Paul Gauguin: Complimentary Color
Who was Paul Gauguin?
19th Century Artist
Used color in a
new way
Traveler and
Explorer
Loved exotic
places, people and
things
What are complimentary colors?
Complimentary
colors are opposite
each other on the
color wheel.
Yellow & Purple
Blue & Orange
Red & Green
Why are color compliments special?
Complementary colors appear brighter and more
intense when they are placed next to each other.
How did Gauguin
paint with complimentary colors?
Gauguin used complimentary colors to
make his artwork look more “colorful”
-- brighter and more intense.
Let’s explore the Opposite Colors of
Gauguin’s Sacred Mountain
• Step 1: Draw the Outline of the picture
• Step 2: Color in the Opposite Colors
• Step 3: Add details if you have time
Step 1:
Draw the Outline with Pencil
Draw the Outline of
the bushes in the foreground
Foreground means the part of the picture that looks closest.
Draw the foreground at the bottom edge of your page.
Draw the Outline of
the flowers on the bushes
Draw the Outline of
the fence
Draw the Outline of
the hill
The hill in this picture helps show the horizon line.
The horizon line is the line that separates earth from sky.
Draw the Outline of
the mountain in the background
Background means the part of the picture that looks farthest away.
Draw the background at the top of your page.
Draw over your lines with
Black Sharpie Pen
Step 2:
Color in the Opposite Colors
Color in Yellow and Purple
Yellow and Purple are on the opposite sides of the color wheel.
Gauguin painted the mountain and the flower bushes purple to
compliment and balance the yellow of the hill in the middleground.
Color in Blue and Orange
Blue and Orange are on the opposite sides of the color wheel.
Gauguin painted the palm tree orange to compliment and balance
the blue of the sky.
Color in Red and Green
Red and Green are on the opposite sides of the color wheel.
Gauguin painted the tree green to compliment and balance the red
of the flowers in the foreground.
Step 3:
Add details if you have time