Your Secret Language
I want to play a little game. If you had to guess my favourite colour, what would you say?
For most people, the answer is immediate and obvious: red. Of course, it’s red. I built a brand called RedBalloon. I was the #RedShark on four seasons of Shark Tank Australia. Red is energetic, passionate, and action-oriented—all qualities I deeply admire and strive to embody. It has been a powerful and wonderful colour in my business life.
But it’s not my favourite.
My true favourite colour, the one that makes my heart sing, is yellow. To me, yellow is the colour of pure, unadulterated joy. It’s the optimism of a field of sunflowers, the cheerful energy of the morning sun, the clarity of a brilliant new idea. It’s a colour that doesn't demand action; it simply radiates happiness.
This little secret is more than just a piece of personal trivia. It’s the perfect illustration of one of the most profound lessons I've learned, both as an entrepreneur and as an Australian artist: colour is a deeply personal, powerful, and universal language that we are all fluent in, even if we don’t realise we’re speaking it.
It is the silent partner in every brand, the unspoken mood-setter in every room, and the secret fuel for our own wellbeing. Understanding this language of art and emotion is not just for artists; it is a superpower for leaders, marketers, and anyone who wants to communicate more effectively and live a more vibrant life.
Starting with a Feeling
As an artist, my creative process often begins not with a subject, but with an emotion, which I experience as a colour. Before I even think about a landscape or an abstract form, I might feel a deep, calm, and contemplative mood, and my mind will immediately go to a rich indigo blue. On another day, I might feel a burst of creative, social energy, and my hands will itch to work with a vibrant, welcoming orange.
When I create a piece of Naomi Simson art, the colours are the emotional foundation of the story I want to tell. My studio is a laboratory of pigments. I love the physical, tactile process of mixing colours, watching a dull brown come to life with a touch of yellow, or calming a fiery red with a hint of cool blue. Each new shade holds a different energy, a different voice.
This intuitive use of colour is a way of tapping into a deeper level of communication. It’s about expressing the feelings that words can't quite capture. And this emotional resonance is exactly what makes colour such a potent tool in the world of business.
The Lesson in Colour: Your Business's Emotional Palette
The principles of colour psychology are the foundation of colour theory in branding. The colours you choose for your business are not just decorative; they are sending a powerful, subconscious message to your customers every single day. Here’s a quick guide to the emotional language of the core colours:
- Red (The Colour of Action): Red is the colour of energy, passion, and urgency. It physically increases our heart rate. It’s no accident that "Buy Now" buttons and "Sale" signs are so often red. It’s a colour that demands attention and encourages decisive action. But use it carefully—too much can feel aggressive or overwhelming.
- Yellow (The Colour of Optimism): My personal favourite! Yellow is the colour of happiness, creativity, and clarity. It’s associated with logic and the left side of the brain, but also with pure joy. It’s a fantastic colour for brands that want to convey innovation, positivity, and a friendly, approachable energy.
- Blue (The Colour of Trust): Blue is the most popular corporate colour for a reason. It is the colour of calm, stability, logic, and trust. It has a reassuring effect, conveying a sense of security and professionalism. It’s the go-to colour for financial institutions, tech companies, and any business where building credibility is paramount.
- Green (The Colour of Balance): Green is the colour of nature, and it brings with it a sense of balance, harmony, and growth. It’s a restful colour for the eye and is associated with health, wealth, and sustainability. It’s a perfect choice for brands in the wellness, finance, or environmental sectors.
- Orange (The Colour of Enthusiasm): Sitting between the energy of red and the joy of yellow, orange is the colour of enthusiasm, adventure, and social connection. It’s a wonderfully welcoming and creative colour, perfect for brands that want to foster a sense of community and fun.
Understanding this palette allows you to be more intentional in how you communicate your brand's unique personality.
The Wellbeing Connection: A Colour Audit for Your Life
This is where the real fun begins. The principles of colour psychology don't just apply to your business; they are a powerful and accessible tool for enhancing your own creative wellbeing. I encourage you to become a colour detective in your own life by conducting a "Colour Audit."
This is a simple, mindful hobby that can have a profound impact.
- Audit Your Workspace: Look around your desk or office right now. What are the dominant colours? Are they supporting the kind of work you do? If you need to do deep, focused work, is your environment a calming blue or a neutral grey? If you need to be in a creative, brainstorming mode, could you introduce a splash of vibrant orange or yellow with a piece of art, a new mug, or even a pot plant with bright flowers?
- Audit Your Home: Your home should be your sanctuary. Does the colour of your living room make you feel relaxed and at ease? Does the colour of your bedroom promote a sense of calm and restfulness? You don't need to repaint the whole house. Small changes—a new set of cushions, a colourful throw rug, a piece of art—can completely shift the energy of a space.
- Audit Your Wardrobe: Colour is a powerful tool for personal expression and can even influence your own mood. Notice how you feel when you wear different colours. Is there a particular colour that makes you feel more confident for a big meeting? One that makes you feel calm and creative on a quiet workday? Intentionally choosing your colours for the day is a simple but powerful act of self-care.
Paint Your World with Purpose
My journey as an Australian artist has taught me that colour is a gift. It is a source of endless joy, a powerful tool for communication, and a direct line to our emotions.
You do not need to be a painter to speak this language. It is your native tongue. My invitation to you is to start noticing it. Notice how the colour of a room makes you feel. Notice the colours you are drawn to in nature. Notice the deliberate use of colour in the brands you love.
Start to play with it. Be more intentional. Use colour not just to decorate your world, but to design your feelings. When you learn to speak fluent colour, you unlock a richer, more vibrant, and more meaningful way of experiencing the world.
