Witchy colors are a popular theme in fashion, art, and design. These colors draw inspiration from witchcraft and the mystical world, often associated with darkness, magic, and the occult. Some of the most commonly used witchy colors include deep blacks, rich purples, vibrant reds, and dark greens. These colors evoke a sense of mystery, power, and enchantment. They have been used for centuries in the world of witchcraft and are still highly regarded for their symbolic and aesthetic value today. Black, in particular, is often associated with witchcraft.
The Chicest Halloween Nail Colors to Channel Your Inner Witch
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It’s that time of year when channeling your inner Stevie Nicks—and, in turn, getting in touch with your witchy side—feels like the natural thing to do. So why not lean into it, beginning at the fingertips, where Halloween nail colors (Blood red! Deep green! Midnight black!) can transform your look to enchanting effect.
“October is my favorite month. everyone has officially stopped thinking about summer and is ready for the fall/winter nail transition,” says nail artist Betina Goldstein, adding that she “always looks to [her] favorite spooky movies for color inspiration.” In mood-boarding, Goldstein counts cult-classic Halloween films like Death Becomes Her and Hocus Pocus (the Sanderson sisters have a penchant for extra long, curved pointy talons), among her favorites to draw from. She also name-checks iconic femme fatale characters , like Uma Thurman’s Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, who famously wore Chanel’s iconic vampy shade Rouge Noir onscreen.
But the witch-core aesthetic, as TikTok likes to call it, means different things to different people. “Although I’ve seen Stevie Nicks perform live multiple times and am obsessed with Halloween, I’m more of a Glinda the Good Witch kind of witch,” says nail artist Miss Pop with a laugh. “So for me, Halloween is a good excuse for being extra—extra dark or extra sparkly or extra bold. And it even surprises me just how integral nails can be to finishing off a [a look].” Here, the two nail artists talk us through a quartet of black magic-worthy Halloween nail colors to consider if you’ve got the urge to conjure your moody, mystical side this spooky season.
Black, in particular, is often associated with witchcraft. It represents the unknown, the hidden, and the depths of the subconscious. It is a color that absorbs all other colors and is often seen as a symbol of protection and power.
Deep, Dark Red
A shade Goldstein refers to as “Mia Wallace” rouge, this deep dark red was popularized in no small part by Chanel’s best-selling Rouge Noir (also known as Vamp), which Thurman wore as Wallace in Pulp Fiction. “It's a classic that has edge and sophistication,” says Goldstein. “It is intense like a Malbec wine with the perfect combination of red and purple hues.”
Witchy Kingdom
Here’s a piece of mine that was recently accepted in the upcoming Spectrum 27 Annual. It was created for a book called ‘Witchy Kingdom’, which is due out later this year, from Baen Books.
This cover was to be the third in a series of books, so the look of the character was already sort of established. In this novel our protagonist, Sarah, takes her rightful, albeit undesired, place atop the Serpent Throne… A source of power even her Father couldn’t tame.
Knowing that the word ‘Kingdom’ would be in the title, and that the ‘Serpent Throne’ would play a huge role in the story, an image of the reluctant queen atop her throne seemed like the obvious place to start for sketches. The real challenge for me was capturing the right feel for the throne, which is part serpent, part tree, part throne, made of gold, and adorned with glowing orbs… It’s a lot to cram into a single design!
After playing around with some possible compositions, I decide to develop some of these ideas a bit further, and explore how lighting and texture might play more of a role.
The throne, being so large was obviously going to dominate the composition. So I also decided to try an additional sketch that dealt with the throne in a less obvious manner, and let me focus on the main character a little bit more.
I submitted all of my concepts to the client, and we decided upon the last throne-centric image that you see above. Once I had approval, I went about painting the final image.
Because I knew the throne would dominate the majority of the composition, in order to get any significant detail in the face I would have to paint this image larger than usual. I chose to paint this picture at 24×36 on canvas. I chose canvas simply because it’s lighter weight and a little less cumbersome than some other surfaces can be at that scale.
As typical of my process, I started with a pencil under-drawing, which I sealed with a few washes of brown acrylic. I then painted over than in oil paints, starting in the background and moving to the foreground as I went. I tweaked a few things digitally at the end to fix a few problem areas, and eventually, I ended up with the product you see below…
And lastly, here is how the painting will appear, with type treatment, and in context of the other covers in the series.
‘The Witchy Kingdom‘, by D.J. Butler, is available from Baen Books, August 2019
Posted by Dan dos Santos | Thursday, May 9th, 2019
the witch's library
Call me Ander ✬ They/Them, 24 ✬ a witch's practical library and personal blog ✬ follow the tags "in the witches book" and "in the witch's book" for educational posts ✬ green and kitchen witch ✬ Ko-fi: hallowwitxh
Black is often used as a base color in witchy aesthetics, providing a backdrop for other vibrant and contrasting colors to stand out. Purple is another color frequently associated with witchcraft. It is often seen as the color of magic and spirituality. Purple has been used traditionally in rituals and ceremonies, representing mystery, wisdom, and intuition. It is a color that mixes the energy of both blue and red, making it a powerful and captivating choice. Red, symbolizing passion, strength, and vitality, is another commonly used witchy color. It represents the element of fire and is often used to invoke power and energy in rituals and spells. It can also represent love and desire, making it a dynamic color in witchy aesthetics. Dark greens are often associated with nature and the earth, representing growth, fertility, and abundance. They are colors that evoke a connection to the natural world and are often used in rituals related to healing and grounding. Dark greens can add a sense of harmony and balance to witchy color palettes. While these colors may be commonly associated with witchcraft, it is important to note that their symbolism and meaning can vary among different cultures and traditions. The use of witchy colors is not limited to witchcraft or the occult; they can be appreciated and utilized in various art forms and design styles. Whether it's in clothing, accessories, interior design, or artwork, witchy colors continue to captivate and inspire people with their rich symbolism and aesthetic appeal..
Reviews for "Channeling the Ancient Ways: Connecting with Witchy Colors in Modern Times"
1. Jane Smith - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really excited to try out "Witchy colors" as I love experimenting with different makeup looks. However, I was extremely disappointed with this product. The colors were not as pigmented as I had hoped and they didn't show up well on my skin tone. Additionally, the shades were quite patchy when I tried to blend them, making it difficult to achieve a smooth and seamless look. Overall, I found this palette to be subpar in terms of quality and would not recommend it to others.
2. John Doe - 1 out of 5 stars
I was hoping that the "Witchy colors" palette would offer unique and vibrant shades that I could incorporate into my Halloween makeup looks. Unfortunately, the colors were extremely chalky and difficult to work with. They lacked any kind of pigmentation and just ended up looking dull on the skin. The fallout was also terrible, with the colors crumbling and smudging all over my face. I was extremely disappointed with the quality of this product and would not repurchase or recommend it to anyone.
3. Jessica Brown - 2 out of 5 stars
As a fan of bold and dramatic makeup looks, I thought that "Witchy colors" would be perfect for me. However, I was left underwhelmed by this palette. The colors didn't apply evenly and required multiple layers to build up the desired intensity. Even then, they tended to fade and crease within a few hours, making it difficult to maintain the desired look. The color selection was also quite limited, and I found myself longing for more variety and excitement. Overall, this palette did not meet my expectations and I would not consider purchasing it again in the future.
4. Alex Johnson - 3 out of 5 stars
While "Witchy colors" has a unique concept with its witch-inspired theme, the execution fell short for me. The colors appeared much darker in the palette than they did on the skin, making it difficult to achieve the desired intensity. The blendability was also not up to par, as the shades tended to muddy together and lose their individuality. Additionally, I found that the staying power of these shadows was subpar, with noticeable creasing and fading throughout the day. Although the packaging was visually appealing, the formulation and performance of this palette left a lot to be desired.