Why Bold Color Feels Like Hope

Color Conversations: Why Bold Color Feels Like Hope

People often tell me, “Your work makes me happy,” or “Your colors feel like joy.”

And I always smile, because yes, that’s part of it. But there’s something deeper, too.

For me, bold color feels like hope.

Not the sugary kind. Not the “everything is perfect” kind. I mean the kind of hope that shows up even when life is complicated. The kind that says, We’re still here. Beauty still exists. Light still breaks through.

Color is a language

Color speaks before words do.

A room can feel calm or energized before you even know why. A painting can feel like movement or stillness without being representational. Color has that power.

In my own life, color has been:

• a mood lifter

• a prayer (sometimes literally layered under paint)

• a way back to myself

• a way to say, “Look, there is still goodness here.”

  
  

Why I’m drawn to bold palettes

Muted palettes have their place, and I love a good neutral moment. But bold color, for me, is like music turned up just enough to change the atmosphere.

Bold color does a few things:

• It energizes a space without needing clutter or extra décor.

• It creates a focal point that feels intentional.

• It invites personality into a home (and into life).

And honestly? It’s brave.

PATCHWORK SOUL

Bold doesn’t mean loud

This is important: bold color doesn’t have to scream. It can sing.

A bright piece can still feel sophisticated when it has:

• grounded neutrals

• clean shapes

• balanced composition

• intentional repetition

• a “resting place” for the eye

That’s part of what I love about mid-century design - boldness with structure. Play with restraint.

A little exercise (try this at home)

If you’re hesitant about color, try this:

1. Pick one color you secretly love (even if you “don’t wear it”).

2. Add it in a small way... a pillow, a vase, a book cover, a small piece of art.

3. Notice how your mood changes in that corner.

Color is personal. It’s memory. It’s a story. Sometimes the color we avoid is the one we need.

My hope for my paintings

When someone brings one of my paintings into their home, I want it to feel like:

• a spark

• a conversation starter

• a daily lift

• a little reminder that life is still full of possibility

If you’d like to see what’s currently available (or follow my newest work), you can always find it at vivfineart.com.