complementary colors

Complementary colors are pairs of colors positioned directly across from each other on the color wheel [1]. They consist of one warm and one cool color, and when placed side-by-side, they create the strongest possible visual contrast and make each other appear brighter and more intense.

The three main complementary pairs used in painting and traditional color theory are:

Red and Green

Blue and Orange

Yellow and Purple (or Violet)

How Complementary Colors are Used in Painting

Artists utilize the unique properties of these color pairs to achieve specific effects in their work:

1. Creating Strong Focal Points and Visual Impact

The intense contrast between complementary colors instantly draws the viewer's eye. Painters often use this to highlight the main subject of their painting. For example, painting a vibrant orange flower against a background of cool blue tones makes the flower "pop" off the canvas.

2. Enhancing Vibrancy and Intensity

When used pure and next to each other, both colors in a complementary pair appear more saturated. Artists use this technique to make certain areas of a painting feel more lively or energetic, such as using red accents against a green landscape to convey warmth and vitality.

3. Mixing Realistic Neutral Tones and Shadows

One of the most practical uses of complementary colors in painting is for mixing neutral tones (grays and browns). When complements are mixed together, they neutralize each other rather than creating a new pure color.

By mixing small amounts of blue into orange paint, a painter can create a variety of natural-looking brown earth tones.

Similarly, mixing red and green yields rich, dark grays and blacks for realistic shadows.

This technique is often preferred over using pre-mixed black paint, as the resulting shadows retain some of the painting's inherent color harmony and appear less flat.

4. Achieving Color Balance

Despite the high contrast, using a balance of warm and cool complementary colors can create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing composition. The visual weight of the warm color is balanced by the cool color, resulting in a finished painting that feels complete and intentional. You can further explore these dynamics with interactive tools like the Canva Color Wheel.