Color & Art: The Ultimate Tool for Understanding Your Emotions

Art can guide us into the depths of our inner worlds, revealing truths we may not have been consciously aware of. Whether through painting, drawing, or any other creative outlet, art is a mirror and a beautiful gateway to our emotions and thoughts, helping us navigate life’s complexities and helping us understand ourselves more.

Here are five reasons why art is a transformative tool for self-discovery and how I use COLOR to connect with and understand emotions daily. What connects me is when I take a step back on the abstracts of my paintings and look at the colors I’ve used, and it explains my emotions right on the canvas.

1. Art Encourages Vulnerability

Creating art allows us to let our guard down. It’s a space to express feelings without finding the “right” words. I am sick of feeling like I always have to be “right” because that is not realistic. Putting brush to canvas or pen to paper opens the door to raw honesty, permitting us to explore what’s happening beneath the surface. Vulnerability is the foundation of self-discovery, and art provides a safe space to embrace it. I remember feeling utterly self-conscious of my NEED to be vulnerable. It’s how I connect with others; it’s how I connect with my inner world.

For me, this vulnerability is often reflected in the colors I choose. My palette leans toward blues and greens when I’m feeling calm or introspective or feeling deep emotions I can’t outwardly express. On days when I’m working through anger or frustration, reds, oranges, and sharp contrasts often dominate my work. The colors become a visual language for the emotions I’m uncovering.

2. Art Bridges the Gap Between Mind and Body

Our bodies often carry emotional energy that our minds haven’t processed yet. Painting or the creative act can be a conduit for this energy, helping us release it tangibly. When stressed or overwhelmed, creating art can be a grounding practice, reconnecting us with our physical selves. Now understand this: creating art does not mean you have to make this masterpiece of a painting. The art of creating anything comes in so many forms. Take a minute to sit and think about what you can create. Maybe it is a new dish in the kitchen or an art journal spread full of flowing paint.

I use bold, vibrant colors to capture physical sensations tied to emotion. For example, a swirl of bright yellows and oranges might represent the nervous buzz of excitement, while heavy, layered purples and blacks convey the weight of sadness or fatigue on my personal energy. These colors remind me to check in with my body and notice what it’s telling me.

3. Art Reveals Patterns in Our Inner Worlds

We notice recurring themes and symbols in our work when we create consistently. These patterns can offer deep insights into our subconscious thoughts and beliefs. They might reveal unresolved feelings, personal values, or even hidden strengths.

In my daily artistic practice, I often revisit motifs: flowers for growth, animals for strength and resilience, and human forms to explore connection and the human experience. The colors I pair with these symbols also tell a story. For instance, bright yellows and certain animals symbolize forward motion into personal growth, while electric hues with butterflies, bees, or jaguars reflect resilience, energy, and strength. These choices aren’t always deliberate—they emerge naturally or within a meditation, teaching me about myself as I move through a painting.

4. Art Provides a Space for Reflection

Looking back at our creations, we can see our emotions and experiences from a new perspective. This reflective process can lead to breakthroughs in understanding who we are and what we need during the fluctuations of daily life.

I often revisit pieces I’ve created during particularly emotional moments that bring out something I could not put into words. The colors and compositions act like a journal entry, returning me to that state of mind. Often, I’ll whip out my journal and finally be able to verbalize what came out through color. Sometimes, I’ll add new layers to older works, incorporating new colors that reflect how I’ve grown since the original piece. This practice reminds me that self-discovery is an ongoing journey. Some paintings are unfinished until I have worked from emotions multiple times on the canvas.

5. Art Connects Us to Our Intuition

We tap into our intuition when we create without overthinking and throw judgment out the window. This was a huge turning point for me in my painting journey. I first learned how to tap into my intuition from my boarding school art teacher, Robin Wimbiscuss. She is the reason I teach Artistic Soul Journaling today, and she changed my life from the moment she stopped me from signing out of high school and throwing my life away. When we tap into our intuition, we access the deep, inner knowing that often gets drowned out by daily distractions. Art helps quiet the noise, allowing us to listen to our true selves.

One way I harness this intuitive connection is by choosing colors instinctively. I let my hand wander to the colors that feel “right” in the moment, trusting that they’re speaking to something within me. Over time, I’ve noticed that these intuitive color choices often align perfectly with the emotions I’m working through in the moment, reaffirming the connection between creativity and self-awareness.

How I Use Color to Understand Emotions

Color is one of the most powerful tools in my artistic practice. Each shade carries its own energy and meaning, serving as a bridge to my emotions. On any given day, the colors I gravitate toward help me understand where I am emotionally. For example:

• Bright Yellows and Oranges: These colors often emerge when I feel hopeful or energized. They remind me to embrace joy and possibility. They remind me to lead with positivity.
• Deep Blues and Greens: These bring a sense of calm and introspection. They carry my focus to my emotional energy: where is it going? Who is it going to? They’re my go-to when I need to center myself or explore deeper emotions.
• Fiery Reds and Intense Blacks: These bold colors surface when I process anger, frustration, or a strong sense of urgency. They help me constructively channel these emotions and understand where my fears are coming from.
• Soft Pinks and Lavenders: These shades symbolize tenderness and self-compassion. They also bring to my playfulness and where my spiritual energy is harnessed. They often appear in my work when I’m focused on healing or nurturing myself.

By paying attention to the colors I use, I’ve developed a deeper awareness of my emotional landscape. This practice has enriched my art and my ability to navigate life with greater clarity and empathy.

The Takeaway

Art is more than a creative outlet—it’s a tool for understanding who we are, what we feel, and where we’re headed. Through vulnerability, reflection, and intuitive connection, art can illuminate the parts of ourselves that we may not have otherwise discovered. This has been an ongoing journey for me and something I realized I need to dedicate my life to.

By harnessing the power of color, we can deepen this journey, using each brushstroke to understand better the emotions that shape our lives.

So, pick up a paintbrush or a pen next time you feel lost, overwhelmed, or simply curious about what’s happening within you. Let the colors guide you. You might be surprised by what you uncover.

Not only does all of this manifest in my painting process, but I also teach my method of color reading in my in-person workshops and in Artful Awakening: Artistic Soul Journaling for Self-Discovery, an online year-long course.

I’d love to help you have an outlet for understanding your own emotions.