Speaking Color: Converting Light into Color
How I See color
Color is expressive, bringing me back to my childhood, Where memories are bright
D.M.Harrison
Understanding color and all of its theories and complexities can be daunting and intimidating. I have taught students how to interpret the color wheel and the theory behind it. I realize there is so much more to color than just learning about how to mix the different hues. This series is about my exploration into color and how I used a scientific lens to recreate a deeper and more creative approach to the topic. In my first post of the series, I start with the science behind how we see or perceive color. We all speak and feel color differently, that is what makes use unique. Color is an internal sensation derived from light entering into our eyes through the corena and lens which strikes the retina. This is where the magic of color begins. Rods and cones attached to the retina are activated sending messages to the brain. Color therefore can be thought of as an internal and very personal experience. We all see color uniquely depending on our individual eyes and brain. So where do we process color information in our brain? The visual cortex which is located in the occipital lobe in both cerebral hemispheres is responsible for processing visual stimuli. The ganglion cells respond to light in the hypothalamus by sending signals. This area of the brain is responsible for releasing hormones. As blue-green light from morning enters into our eyes, the hypothalamus responds by secreting the hormone cortisol. This hormone helps to energize us. As the day ends and the blue light recedes, melatonin is released to help us become sleepy. How does color affect your mood? Do you see color as a way to communicate? The next post in the series will be about the emotion of color and how we as designers and creative beings can use it in our work and everyday lives.
Images are recreated from the following sources: https://socratic.org/questions/how-would-you-compare-and-contrast-the-rod-cells-and-the-cone-cells-in-the-retin and Vanderpoel, E. N. (2018). Color problems: A practical manual for the lay student of color. New York: Circadian Press.
To explore this topic in more detail check out the resources below.
Here's How Colours Really Affect Our Brain And Body, According to Science: https://www.sciencealert.com/does-colour-really-affect-our-brain-and-body-a-professor-of-colour-science-explains
Unit Color Science: Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/pixar/color
The Science of Color: https://library.si.edu/exhibition/color-in-a-new-light/science
How do we see color?: https://www.pantone.com/color-intelligence/articles/technical/how-do-we-see-color
How humans see color: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/how-humans-see-in-color
Vanderpoel, E. N. (2018). Color problems: A practical manual for the lay student of color. New York: Circadian Press.
Rossotti, Hazel. Colour. Princeton University Press, 1983.
LIESBROCK, HEINZ. JOSEF ALBERS: Interaction of Color. HATJE CANTZ, 2020.