Encounters with Color

I was out and about with friends when halfway through the day, we noticed that almost everyone had green on. This sparked a hot debate about color (and color theory).

The focus of the debate was a beret that someone was wearing: Was it more blue than green or more green than blue?

As the only person with an art background present, my opinion was “the beret is teal and let’s leave it at that”; but, of course, my answer was rejected because it had to be either “more blue than green” or “more green than blue”. I was getting flashbacks to the viral photo of “the dress” that was either blue and black or white and gold.

I explained that I would not be able to pick one over the other. When the beret was compared to the sweater of the person wearing it, the beret was more green than blue. Then when it was compared to someone else’s shirt, the beret was more blue than green.

If the beret was alone on a white background, it would be quite equally blue and green. Color relativity *insert mic drop*. My color theory professor would be proud.

It was quite an unexpected encounter with color. It was really entertaining to listen to everyone’s answer.

Does anyone else have fun color stories to share?

Related links

Here’s a video that illustrates color relativity.

Here’s an interesting website about color and why color does matter. The “fun color facts” are enjoyable to read through and the “fun color tales” are stories shared by readers of their own encounters with color.

Melissa Lor