Complementary Colors In Teamwork

The use of colours within artworks is an effective technique used by artists to portray different emotions and meanings. Effectively implementing and combining colours by using different techniques can create a more in depth understanding and further express the meaning the artist is intending to show behind the work to the audience. One particular colour combination that can be used is complementary colours. Complementary colours are traditionally, the colours that appear directly opposite each other on a typical colour wheel. It has also been recently re-defined to be, the wavelengths of light that come together at full intensity to produce white light (Pridmore, 2009). Examples of complementary colours are common pairs such as yellow-purple, red-green and orange-blue. When complementary colours are used together, they help contrast each other (Pridmore, 2009). Strong contrasts aid the ability for the audience to easily and quickly distinguish borders.
The use of acrylic paints and en plein air, meaning created in the outdoors, was used to create an emotional response from the audience. Additionally, the artists’ applied use of complementary colour techniques was a positive aid in the representation of the natural environment. The complementary colours of green and red is used to portray the natural Australian landscape, contrasting to the destruction that the fire had caused. The main focus are the black, soot-covered trees that were burnt from the fire, surrounded by tones of red and orange representing the damage caused by the fire, and green and yellow tones signifying the remaining, untouched trees and signs of new