To express the love of two lovers by a marriage of two complementary colors, their mingling and their opposition, the mysterious vibrations of Kindred tones. To express the thought of a brow by the radiance of light tone against a somber background; to express hope by some star, the eagerness of a soul by a sunset radiance.
— Vincent Van Gogh
Informative Complementary Colors quotations
I am always in the hope to express the love of two lovers by a marriage of two complementary colors - colors which marry each other... complement each other as a man and a woman do.
An artist finds his happiest combination in a play of complementary colors.
They are direct contrasts yet do not jar; they awaken the beholder, but do not disturb him.
What I most cherish is the observation of the movement of colors.
Only in this have I found the laws of those simultaneous and complementary color contrasts that nourish the actual rhythm of my vision. In this I find the actual essence, an essence which is not born out of an a priori system or theory.
To express a marriage of two complementary colors, their mingling and their opposition, the mysterious vibrations of kindred tones.
But what I attach great importance to is observation of the movement of colors.
It is only in this way that I have found the laws of complementary contrast and the simultaneity of those colors that nourish the rhythm of my vision. There I find the representative essence — which does not arise from a system or an a priori theory.
My choice of colors does not rest on any scientific theory, it is based on observation, on feeling, on the experience of my sensibility.
There are colors which cause each other to shine brilliantly, which form a couple which complete each other like man and woman.
Colors close together on the color wheel are analogous and will make a calm room. Colors that are farther apart are complementary and add drama.
I simply try to put down colors which render my sensation
I always took a great interest in my clothes.
My sister, who was 13 months older, and I always dressed alike, but as I got a little bit older, I didn't like that because I wanted to dress differently. So our mother would put Patty in blue and Polly in pink, or we would wear complementary colors, but the shapes we were wearing were always the same, and I was very interested in that. I also took great interest in my dolls and their clothes.
My choice of colors does not rest on any scientific theory;
it is based on observation, on feeling, on the experience of my sensibility. Inspired by certain pages of Delacroix, an artist like Signac is preoccupied with complementary colors, and the theoretical knowledge of them will lead him to use a certain tone in a certain place. But I simply try to put down colors which render my sensation.
There is indeed no such thing in life as absolute darkness;
one's eyes revolt and hasten to fill the vacuum by floating in sparks, dream patterns, figures whimsical and figures grotesque, shifting and clad in complementary colors, to appease the indignant cups and rods of the retina.