Try to contrast values in a painting by having areas that are specifically light, medium and dark. Decide if the colors of your scene or figure are harmonious or contrasting . Harmonious colors have a common element. Contrasting color arrangements use colors that are opposites. When you mix colors, remember to keep your colors consistent with your decision to use a scheme of harmonious or contrasting colors.
Harmonious colors tend to be either yellowish or bluish.
In portraits, most of their flesh tones were made with a combination of alizron crimzon, black and white These color samples from the painting show the range of colors used by the artist. The colors in this painting are harmonious because all have at least a touch of yellow. The resulting scene has unity and atmosphere. Colors that are opposites on the color wheel are considered complimentary colors. Many Impressionist artists used complimentary and contrasting colors for their paintings.