Illustration Friday - Blue

In the darkest part of the night
Blue shadows conjure you
And at the brightest height of the daylight
Sometimes I blink 'cause I think I see you
Dreaming like you do

- Joni Mitchell

Throughout history, color has been used for its ability to evoke emotions and symbolize ideas. Although many of qualities associated with colors vary from culture to culture, some connotations also suggest deeper, archetypical sources. An examination of the history of color can thus yield insight into both cultural identities as well as human psychology.

The color blue is universally associated with the sky and the sea, suggesting heaven, infinity, serenity, wisdom, devotion, loyalty, and openness. Blue has been significant in the religious beliefs of many diverse cultures, often thought to bring peace or to keep evil spirits away. In many cultural mythologies, because blue is associated with sky and water, its symbolism extends to the heavens and of the primeval floods. In both of these cases, blue takes on a meaning of life and re-birth. In dream analysis, depending on the context of the dream, the presence of blue may symbolize either clarity of mind and a spiritual optimism for the future or melancholy. Because color has so much connotative power, artists and writers often go beyond its representational value in order to express and evoke emotions and concepts.

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. - e.e. cummings