The Christmas War: Red Clashes with Green - How to combine complementary colors
HOW TO WORK WITH CLASHING COLORS
There’s no escape.
Someone, somewhere, a long time ago decided the official colors of Christmas were green and red.
Now we’re stuck with it.
Red and green may be the colors of Christmas but they also clash.
So much for heavenly peace.
In today’s video, let’s talk about strategies for working with clashing color palettes.
Whether you’re coloring for Christmas or maybe your favorite football team wears blue & orange and your school colors are yellow & purple…
Sometimes you’re forced to work with colors that hate each other.
You can help clashing colors cooperate.
“A Little Something”. Copic Marker + Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Strathmore 300 Smooth Bristol Board. 6 x 6” by the author, Amy Shulke.
WATCH: CHRISTMAS WAR
Latest Video - Clashing Colors: How to Balance Red & Green
(supply list at bottom of this article)
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LEARN MARKER + PENCIL COLORING TECHNIQUES
Marker with a dash of colored pencil…
The Blend - A 12 week online course for beginners/intermediates which focuses solely on smooth blending with Copic Markers. Learn to blend or improve your current blending technique with this intensive skill building approach to coloring.
Colored pencil with a touch of marker…
The Point - A 12 week online course for beginners/intermediates which focuses on efficient techniques for Prismacolor colored pencils. Learn to layer colors with confidence and artistry through this intensive skill building approach to coloring.
TECHNIQUES USED IN “A LITTLE SOMETHING”
The following techniques can be spotted in the CHRISTMAS WAR video:
I discuss in the video why these particular red and green colors were chosen, so don’t miss the video for the explanation.
To create the bright shiny finish on the red wrapping paper, I underpainted with violet marker and overpainted with white colored pencil. The extreme contrast helps create the illusion of light reflecting off the red.
The ribbon is colored with pointillism texture. The original photo reference had a glitter ribbon. I don’t think I captured the look of glitter but I do love the texture.
The white polka-dots looked unfinished when left as clean white paper even though they’re very white in the photo reference. I added a bit of warm beige plus hints of green reflection to each dot which adds color without drawing too much attention.
THE PERFECT GIFT
A Little Something is my latest digital line art for members of my monthly intermediate coloring group, Color Wonk.
Every month, Color Wonk members receive a new coloring challenge plus a full livestream demonstration with audience Q&A.
Receive feedback on your project in our exclusive forums or even personal coaching. Learn easy fine-art techniques to improve the look of your coloring AND make coloring easier!
A Little Something digital package is exclusive to Color Wonk in November/December 2024. Access ends December 31, 2024. This project may return as a coloring kit in 2025 at Sketch-Garden.com
MORE CHRISTMAS PROJECTS
(click the pic for more info)
ADVANCED COLORING
INTERMEDIATE COLORING
WE TEST COPIC INK
BEAUTIFUL COLOR PALETTES
UNDERPAINT RECIPE ARCHIVE