Over The Rainbow- How To Use Colour To Increase Your Creativity

One easy way to increase your creativity is to become more aware of the colour all around you, and use it many different ways.

Colour is obviously a very strong element of the visual sense we experience.

Different colours have different associations and connections and trigger off a variety of feelings and responses within us.

Think of the word "red" for example. What are the first things that come to mind?

I first think of blood, stop, strawberry jam, wine, passion, anger. It's also the colour of the second hand on my clock, the cover of my diary, the colour pen I use to represent a point of action and colour of the "hang up" button on my phone...

Try yourself, take a few different colours and create a profile for each.

Think about the dimensions of the colour, its texture, its temperature, the emotions it relates to, the objects that come to mind, the places it brings to mind. Extend this maybe to considering its close relations in the colour spectrum and its opposites.

Think also about familiar objects in different colours to their usual ones.

Think beyond the normal cliches of "red = hot" and "green = grass" for example.

What reaction would it bring if there were purple oranges, pink grass or a bright green sun?

Create a collage of one single colour, focusing just on the colour and shade and not on the pictures or materials. You could cut up magazines and paste on a large board or alternatively find images on the internet and create a collage in Photoshop.

Another way to explore your relation with colours is to use different colour light bulbs in your study, office or studio.

Try a green bulb for a few days, then a blue one, then red. Notice the different effect each has on your mood, outlook, attitude and productivity.

Maybe you'll find certain shades will help you be more creative, more relaxed, more energised and inspired. Maybe different creative projects would benefit by having different colours surrounding you?

As always, experiment freely and see what works for you and your creativity.

As creative people, our visual sense is very strong and important. Colour is one of the crucial elements of this.

Use these tips to experiment with colour and notice how it helps you to increase your creativity.

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