Currently, I am a resident of a very snowy New England, but in the past, I have called warmer climates my home. Not all locations are privy to the true cycle of four seasons, and to witness them is a rare treat indeed.

With these changes come shifts in the landscape and shifts in our sensibilities. As a painter, I am amazed at how the seasonal changes produce an unconscious change in the color palette that I chose to use. In the spring and summer, I go for typical autumn colors, and in the autumn and winter, I gravitate towards bright spring hues. Perhaps this is just my way of looking forward to what is on the horizon.

Picasso once said that “Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” I think it makes perfect sense that we ourselves would shift with the seasonal change and favor colors that appeal to us. Cool colors, such as blue, green and purple tend to be calming when the weather or emotions run hot, while warm colors like red, orange and yellow can brighten up a dreary day or mood.

Psychologists are divided as to whether or not there is a direct correlation between the seasons, emotions and color choices, but from my own experience, I see connections between the season and the colors I’m drawn to.

So, as I wait for the third snowstorm this winter, I leave you with thoughts of a lush, green spring.

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.