Red

Red
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see red?

Comment here!

Then read more and find other viewer’s responses.
Psychologically red is the warmest color. Red-colored rooms feel 10 degrees warmer than they measure. It is a symbol of energy, power, and vitality. It is highly active, it quickens the pulse, arouses and motivates. It’s physical and sensual. It evokes intense passions – love and anger. Mythologically it is linked with Mars, the god of war, whose name was later given to the red planet. Red is the most eye-catching color.  It is often a sign of danger, used in emergency equipment, warning signs, and hazard alerts. Stop! In recent history, it has become associated with revolution, socialism, and leftist tendencies. Pink is a subtler expression of red working in a more understated way associated with rejuvenation and youth.

Classic images
fire
sun rising and setting
blood
red cross

Expressions
red alert …
I see red …
painting the town red …
red-blooded male …
in the red …
red letter day …

Words
brick, blood, blush, burgundy, carmine, cinnabar, crimson, fire engine, flame, garnet, madder, rose, rouge, ruby, rust, russet, scarlet, tomato, vermillion

Find All The Words Of The Rainbow here.
Read more on Color Psychology here.

Learn more in my digital printing and digital photography workshops.

27 Comments

  • jahartford

    22.09.2009 at 11:33

    Hot, passion, concentration, intense

  • jahartford

    22.09.2009 at 11:34

    hot, passion, intenese, concentration

  • Sam Krisch

    22.09.2009 at 13:44

    Legos

  • jahartford

    22.09.2009 at 13:56

    passion, intensity

  • Michael J. Hoffman

    22.09.2009 at 14:18

    Red is an attention grabbing color; one need only envision a red shirt, scarf or dress. However, nature recognized this eons ago – consider the red swash of a male cardinal, the bright dewlap of a male anole, or even the vermillion flowers that contrast so brightly against their background to attract the birds and insects necessary for their survival.
    Red is an important color in marketing as well – consider the appeal and success of Coca-Cola and their universally recognized logo.
    I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
    mh++

  • Mr. Muskrat

    22.09.2009 at 14:49

    When I first read this post this morning I thought of a sports car, a Lamborghini specifically.
    When I read it again this afternoon, my first thought was a stop light.
    Interesting…

  • Kathy Beal

    22.09.2009 at 18:23

    Red = passion, heat, center of creativity, volcanic, firey, beginnings, passion (did I say passion!) sexy, creation

  • Kathy Beal

    22.09.2009 at 18:25

    PS: When I was a non-digital painter my mantra was always “when in doubt, start with red”. It is my alltime favorite color…

  • Kathy Beal

    22.09.2009 at 18:31

    Looks like my prior post didn’t work…
    For me red = passion, creativity, volcanic, passion, firey, center of the earth volcanic beginnings of everything, source, (did I say passion!)

  • margie

    22.09.2009 at 20:26

    loud
    alarm
    stop
    fire

  • trace

    23.09.2009 at 08:19

    reminded of the “red shirt” comment on “LOST” between Boone and Locke. A reference to the original Star Trek series and how the “red shirt” guys in the landing party always ended up killed…
    It does have very intense associations, even if the hue is subtle. A hard colour to embrace when one is drawn to the blue/indigo part of the spectrum.

  • jahartford

    23.09.2009 at 09:36

    passion, intense
    red is for racin’

  • johnpaulcaponigro

    23.09.2009 at 09:45

    fire
    vitality
    blood
    action
    truth in/of/through action

  • Kathy Beal

    23.09.2009 at 10:48

    (sorry if this gets duped – but this comment has not posted 2x…)
    Red = passion, creativity, the source, volcanic, molten lava, love, passion.
    In my medicine wheel, red is the color of the south, the source of all creativity, firey, hot, and passionate.
    Oh, yeah, did I say passion?

  • jmonheim

    23.09.2009 at 11:25

    passion, action, emphasis, push, explode, projection, move, energy. Ever notice how American Presidents wear a red tie when giving important speeches?

  • bamyva

    23.09.2009 at 12:50

    The first thing that comes to mind when I see red is passion, intensity, activity, hot.

  • jmonheim

    23.09.2009 at 13:04

    hmmm….. didn’t keep my previous post.
    hot, projecting, anger, action, energy, strength, red-neck republican,

  • Kathy Beal

    23.09.2009 at 13:38

    passion, creativity, source, volcanic, molten lava

  • Julia

    23.09.2009 at 14:22

    images: tomatoes on the vine, lipstick, dancing.
    expressions: she’s one hot tomato! kiss me, darling. i love salsa dancing.
    language: tomato red, kissable red.

  • Kathy Beal

    23.09.2009 at 15:21

    i also like red food. If offered a handful of jelly beans, I’ll always go for the red ones first (m&m’s too!)…and I avoid the blue m&m’s, go figure

  • fotofinish

    23.09.2009 at 16:07

    This raises a red flag for me! It screams NOTICE ME!
    —jerryg

  • jahartford

    23.09.2009 at 16:18

    intensity, passion, focused, angry
    red is for racin’

  • shayne

    23.09.2009 at 16:48

    fire
    pain
    warning
    danger

  • Kathy Beal

    23.09.2009 at 18:07

    passion
    creativity
    source
    volcanic
    molten lava
    passion
    firey

  • olaf

    24.09.2009 at 12:56

    warmth
    love
    action
    strength

  • jerry grasso

    24.09.2009 at 18:17

    Raise a red flag! Red screams for me attention; pay attention to some sixth sense about danger or something that should demand a resolution as soon as possible.

  • ct.caponigroarts

    25.09.2009 at 10:27

    Fire
    Strength
    Conflict
    Violence
    Blood

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