Color Theory 17 - Red

In discussing color and meaning I can only present generalities. A color may have one generally understood meaning but that doesn’t mean that it has the same meaning for the recipient of your quilt.  Maybe you are going to design a quilt for a friend and using a color that generally means strength, or love or hope or whatever. You get it made and proudly present your gift only to discover that for your friend that color is associated with some horrible memory from childhood.  It’s more important to make quilts that you love in colors that you love. But that doesn’t need to stop us from having some fun with the colors for a few weeks!

Red

“I want to be different. If everyone is wearing black, I want to be wearing red.” Maria Sharapova 

"Red is the ultimate cure for sadness." Bill Blass

I have to start the investigation of colors with my favorite color to wear (aside from black): red. I have red glasses and I will always select a red sweater over a blue, green or purple one. Red makes me very happy.

Red, as with most colors, has positive and negative connotations.

Positive meanings:

heat

energy

passion

love

confidence

action

vitality

power

courage

willpower

 

Negative meanings:

anger

violence

wrath

hell

 

 

In Asian cultures it means good luck

In Indian cultures it means purity

In South Africa it is the color of mourning

 

Red phrases:

In the red – losing money

Paint the Town Red – celebrate

Seeing red – anger

Red eye – overnight flight

Red carpet treatment – being treated like a VIP

Red flag – warning sign

Red herring – deceit

Red light district – illicit sex

 

In almost all cultures red is used on stop signs and to signify prostitution.It is the predominate color used in national flags therefore, we often use it most heavily in patriotic quilts with the other colors of our national flag. With green, we use it for Christmas quilts. Vintage quilts in red and white were very popular and in recent decades black, white and red quilts have been popular. Currently, you do not often see quilts that are predominately red, unless it is a more muted shade of red like pink or burgundy. 

How do you use red? Let's have some fun with a little poll. Which phrase best describes how you use red?

 

How often do you use red in your quilts?
	Almost every quilt has some red in it
	Red is my favorite color for my quilts and I use it a lot
	I like red as an accent only
	I use red strictly in patriotic and Christmas quilts
	I use it only when the recipient wants it
	Red annoys me, I avoid it at all costs
	No bright red for me, but I like other shades of red
pollcode.com free polls

Comments

[Amy]

Those glasses don't look very red to me?

[Wanda]

I have never seen a red I didn't like.