The color green appears ubiquitously throughout nature. Grass, leaves, birds, it is associated with health and vitality. Its presence and hue are largely determined by the presence of chlorophyll, the chemical that allows plants to photosynthesize and convert sunlight into energy. Green chlorophyll is basically the lifeblood of the plant world.
Unsurprisingly, green is the color of growth, spring, and renewal. It can be used to restore depleted energy and creating relaxing environments. It is also linked to balance and harmony, and the equilibrium between the head and the heart. It is an emotionally positive and stable color that provides a feeling of peace.
The color red exists right at the end of the visible light spectrum, and is a color of extremes. The red colors that appear in the sky at sunset occur when scattered electromagnetic radiation particles interact with the light. Red-colored earth is the result of iron oxide in the soil, and the red of our blood comes from the protein hemoglobin.
Red is an intense and energetic color that is warming and passionate. It can trigger excitement and motivation on one side, but also anger and rage on the other. It is when these emotions mix as one that we find sexual passion and lust. Red can be used to create spaces that lift the energy and imbue a level of vibrancy and creativity.
Green + Red = Brown
When mixed together, green and red can make a variety of different shades of brown. This is another color that is ubiquitous in nature. It is the color of dark wood and rich soil. It is also often the color of our eyes, hair, and skin.
According to a public opinion survey, brown is the least favorite color among Americans and is often associated with things that are dirty or dowdy. But this opinion does the color a disservice. On one side, it can represent down-to-earth values and stability, and is associated with the emotion of gratitude.
But the color brown should also be linked to the coffee bean, with its rich aroma. While this bean, which is in fact a cherry, doesn’t look like much in its raw state, there is more to it than meets the eye. The color brown has an insatiable energy contained within it. Brown can be used to harness energy for productive purposes. It is not an uncontrolled energy, but one that is firmly within our grasp.
