Complementary colors create high-energy designs, and this can be particularly useful if you want to make something very simple that really pops...like my card above. The sun, a single word, and POP! All because of the complementary colors.
I don't recommend dressing hyper five-year-old boys in complementary colors. Choose a soothing monochromatic or analogous color scheme in muted tones. Because, you know, kids get color theory, right?
You're not buying it. I can tell.
By the way, analogous color schemes are made of three colors side-by-side on the color wheel (a primary or secondary color plus the colors on either side). They create lovely harmony and depending on the tones and color saturation, they can be incredibly soothing or nice and peppy, but they lack the contrast and high energy of complementary schemes.
I'm no expert on color theory, but it's worth reading around on the interwebs for the basics. Color Matters and TigerColor are two good places to start. I refer to my color wheel frequently and consider it to be an indispensable tool for paper crafting. Mine rests in easy reach on my cork board over my craft desk. They are inexpensive and readily available in the art sections of Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or JoAnn's.
In the words of Woody the Cowboy doll...if you don't have one, get one!
Or not. It's really up to you.
Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Hello There
ink: Hero Arts orange soda, Memento Bahama blue
paper: Papertrey
accessories: circle punch, dimensional
Simple, bright and bold - fabulous - as always!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan, for a good piece of advice and sharing your knowledge. I really enjoy your card's colour scheme and design ;)
ReplyDeleteLove your cards, i will come back to see more!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your design tip, Susan. Your bright and cheerful card definitely pops :)
ReplyDeleteReally nice with the sun circle popped! and great colors together.
ReplyDeleteI have a color wheel...somewhere...which tells you I don't use it. Maybe I should find it....
ReplyDeleteAmazing vivid colours, you make it look so easy.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs
Maarit
I really like this card. It sings SPRING! Your writing about color and monochoromaticism (how's that for a new word?) made me think of my 35 yr. old son who, in the first grade, would no longer wear various colored clothing to school. Everything had to be monotone which was totally new for him. Upon inquiry I learned that in PE the children had to run if they were wearing _____color. Nearly all my son's little tee shirts were multicolor stripes so he had to run each time. His shirts had all the colors his teacher called out. After becoming exhausted for a few days, he decided to only wear ONE COLOR. The end. (Fortunately he did not become a couch potato, just less colorfu!)
ReplyDeletetonilea