Complementary colours used to darken

Complementary colours are pairs of colours opposite each other on the colour wheel (like red and green, blue and orange).

• In glazing, artists layer these opposites to deepen, neutralise, or enrich a colour—without using black.

By layering glazes of complementary colours, you can create subtle tones, shadow depth, or glowing effects. For example:

• A glaze of green over red can soften and cool a too-warm area.

• Blue over orange can create rich greys or shadows in skin.

• Yellow and violet balance to a warm grey useful in background tones.

This is one of the most complex parts of Old Master painting. It takes careful observation and an understanding of how transparent layers interact. The colour wheel becomes a guide to choosing the right glaze to achieve harmony and realism.