First
… a little shout out to the grammarians in my readership!
Complementary: kämpləˈment(ə)rē/
- combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other or another.
- relating to complementary medicine.
Complimentary: ˌkämpləˈmen(t)ərē,ˌkämpləˈmentrē/ <—two pronunciations, who’d a thunk?
- expressing a compliment; praising or approving.
- given or supplied free of charge.
Today’s video is about using complementary colors – combining colors opposite of one another on the color wheel to “enhance the qualities of each other.” I hadn’t thought about that as an explanation of why they work – but it’s pretty cool!


I got such excited feedback on the recent pencil videos I made that I thought I’d try it again – this time with foxes! No orange pencils were used….can you believe it?
Isn’t it amazing to see yellow and purple turn into such a pretty combined color?

Supplies
- Technique Tuesday, Fredrick & Fiona
- Neenah Cream Cardstock, 25 pk
- Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
- Prismacolor pencils EH – BLICK
- Prismacolor Hex Chart
- Quietsharp Pencil Sharpener AMZ – BLICK
I thought I dreamed this video…ha ha. Love it.
Sandy, This is gorgeous! This non-Copic gal loves your colored pencil videos! And, I’m proud to say that ‘ve been channeling some inner Sandy when shading outside the brown box. Great idea to send cards to journalists. 🙂
As a ‘real’ fox (my last name translates as ‘fox’ into English), I cannot help but love this. I’m thinking this colour combo would also be perfect for colouring ginger cat (I have two of those). Cannot wait to try this on whatever image I choose. Kristina Werner’s recent video on mixing simple watercolours by adding a tiny bit of the complemenary colour was a real eye opener and your video really helped to reinforce this principle in my mind. I had better put it into practice soon, before I forget it again. I suppose it’s an age thing lol.
Just wanted to let you know I have coloured 2 foxes (Paper Smooches and MFT) this way. You can see the card with the first one at my blog at http://marianne-cards-n-stuff.blogspot.gr/2017/03/sweet-fox_13.html
Thanks again for your video and tutorial.
Love this technique! Thanks for inspiring me to get out my pencils and color some Crazy Cats. Can you recommend any other trios that work well? I tried orange, peacock blue, and violet but wasn’t thrilled with the results.
I am new to your work and classes thanks for sharing
Love that you teach us something all the time…I would love to get more lessons on the color wheel in the future.
thanks
I agree
This was amazing to see. I have a colour wheel, I guess I should actually LOOK at it! LOL
Awesome, Thanks for the video & color wheel!
Morning! I am so thankful for all I’m learning from watching and listening to your videos and coloring classes! While I was watching this one I was racing ahead in my thinking about all the masking you had done. The idea of stamping the head and then the body so that it can be tweeked is genius!! I don’t have this particular stamp, but I’m going to rummage through what I do have to see if there is one with which I can try this technique. Just to clairfy, you colored on a stamped foxy? Brilliant!! Thank you for being obedient to His call on your life, you share more than art, just so you know!!
Well, I kinda wondered what happened to the foxes – and they were definitely worth waiting for. Love the experimentation of coloring you used with your pencils – what a treat! And thanks also, for the spelling/grammar lesson. Even tho I’ve been speaking English for well over 65 years, I still enjoy learning something new.
You always start my Mondays off right –
The video is marked “private”! Can’t wait to see it! Will come back later.
Sorry, It’ll be a while. Unfortunately the post got scheduled on the wrong date.
Hi Sandy, I love your work and view your blog site every day. I am having trouble viewing the foxes video. Just wanted you to know. Thanks for sharing all of your beautiful talent with us. – Carol G.
Sorry! Scheduling went awry, it’ll be a while 🙁
Can’t wait to see it, but it isn’t available! Dang…….will return!
I got the private message as well. Maybe Sandy is still working on it.
Sorry! Scheduling went awry, it’ll be a while 🙁
Video says it’s “Private”!
Sorry! Scheduling went awry, it’ll be a while 🙁