color
色 centers on the visual quality of color, the way light reflects to produce hues. It can also extend to expressions or appearances that carry a certain tone or feeling.
colour; color; hue; tint; tinge; shade
various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)
various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)
yellow; amber
scenery; scene; landscape
green; green color
yellow
brown; light brown; tawny
one color
grey; gray; ashen
colour; color; hue; tints
red; red color
white
colouring; coloring; shade of colour (color)
blue
light blue; pale blue; aqua
gold (colour, color)
characteristic; (distinctive) feature; peculiarity; distinguishing quality; special character
colouring; coloring; shade (of colour); hue; tone; tinge; tint
dyeing
tone color; tone colour; tone quality; timbre
complexion; one's colour; one's color
colouring; coloring; colorant
purple; violet
色 originally depicted a person bending over another, associated with complexion or facial color. The modern form is simplified, but the connection to color and appearance remains.
The top part looks like a bent figure (勹) over a curled shape (巴), like someone bending to examine a colorful object. Think of 色 as the color you see when you look closely.
For ショク, imagine a shock of bright color suddenly appearing: shock -> ショク, and the vivid color grabs your attention.