ZenART's Membership Plans Terms & Conditions

(Updates effective 17/08/2020)

These terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) govern the ZenART Supplies Rewards & Referral Plan as well as Subscribe & Save Plan (“Membership Plans”), and members of the programs will earn zen coins in connection with the purchase of qualifying online products and online activities that are redeemable towards the purchase of certain products online. For the re-occurring members (Subscribe & Save Plan) this includes exclusive gifts & content.

1. REWARDS & REFERRAL

  • Free. No purchase is necessary to obtain membership in the Rewards & Referral Program, but you must establish an account at https://shop.zenartsupplies.co/account/register . Please see our privacy policy, located here, to understand how information you provide us will be used. This program is void where prohibited.
  • Eligibility. In order to be eligible for the Rewards & Referral Program, you must create an account as outlined in these Terms and Conditions. You may create an account if you are at least seventeen (17) years of age, have Internet access, and have a valid mailing address. If you are between the ages of 17 and 18, you must have your parent’s permission to register for an account. If you choose to create an account, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account, username and password and for restricting access to your account. You are responsible for keeping such information current, complete, accurate and truthful. You agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account, username and/or password. You agree to provide only current, complete, accurate and truthful information. If you are accessing and using the Site on someone else’s behalf, you represent that you have the authority to bind that person as the principal to all Terms and Conditions provided herein, and to the extent you do not have such authority you agree to be bound to these Terms and Conditions and to accept liability for harm caused by any wrongful use of the Site or Content resulting from such access or use. You may only have one member account per natural person. Persons who are discovered to have more than one account forfeit their zen coins and will be unsubscribed from the Loyalty Program.
  • How To Enroll in the Rewards & Referral Program. (a) Create an account: Visit www.zenartsupplies.com (the "Site" or "Online") and become a registered user of the Site. Click here to be taken directly to the registration page. You will be asked for your first and last name, your email address, and a password. You will also be given the option to sign up for our newsletter. Once you have submitted the requisite information, you will be sent an email to the address you listed confirming your membership. Once you have confirmed your email address, you are automatically enrolled in the Reward & Referral Program and are a member (“Member”).
  • How to Access/Change Your Member Information. You must keep your personal information on your Account up-to-date. To do so, click on the "My Account" section and access your account by entering your registered email address and current password. From your dashboard you can access your account information; review your current and past orders; change your profile; manage your subscriptions and applications, and access your previous purchases.
  • How to Cancel Your Membership. You may cancel an account at any time. To cancel your account, please send an email to support@zenartsupplies.co and write “cancel membership” in the subject line. The email must come from the account currently listed on our servers as being associated with your Rewards & Referral Program. If you no longer have access to that email address, please email our customer service department and we will verify your status and cancel your account. Upon cancellation, you are no longer a member, and any unused zen coins accrued in your account will be forfeited and cannot be redeemed. Zen coins maintain their value only on valid accounts in good standing, and except as otherwise provided here for redemption, have no cash value outside of their redemption value on the Site.

2. EARNING ZEN COINS

  • General Members can earn zen coins on the purchase of qualifying online products at zenartsupplies.co. To receive zen coins for your Online purchases, you must be signed into your account. You may check at any time to see if you are signed in to the Site by looking in the upper right-hand corner of the site. Gift cards do not qualify for zen coins. Other products that do not qualify for zen coins are noted on the Site.
  • Earning Rate. Members earn 5 sen coins for every $1.00 spent on qualifying purchases (in other words, one (5) zen coins for every one dollar ($1) spent). Zen coins are based on your order subtotal, after any discounts, only. Zen coins are rounded down to the nearest whole number. For example, if you spend $9.99, you will receive 9 zen coins. The calculation is as follows: $9.99 x 1 zen coins per dollar = 9.99 zen coins, which is rounded down to 9 zen coins. This program started on August 17, 2020, and initial levels were set on the 2020 amount spent on ordering products. Note: Shipping and Taxes are not taken into consideration. If an item is return and/or price adjusted that will also be removed from your rewards calculations.
  • Gift Cards. Gift card purchases are not eligible to receive zen coins. However, once a gift card is redeemed, zen coins will be awarded to the recipient for the subtotal after any gift card values, provided s/he is logged into the account, as outlined in these Terms and Conditions.
  • Addition of Zen Coins to Accounts. Zen Coins will be added to your Account under the following conditions, and will generally show up immediately. You will receive zen coins:
    • At the time of account registration
    • During the purchase of qualifying products
    • For other activities outlined on the Site that may show up from time to time. Note that for these other activities, including “bonus zen coins” accumulations and other zen coin promotions, zen coins may show as “pending,” depending upon the activity.
    • Joining the Birthday Club. Birthdate must be entered 30 days before your Birthday to qualify.
    • For Liking the ZenART Supplies Facebook page and sharing the ZenART Supplies Facebook page with your following. This is good one time only.
    • Following ZenART Supplies on Instagram. This is good one time only.
    • Referring a friend to ZenART Supplies. Your account will be automatically awarded the discount only if the referral friend used the link sent to them from your referral account and makes a qualifying purchase. Discount will automatically be applied to account if stipulations are met.
  • Exclusions. Members earn zen coins only on the purchase price of: (i) qualifying online products. Calculation of zen coins excludes payment by the Member for shipping charges and all taxes, including without limitation, federal, state, and local taxes or use taxes. Zen Coins will not be earned on any discounts or other credits offered in connection with a product or service. For example, if a product that is normally $50 is on sale for $25, a Member will only earn zen coins on the purchase price of $25. Purchases of gift cards, redemption of vouchers, and any type of price adjustments, including merchandise returns, are not eligible for zen coins. All purchases made: (i) by a Member prior to such member joining the Program, (ii) Online without a Member being logged onto the Website with the Member's Account number linked to the Member's Online account, are not eligible for Reward & Referral Program credit. The purchase of ZenART Supplies products outside the Zenartsupplies.co website are not eligible for the Reward & Referral Program.
  • Returns/Order Cancellations. Zen Coins earned for a purchase that is then the subject of a return, cancellation, refund, declined credit card or gift card, or other credit will be deducted from your account in an amount equal to the zen coins earned for the original transaction, including any bonus zen coins that may be applicable. Any rewards discounts that are applied to the order, will be distributed equally to the applicable items in the order when completing a return. Zen Coins redeemed on an order will not be reapplied back to your rewards account for any reason on a returned order. If a return/cancellation will cause your account to have a negative zen coin balance, you will not begin earning zen coins again until your zen coins balance is returned to zero (0), by making purchases, or engaging in other promotional activities offered from time to time. If an item is exchanged (different product) any redeemed rewards on the initial purchase may be transferred to the exchange one (1) time only. Rewards used on an order that is canceled cannot be reapplied as they are good for just one use.
  • Bonus Zen Coins Promotions. From time to time, ZenART Supplies may run certain bonus zen coin promotions. Under bonus zen coin promotions, Members can earn additional or "bonus zen coins" in connection with the purchase of certain online products. When you purchase these specially marked products or make the purchase during a bonus zen coins time period, you will earn bonus zen coins on each product, as specified in the offer. Bonus zen coin promotions are subject to the terms and conditions of the offer and may be offered at any time in ZenART Supplies sole discretion. Bonus zen coin offers cannot be combined with any other offer.
  • Limitations on Bonus Zen Coins and Zen Coins, Generally. These terms apply to zen coins and bonus zen coins accruals. If you purchase a product during a promotion and the product comes with an additional, free product, zen coins will not be issued on the retail value of the free product. If you redeem zen coins towards the purchase of a product and pay a portion of the retail price after the zen coin's redemption, you will receive zen coins only on the leftover retail amount you pay, and not on any value attributed to the zen coin you used. If you redeem zen coins towards the purchase of a product in an amount equal to the full price of the product, you will not earn any zen coins.
  • Non-purchase Options for Earning Zen Coins. You may also earn additional zen coins on non-purchase activities. From time to time, ZenART Supplies may offer you the chance to win various prizes, and earn zen coins, for entering into promotions. For sweepstakes promotions, there is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PLAY OR TO WIN. Rules and restrictions will apply to such promotions and may be found on the entry page of any promotion.
  • Referring a friend to ZenART Supplies. Email a friend an $8 off coupon on $50 order by clicking “ Earn Zen Coins” then “ Refer a Friend”. Enter the email address of a friend who has not purchased with ZenART Supplies before (if your referral has shopped with us before the referral link will be automatically voided by the system). A referral link will be sent to your friend with an $8 off coupon on a $50 order. $8 off coupon on $50 order will automatically be rewarded to your account only if the referral friend used the link sent to them from your referral account and makes a qualifying first-time purchase with ZenART Supplies. Your Referral friend will receive an $8 off coupon on $50 order, 200 zen coins for signing up, and zen coins from their first purchase made while signed into their new ZenART Supplies account.

3. REDEEMING ZEN COINS

  • How To Use Your Zen Coins. Zen Coins must be used in increments outlined in these Terms and Conditions. The maximum number of zen coins that may be used in a single transaction is 10,000 zen coins. Zen Coins may only be used Online at the ZenART Supplies website. Zen Coins towards Products: Members can use their zen coins to reduce the purchase price of a product or to receive a product for free based on the following scale:
    • 500 zen coins = $5.00 off
    • 1,000 zen coins = $10.00 off your at least $50 order
    • 1,500 zen coins = $15.00 off your at least $50 order
    • 2,500 zen coins = $25.00 off your at least $50 order

    Zen Coins can only be redeemed in any combination of the zen coin and increment amounts set forth above. Redemption of zen coins towards purchases of products is subject to product availability. Any rewards discounts that are applied to the order, will be distributed equally to the applicable items in the order when completing a return.

  • Gift cards. Once available, zen coins cannot be used towards the purchase of gift cards. Gift card redemption, however, is eligible for zen coins. Zen Coins accrued pursuant to the use of a gift card will benefit the gift card user, provided the user has an account in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
  • To Redeem your Zen Coins. Before you begin shopping with us, sign in to your Shop account on our site. Select “Redeem Zen Coins” from the red tab housed in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and select the amount of zen coins you would like to redeem. You will be issued a custom code that you can copy and paste into the discount bar during check out (Please note - only one code can be used). Your total payment amount will be discounted by the amount of zen coins you allocate to the purchase. Note that zen coins may only be redeemed for the purchase price of the product. Sales tax, shipping, and other handling charges assessed in addition to the price of the product are your responsibility and zen coins may not be used to discount these additional charges.
  • Exclusions. Only one account per natural person. Only one discount code can be redeemed per transaction. Rewards redemption codes may not be combined with any other discount codes. Zen Coins may not be transferred or gifted at this time. Zen Coins cannot be used on past purchases. Zen Coins accumulated on different accounts by different members may not be combined or aggregated to make purchases of products or for any other reason. Zen Coins earned in a transaction cannot be redeemed in the same transaction. Redeemed zen coins cannot be retroactively applied to any past order or receive a price adjustment on any order where redeemed zen coins were not applied. Zen Coins have no cash value outside of the ZenART Supplies website and are available only to members in good standing.
  • Zen Coins Expiration and Time Lapses. All zen coins acquired, whether standard zen coins or bonus zen coins, shall expire 180 days from the date the zen coins are added to your account. Zen Coins expire 180 days from the date in which they were assigned to your account. Specific onsite activities in which zen coins will be awarded are set to accrue zen coins based on a time-lapse at the discretion of ZenART Supplies.
    • Sign up: zen coins are added to your account instantly
    • Order: zen coins are added to your account when your order is placed.
  • Once zen coins are redeemed, a discount code will be assigned and we are unable to cancel the discount code and reapply the zen coins to your Reward & Referral account. Discount codes generated by redeeming zen coins do not expire until used. They are a one-time use code, so once it is used it is gone. If an order is returned zen coins will not be reinstated.

4. Subscribe & Save Plan

  • Re-occurring purchase. Purchase is necessary in order to participate in this plan. The plan is worth $6.95 and will be charged to your account on the same date of the month that you purchased the plan, i.e. if you purchased the plan on 19th of January, you will be charged for the plan on the 19th of each month you are a Subscribe & Save Plan member.
  • 15% re-occurring discount. As a member of the subscribe & Save Plan, you are eligible for a 15% discount every time you put an order in place. You are qualified for the discount as soon as you purchase the plan.
  • Cancellation. After a purchase made with a Subscribe & Save Plan, you are not able to get a refund for the plan for the month the purchase was valid for but you can cancel for the following months.
  • Free samples & accessories. These are included for members of Subscribe & Save Plan only. These are not included in each order but the member will be informed when they will receive "extras" in their order.
  • Access to exclusive content. Exclusive access to tutorials, guides, tips & tricks in video, pdf, or audio format will be part of the membership program. Not all exclusive content is available but what is and will be available is up to ZenART Supplies sole discretion.

5. GENERAL

  • By registering with Zenartsupplies.co and joining the Reward & Referral Program, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in these Terms and Conditions, as well as any other terms that may be associated with the Reward & Referral Program. ZenART Supplies reserves the right to cancel, modify, suspend or restrict the Reward & Referral Program, your account, the redemption of zen coins, or any aspect of the Program, including, without limitation, the zen coin conversion ratio and the zen coin expiration policy at any time. Any changes can be made without advance notice. ZenART Supplies may make these changes even though such changes may affect your ability to use zen coins already accumulated. You are responsible for remaining knowledgeable about the Program Terms and Conditions. A Member's zen coins balance, as reflected in ZenART Supplies records, shall be deemed correct. ZenART Supplies reserves the right to determine the amount of zen coins in any Member's account based on ZenART Supplies' internal records related to such Member's account. In the event of an inconsistency between the amount accrued in a Member's account as stated on any Member's receipt and ZenART Supplies internal records, ZenART Supplies internal records will control. ZenART Supplies assumes no responsibility for errors caused by incorrect Member information. Your right to transfer zen coins earned or granted under the Program is strictly limited. The sale of zen coins is prohibited and may result in the confiscation or cancellation of your zen coins as well as suspension or termination of your membership, which in each case shall be final and conclusive. All transactions involving zen coins and all Member accounts are subject to review and verification by ZenART Supplies. The zen coins balance in a Member's account may be unavailable for use when an account or transaction is under review. ZenART Supplies may revoke any Member's membership in the Reward & Referral Program at any time if such Member engages in abuse of the Reward & Referral Program or fails to follow the terms and conditions of the Program. Fraud or abuse relating to the accrual of zen coins or redemption of rewards may result in revocation of membership in the Program and may affect a Member's eligibility for participation in any other ZenART Supplies program, present or future. Zen Coins are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. The interpretation and application of the Program's Terms and Conditions are at the sole discretion and determination of ZenART Supplies. For more information or other questions, click on Contact Us.
  • The Terms and Conditions of the loyalty program are subject to change at ZenART Supplies’ sole discretion at any time and without notice to customers. Upon customer’s at-will termination of their Zenartsupplies.com registered account, or if a customer is termination for violation of these Terms and Conditions or other activities in violation of the intent and good faith intended use of this Site, all zen coins will immediately be forfeited and will no longer be redeemable. ZenART Supplies will make reasonable efforts to award zen coins as outlined above to all 1. registered and 2. qualifying Zenartsupplies.co customers but is not responsible for any technical or unforeseen errors that may occur.
  • Zen Coins are nontransferable, nonredeemable for cash, are nonrefundable and are not valid outside of Zenartsupplies.co. Purchases made outside Zenartsupplies.co are not valid for zen coin accrual (this includes, but is not limited to Facebook resell groups, Ebay, and Amazon).
  • Employees of ZenART Supplies are not eligible to participate in the Reward & Referral Program.

Subscribe & Save Plan

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For other currencies, the respective conversion applies.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS
Inspiration

What Does the Color Red Mean in Art and Symbolically

What Does the Color Red Mean in Art and Symbolically

What does the color red mean? A popular color among artworks, fashion, and almost everything under the sun, red has made a statement for itself as one of the most important colors.

They say that red is the first color that the human eye can perceive upon birth, next to black and white. This means that humans have had very strong feelings about the symbolisms of the color red since time immemorial. In mood color meanings, red has a natural influence over us and our emotions. To further understand its uses, let us take a look at the history of the color red. A mesmerizing pigment that carries so much meaning and history.

Discovery of the pigment

"Red," writes historian Michel Pastoureau in Red: The History of a Color, "is the archetypal color, the first color humans mastered, fabricated, reproduced, and broke down into different shades." It was such a strong element, dominating the different cultures for thousands of years.

History states that the first civilization of humans came from Africa. In the Southern part of the coast, evidence of late stone age people who scraped and ground ochre, a clay colored by iron oxide (which we now know as rust!) was found.

Red art - An abalone shell and other ochre-related artefacts are among the many finds from Blombos Cave in South Africa

An abalone shell and other ochre-related artefacts are among the many finds from Blombos Cave in South Africa (Courtesy Christopher Henshilwood/Craig Foster)

A plant they called madder, whose root could be transformed into a red dye, widely grew across Europe, Africa, and Asia. They also discovered a tiny scale insect called Kermes whose body was dried and crushed, resulting in a red tint. This is where the first versions of the color red were derived.

What does the color red mean in the ancient civilizations?

In ancient Egypt, the colors were very limited; and thus the color red symbolism was associated with a lot of meanings. They used it to symbolize life, health, and victory. Egyptians would color themselves with red ochre during festivities. Women used it in cosmetics to redden their cheeks and lips, symbolizing wellness. It was widely utilized as a pigment for wall paintings, particularly used as the skin color of men.

Red art - An ancient Egyptian mural of Nefertari Playing Senet

An ancient Egyptian mural of Nefertari Playing Senet, with red used as the color of men's skin.

Yet, since red meant war, heat, and fire -- it also had its adverse associations. Red was the color of the Greek gods of war -- Phoebus and Ares. The color had both positive and negative connotations. There is bloodshed, aggression, and conflict on one side; and love, warmth and compassion on the other.

Many Roman villas were decorated with vivid red murals. It was one of the finest reds of ancient times; the paintings have retained their brightness for more than twenty centuries later.

Red art - wall of the triclinium, traditionally interpreted to represent the stages of initiation to the cult

Found among the well-preserved remains of the ancient Roman "Villa dei Misteri" on the outskirts of Pompeii was a wall of the triclinium, traditionally interpreted to represent the stages of initiation to the cult. The mural shows a satyr playing the panpipes and a nymph suckling a goat; to their right, the initiate is in a panic.

In ancient China, the color red was used by artists when they made pottery as early as the Yangshao Culture period (5000-3000 BC). Like the Egyptians, they made a red dye from the madder plant to color silk fabric, to be used for gowns and lacquerware.

Indians had the Rubia plant, and used it for centuries to make dye for the robes of Indian monks and hermits. The early Americans on the other hand, had their own vivid crimson dye, made from cochineal - an insect of the same family as the Kermes

Monks at prayer, India.

Color red in Chinese culture (and others)?

Red clothing was a symbol of high status and wealth. It was worn not only by cardinals and princes, but also by merchants, artisans, and townspeople. The quality of red clothing one had access to created a divide between the rich and the poor. To dye the clothing of ordinary people, they used a pigment made from the madder plant. This resulted in a color leaning towards brick-red, which faded with constant washing and sun exposure. The wealthy aristocrats wore scarlet clothing - dyed with expensive kermes insects. This produced a far more vivid and bold color which lasted much longer, too.

In the Chinese culture, "What does the color red mean?'' is a recurring question as it is a heavily used color that is full of symbolism and plays a very important part in their beliefs. It has been embedded in them since ancient times. In cultural traditions, red is associated with weddings, with brides wearing red dresses. A red paper envelope called angpao is also used to wrap gifts of money or other objects. It is a symbol of love, health, and fortune. The Chinese discovered and used the cinnabar, from which the famous vermillion or "Chinese red" originated. For them, red also symbolises a badge of rank, and they chose it for the royal guards of honour as their color to wear.

Red art - Chinese lanterns in the Temples of Kaohsiung, China

Chinese lanterns in the Temples of Kaohsiung, China.

In Japan, red is a traditional color for a heroic figure. For them - red denotes strength, passion, self-sacrifice, and blood.

Fun fact!

Here's an interesting trivia about the question, "What does the color red mean?" - Most Japanese think that the sun is red! Their national flag is a white fabric with a big red circle in the middle. This represents the sun, and Japan is famously known as "the land of the rising sun".

In India, red has been regarded as a symbolic color for married women. It's the color of wealth, beauty, and their goddess Lakshmi.

In ancient Africa, there is a rich history of the red color, the warriors rubbed themselves with red paint when celebrating their victories. Since it is a symbol of life and health, sick people are painted with it in the hopes that they will come back to the best state of health.

Color red in history

The symbolism of the color red was largely practiced in history. World leaders have used red clothing as a way of showcasing their power. Artists chose this color to portray the power of royalties in their paintings. Royal dresses, robes and hats were decorated with deep scarlet hues. This sends an unequivocal message of their political and moral strength. The color was also taken up by Revolutionaries around the world to symbolize new liberties and freedoms.

What does the color red mean in the Bible (and in other religions)?

The Roman Catholic Church used the color red to represent and symbolize the blood of Christ and that of the Christian martyrs. The Popes and the Cardinals throughout history wore this color back then and up to this day. There was a story of a Roman soldier named St. George who refused to renounce his Christian faith and was eventually martyred. During the First Crusade, the banner of the Christian soldiers was a red cross on a white field, which they then called St. George's Cross. This cross became the Flag of England in the 16th century and is now part of the Union Flag of the United Kingdom.

Red art - Madonna and Child with Six Saints, tempera by Sandro Botticelli, c.1470

Madonna and Child with Six Saints, tempera by Sandro Botticelli, c.1470.

When the Protestant came into reformation, people also began to view the shade as gaudy, even immoral, and its preeminence began to fade.

In Isaiah (1:18), it says: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Red also represents sin, and is the liturgical color for Pentecost.

In Islam, red is the color of sacrifice and courage. The history of red color and symbolism shines forth in Buddhist aesthetics in the type of paintings known as red thangkas. It is also the color of powerful rituals and deeds.

Red art - The Thangka, a Tibetan painting using ground mineral pigment on cotton or silk

The Thangka, a Tibetan painting using ground mineral pigment on cotton or silk, functions as one of the principal meditational tools in Buddhist practice.

What does the color red mean in the modern era?

Throughout the history of fashion, different designers have unveiled their own timeless takes on red. What set apart esteemed designer Christian Louboutin is his specific shade color of choice - the Chinese Red. In 1992, he unveiled his red-bottomed shoes, which quickly became his brand's signature style. He has trademarked these red soles and now, they are seen as a sign of luxury and elegance; this is a great example of the color red symbolism.

Christian Louboutin New York Fashion Show, Fall/Winter 2017.

Parisian cafes are filled with crimson awnings and chairs as accents. London has red buses, phone booths and post-boxes. Red, of course, is traditionally the color of the political left, too. The color has a life of its own, moving and breathing as we bear witness to it every day. Even when we think we have made our minds up on red and what it means, still it flows on, creating newer and deeper meanings for itself. Red leans towards romance, glamour and character altogether.

Color Red in Art

Red was widely used by artists in the Paleolithic age since it was easily obtainable in nature. The prehistoric cave paintings are a perfect example, in which they used red ochre. It can be found in Altamira, Spain, dating between 15000 and 16500 BC. The most famous one is the bison painting.

Colour red art - Bison Painting - UNESCO World Heritage, Cave of Altamira, Spain.

Bison Painting - UNESCO World Heritage, Cave of Altamira, Spain.

Red was also prominent in ancient China, with early examples of black and red pottery dating between 5000 and 3000 BC. Traces of red ochre were even found on a painter's palette inside the tomb of King Tut in Egypt.

Colour red art - Cinnabar Vase, detail, China, 18th-19th century.

Cinnabar Vase, detail, China, 18th-19th century.

Color red in the context of today

What does the color red mean in today's world? When using red in art, one must keep in mind that there are different types of red. More hues have been discovered over the years, and they can be divided into two main categories: the warm reds and the cool reds.

Through the years, artists have used striking red hues in their artworks to depict mood color meanings or to send a strong message. Here are some very famous paintings that showcase us of both warm and cool hues of the color red.

Warm Reds

Warm reds are the spectrum of reds that lean more towards the yellow and orange side. When you have a true red color and you add more yellow hues, you get a resulting warm range of reds. These are often used when painting skin tones, lips, as well as depicting the reds found in nature; Vermillion is a well-known example of warm red. Warm reds tend to be more vibrant and create a more sunny disposition.

Red art - The dessert (Harmony in red), oil on canvas by Henri Matisse, 1908

The dessert (Harmony in red), oil on canvas by Henri Matisse, 1908. The color selection generates a feeling of warmth and comfort; The rhythms of the foliage pattern on the tablecloth and wallpaper are repeated in the window in the background, uniting the warm interior with the cool exterior.

Cool Reds

Cool reds, - are the spectrum of reds that lean more towards the blue and purple side. They are darker, and give off a bit more serious feel. When you add more blue hues to your true red color, you get resulting cooler shades of reds that you can use to paint veins, roses, and depict the color of blood. Crimson is one of the most popular colors of cool red.

Red art - Second Version of Triptych 1944, Oil and acrylic paint on 3 canvases by Francis Bacon 1988

Second Version of Triptych 1944, Oil and acrylic paint on 3 canvases by Francis Bacon 1988. This artwork is commonly considered as a reflection of the atrocious world into which we have survived (after the Second World War). Bacon identified his distorted figures with the vengeful Greek Furies, while the title places them in the Christian context of the crucifixion. In this version, painted in 1988, Bacon changed the background colour from orange to blood red.

Here's a fun fact!

As we have stated in the examples above, the color red takes on many shapes and forms. It has been pervasive in art and textile since ancient times. Now, let us take a look at some of the most important shades of red that are widely used in art and everyday life. If you are looking to go in-depth, The History of the Color Red: From Ancient Paintings to Louboutin Shoes is a comprehensive look at all things red.

#zenartcolors

In our palettes, ZenART Supplies chose different hues of red that range between both warm and cool colors. You can easily incorporate them in your artworks because of their flexibility and versatility.

Cadmium red hue

In 1817, a German chemist uncovered a new element, cadmium, which became the foundation for new shades of yellow and orange paint. But it wasn't until 1910 that cadmium red was available as a commercial product. It is a full red that leans more on the warmer side of the spectrum. The artist Henri Matisse was one of the first major champions of this new shade of red.

Alizarin crimson

This shade originated from the madder plant in Egypt and was later on called alizarin crimson. It is a dark, transparent, cool red with a slight tendency towards blue/purple. Add to other reds to darken or deepen them. Good for transparent glazing or washes as it will add depth without obscuring any details.

ZenART Supplies Essential Palette includes Cadmium red hue and Alizarin Crimson.

Vermillion

The Romans liked bright colors, and they loved to decorate many of their villas with vivid red murals. To do so, they used a pigment called vermilion - which was one of the finest reds in ancient times. In Venice, a famous artist named Titian was a master of fine reds, particularly vermilion. He used many layers of the pigment, which allowed the light to pass through, creating a more luminous color.

Naphthol Red

This 20th-century discovery is an intense, transparent hue of red that leans towards the warm side. It goes from mid to deep color. Naphthol reds are used in producing color plastics, automotive finishes, and architectural paints. It is also used in making pencils, crayons, printing inks, and artists oil paints and watercolors. When mixed with Zinc White, Naphthol Red can appear almost fluorescent.

ZenART Supplies Portrait palette includes Vermillion and Naphthol Red.

Rubine Red

This very unique shade of red was derived from the color ruby - the color of the cut and polished ruby gemstone. It comes in shades of red and pink. You can use this pigment to color certain areas of your work that need little to full blush tones rather than an overpowering red.

ZenART Supplies Impressionist Palette includes rubine red (on the right top).

Using the color red in your artworks

By this point, we are now beginning to understand where red came from and what its implications and symbolism are. We must also consider its mood color meaning that may affect our work later on. Diving further into it, we can ask ourselves - What does the color red mean? What does the color red provoke?

Let's have a rundown of some of the representations of red:

Energy: Red boosts our level of physical energy and increases our heart rate and blood pressure. It prompts the release of adrenalin in our bodies.

Action: Red promotes action, strength, and the movement of our bodies.

Desire: When we encounter red, the levels of desire in our bodies rise. Our desire for speed, for love, for intimacy, and for consumption.

Passion: Red increases the passionate feelings and beliefs inside us. It spurs us on towards passionate love and hate. Red can also stimulate negative feelings that are forms of negative passion.

Color theory

When it comes to color theory, we must combine red with the colors that are in harmony with it. The basic ones are the complementary, analogous, and triadic color harmonies. Learn more about this topic, read Oil Painting Mixing Colors.

Complementary colors are those that sit across each other on the color wheel. Red opposes green, therefore we can say that they are harmonious. You can see a lot of this color combination during the Christmas season!

Analogous colors are the three hues on the color wheel that are right beside each other. In the case of red, it is analogous with orange and yellow. They basically derive from the same root color (red), with a few shades lighter or darker added in between.

Triadic colors, on the other hand - are any three colors that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel. For example - red, yellow and blue. Coincidentally, these three triadic colors are also the primary colors of the wheel.

Red and Green, complementary colors.

The color wheel.

What does the color red mean in Feng Shui?

Red is a very special color. It is a strong force that will surely grab anyone's attention. When incorporating the color for interior design - you may use red sparingly as accent pieces. Some quaint houses also paint their doors red, with lots of flowers and plants accompanying it. You can also use red as an accent color for chairs, windows, and kitchenware.

Feng shui-wise, use color red with great moderation in children's rooms, freely in the living room, the dining room and the kitchen. For the following areas, limit the color (as it also symbolizes the fire energy) - East, Southeast, as well as West and Northwest areas. Being a Fire feng shui element color, red is excellent to use in the South Feng Shui Bagua area.

There is still a long list on the history of the color red. We have discussed a few basic ones that are essential for our daily use of the said color. With this article, we hope you got the answer to the question - "What does the color red mean?" - that you're looking for. With this better understanding, you can now make use of it in a more skillful, mindful, and effective way.

How did you find this article from the #zenartcolors series? What is your favorite variation of red? Which color would you like to learn about next? Your feedback is so important to me! If you have any questions or thoughts to share, do not hesitate to leave a comment below. I'd love to hear back from you! Have a great time exploring all the facets of the color red!

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- MEET THE AUTHOR-
Ardak Kassenova, ZenART Supplies co-founder, @ardak_zenart
Ardak Kassenova is a London based contemporary artist, co-founder and creative director of ZenART Supplies. Her visual style-contemporary impressionism-share similar aesthetic qualities with those by the French Impressionists. After 20 years of a successful corporate career, becoming a mother to two wonderful girls, and with the continuous development of her practice by taking private lessons from the best artists she could find; Ardak decided it's time to align her life with her true passion, Art. Driven by this passion and her corporate leadership background, she co-founded ZenART.
"My heart and soul were always with Art, and since my childhood as long as I remember myself, I was dreaming to be an artist. I was painting after work, when I had time, and teaching myself through the books, videos, visiting art galleries and museums. I've been very curious about different techniques and styles, and therefore accumulated knowledge and experience on a variety of mediums."
Read more about Ardak Kassenova in this feature. Say hello to @ardak_zenart on Instagram!

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