Blue

Blue is a calming and trustworthy colour often used to create soothing and serene art pieces. It can evoke feelings of tranquillity, relaxation, and creativity.

What is a complementary colour to blue?

Orange is a complementary colour to blue.

The orange colour sits directly across from the blue on the colour wheel. This creates a visually appealing contrast and makes each colour appear more intense.

What are complementary colours?

Complementary colours are a combination that provides a high contrast and high impact colour combination – together, these colours will appear brighter and more prominent.

What is the colour wheel?

The colour wheel is a diagram used in the visual arts to represent the colours of the visible spectrum and their relationships to one another.

What is a good contrasting colour combination with blue?

Orange & blue colours are high in contrast. This combination makes blue appear more vibrant and defined.

What is a neutral colour combination with blue?

Light grey and beige are neutral colours that complement blue without competing with it, creating a harmonious balance.

What emotions do people connect with blue?

• trust
• loyalty
• wisdom
• confidence

How to combine colours

Colour harmony refers to the visually appealing combination of colours that creates a sense of balance.

Key principles of colour harmony

• Complementary colours: Pairing colours opposite each other on the colour wheel (e.g., blue and orange) creates a striking contrast and visual interest.
• Analogous colours: Using adjacent colours on the colour wheel (e.g., blue, green, and yellow) creates a smooth, cohesive transition.
• Triadic colours: Combining three colours equally spaced from each other on the colour wheel (e.g., blue, yellow, and red) creates a balanced and vibrant palette.
• Split-complementary colours: Pairing a colour with the two colours on either side of its complementary colour (e.g., blue, yellow-green, and orange-red) adds depth and interest.
• Monochromatic colours: Using different shades and tints of the same colour creates a cohesive and soothing palette.
• Warm and cool colours: Balancing warm colours (red, orange, yellow) with cool colours (blue, green, purple) creates visual interest and contrast.
• Colour saturation and brightness: Varying the intensity and lightness of colours creates visual hierarchy and depth.
• Context and meaning: Considering the emotions and associations of colours in a specific context (e.g., branding, art, or design) helps create effective colour harmony.

By applying these principles, you can create aesthetically pleasing colour combinations.