“Butt Heads” stamp by Cre8it - Fall 2002 release.
Every relationship has its moments of diminished delight - usually when both parties are trying for center stage! The same is true of complementary colors. Using equal areas of two complements at full intensity causes a state of visual distress we call Clashing. Think of your grade school days when someone invariably dressed in “Christmas Colors” and wore a kelly green skirt with a bright red sweater. Remember your eyes squinting and your nose wrinkling? That’s what a good clash can do for you.

However, if the two colors are not vying for the spotlight, they can offset and actually “compliment” each other in a most pleasing way. In the picture below, the friend on the left is wearing a bright blue outfit with bright orange accents. Both colors are at full intensity, but the area covered by one is much smaller. In this arrangement, they work very well together.

Although the outfit on the right has equal areas of orange and blue, only the orange is at full intensity. The blue has been grayed down (by mixing a little orange into it), so the combination works perfectly.
“Two Friends” stamp
by Angi B & Co.
One more thing a pair of complements can do for each other is to set each other off - in a good way. This is called Contrast. Which of the flowers below stands out the most? Placing a thin line of its compliment around the edge of a color makes the color stand out from its surroundings and gives it pizazz.
Foam stamp from
Rubber Stampede
Now, spend some time with Yellow & Purple, and Red & Green. You will find that with a working understanding of the complementary relationship, you will be empowered to create sophisticated palettes instead of just using pre-mixed colors, and that you will now have tools for creating more visual excitement in your art.
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