Complementary Colours

Module 1 - Chapter 1

Vibration is the visual phenomenon caused by using complementary colours in equal quantities and usually occurs at the point where the colours meet.  It is an unsettling effect where the eye becomes confused and does not know which colour to focus on and because of this the colours can appear to move (vibrate).  It is better therefore to allow one colour to dominate the scheme and use less of its complement.

I painted swatches of yellow/purple, green/red and orange/blue.  The swatches on the top row show the colours edge to edge in equal quantities to demonstrate vibration. In the centre row the lighter colours have been painted in the larger squares, whereas in the bottom row the lighter colours have been painted in the smaller squares.  

I prefer the swatches in the bottom row where the darker colours dominate, possibly because they possess greater visual weight and seem more balanced and pleasing to the eye - well to my eye anyway!