Using a complementary color palette: the first method in which we bring in an additional color to affect the way color can change the value (darkness and light) of a single color. In this case, the chosen “dominant” color, that is the overall most important color of the still life. For this project, we are using a gourd, which has one “local” color of yellow-orange.
We put a spot light on the gourd, so that we can see the range of values on the rounded form. We start by drawing our technical exercise: a 5 x 5″ square using both the complements yellow-orange (like an ochre) and blue-violet (it’s complement).
The top row is pure yellow-orange, while the bottom row is pure blue-violet. The middle row is 50/50 both colors, and the second rows in are each 75/25 % of both colors, the higher number being the color that is closest nearby.
Students working on their gourd drawings: using both colors to layer and create interesting darker and mid tone values:
My finished gourd:
I use some of the cooler color mixed with the yellow orange for the background as well.
Next time, we’ll look at using a split complementary color harmony!
