#Complementary colors painting professional

If you are very mindful of the amount of water and the concentrations of paint you are working with you can drop in colour and let the paint decide where one colour will end and how it will merge with its neighbour to avoid the mud. So when you paint with watercolour and you want to use the complementaries bear in mind that allowing them to mix by agitating them together with your brush either on the palette or the paper will create a neutral grey.īut by using a wet on dry technique you can keep a very distinct separation. They cancel each other out and become a neutral grey/brown (affectionately known as mud, in the painting community). If you mix the complementaries you have effectively mixed all three primaries. Place these complementary colours next to each other - they sing. There is one word of caution that I feel I do need to mention on the subject of complimentary colours.Įven party friends know that we all need a bit of space. So let’s take a look at that color wheel and figure out who’s who. A tiny pop of a complementary colour placed in your painting will make those colours sing.

Presumably they have been separated because they have too much fun when they are together and distract everyone else.Īnyway, the important thing is, that if you want to improve your painting with a little vibrancy and excitement you need to reunite those party friends. These party friends (complementary colors) sit opposite each other on the color wheel. It is a complementary color that when placed by its party friend makes both colours more interesting. You know how there are some people you meet who just bring out the best in you? The fun side. Color is a huge reason for painting! Who doesn’t love colour? Each one has such personality, don’t you think? And just like people they are so influenced by each other. It’s fun and easy so you can just pretend I didn't use the word theory at all.

The thing I wanted to share today was just a little nugget of color theory that I think can improve a painting.

#Complementary colors painting professional

Don’t get me wrong, I am also a giant nerd, and for many years was even a professional nerd. So when I see the word the theory I frown a little. I don't know about you, but I paint for fun.