy blue it may be better as an accent wall color to keep it looking too intense or too dark, especially in master bedrooms, guest rooms, and general living spaces if you want those spaces to look more traditionally mature. The wall color can be less toned down with kids' rooms and creative spaces.
Purples: Purple is associated with maturity, wisdom, spirituality, and creativity. It's also a very calming color. Purple, similar to blue and green is very versatile in a home if you pick the right shade. If you are aiming for a mature look, a darker purple is a good fit, keeping in mind that if you don’t want to make a room too dark, you can make it an accent color. A lighter shade can be a great choice for creative spaces, kids' rooms, and bathrooms. Purple has historically been associated with royalty and is still associated with authority, so if you have a home office and often are in online meetings, teaching online, or something similar, a purple accent wall in your office can psychologically affect those watching you on video and make you seem more knowledgeable and respected.
Neutrals: Neutral colors are often used to give a feeling of balance when paired with other colors. Suppose you want to use a certain color but only as an accent color. In that case, pairing it with a neutral color will keep a bright, saturated color from looking too intense, and neutrals can keep a room from looking too dark if you pair light neutrals with a darker accent. But not all neutral shades work the same. I would avoid black unless you are using it as an accent wall color as it makes rooms too dark, and if you use black don’t use pure black. Pure black is very intense and using it on walls isn’t a great idea. I also wouldn’t recommend pure white for a whole room. I would use a very light gray or off-white color. This will give white walls without making a room too bright and keeping it from looking like a hospital. Also keep in mind that white walls show dirt easily, so they might not be the best choice in rooms for young kids. White walls can be a good choice for creative spaces, as it makes the room nice and bright, and make photographing creative work easier. You can see examples of this in gallery walls which are almost always white or off-white. Gray and brown colors are great for balance in any room.
Keep in mind regardless of what colors you use, it's a good idea to pick colors that work well with your furniture and decor, or the furniture and decor that you plan on using. Before you buy your paint, pick out sample color cards and take them home so you can see how your stuff looks against them. You can also buy samples of your paint colors to put on the walls and see if you like them.
This color guide isn’t meant to be absolute. The most important factor in wall color choice is your feelings about the color. Pick colors that you like, and that make the space feel like your space. It’s ok to simply pick colors you like, and not worry about color psychology, but you can keep it in mind if you are on the fence about your color choices.
Flying Squirrel Studio
Authored By Alex Samaha
April 15, 2024