There are many ways to start layering color on a new drawing. One of the methods I’ve used in the past is the complementary underdrawing method. So today I thought I’d share my methods for choosing colors for a complementary underdrawing.
Knowing how to pick colors for a complementary underdrawing can be confusing and time consuming if you’re drawing a complicated subject.
So let’s look at a couple of ways I’ve used to select complementary colors.
My subject for this post is a grazing horse.
Choosing Colors for a Complementary Underdrawing
This is the most intimidating part of the complementary drawing method unless you’re drawing a really simple subject. Even then, if it’s your first time with this method, be prepared to be intimidated!
Is there an easy way to find those colors quickly?
Yes!
First, here’s my original reference photo.
Method #1: Use a photo editing program to show “negative” colors.
One way find complementary colors (or near complements) is to digitally reverse the colors in the reference photo, as shown below. It’s easy to do and is a surefire way to see all the shades and nuances of color in whatever subject you’re drawing.
Since all photo editing software is different, I can’t tell you the specifics for the software you use. Generally speaking, however, you’ll find this function under IMAGE, and it will be called something like INVERT IMAGE or REVERSE COLOR.
This method isn’t always reliable, since digital images are viewed with RGB colors (red, green, blue,) and the normal color wheel is CMYK (cyan, magenta,yellow, black,) which are print colors. Without getting into a long explanation, the difference is the way light mixes and the way physical colors mix. Digital images are essentially light. Your colored pencils are physical.
The image above shows reverse (complementary) colors on an RGB scale. As interesting as the possibilities are for converting an underdrawing in these colors to real colors, I’m not sure it would work. The color combination is lovely, but I can’t see using these colors for an underdrawing. (It may be worth an experiment or two.)
Another thing I see is that the black colors were changed to white and the white colors changed to black. That’s probably not going to be helpful for most of us.
However, if ever you need a project that stretches you, you might try something like this.
Method #2: Color match with a color wheel.
The way I prefer to identify complementary colors is to first match colors in the reference photo, then look for the complements by means of a color wheel. For example, the complement of yellow-green is red-violet, as shown here. That’s easy enough, right?
But what about more complex colors, like the browns in the horse above? A blueish-green requires a complement that’s orange-ish red brown. Since the horse is a sort of orange-ish red brown, you could use a blue-green as the complementary underdrawing. Depending on the brand of pencils you use, that could be Turquoise Green (Derwent Lightfast), Malachite Green (Luminance), Parrot Green or Cobalt Turquoise (Prismacolor), or Phthalo Green or Chrome Oxide Green Fiery (Polychromos).
You can get very nuanced in color matching, but unless you’re a stickler for detail, you don’t need to. All you really need is a medium value color that’s dark enough to give you nice darker values but also allows you to draw some of the lighter middle values.
TIP: This is a good use for a color wheel created with your pencils. If you haven’t already made one, you can download a free blank color wheel template and instructions here.
One Other Option
Another option is to go with basic colors for the underdrawing. Choose a color that is a general complement to the overall color of the horse (orange-ish red brown.) Develop the values by adding layers, rather than using different colors.
For example, when I drew a horse using a complementary underdrawing for a workshop in 2024, I tested a bunch of colors, but then chose one green and made it work everywhere. The color I chose was Prismacolor Prussian Green. Although it’s a bit yellow, it would be an adequate color for underdrawing most horses.
If you decide you like this method of drawing, you may find it’s easier to select a nice neutral color that complements the local colors in your subject and use it. A basic green for red objects, a basic orange for blue objects, and so on.
Choosing Colors for a Complementary Underdrawing
The complementary underdrawing method is a good way to stretch yourself no matter what other method of drawing you usually use. I have used it a few times to draw horses and have also dabbled with it on smaller, fun projects. If nothing else, it’s a good way to learn how colors work together.
Even if all you do is a few shading exercises combining complementary colors, I hope you’ll give it a try.
But you don’t have to use the complementary underdrawing method to use these color selection methods. Complementary colors are a great way to tone down colors no matter what drawing method you use.
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At least in watercolors it can be tricky to find a solid complement to a pigment, and it can change if the manufacturer changes their process for a particular pigment. In Jane Blundell’s online Travel Sketching class, we made a complements color wheel using her palette. That was such an eye opening experience! In general, I just make the best guess I can, and then mix to see if I get a nice black or gray. I’ve only picked up colored pencils recently, but I still make a guess and then layer the colors to see if they make a pleasing gray or black. I’ve started a sketchbook as you have suggested, so that I can look up how I mixed that really dark black, for example. Or how to get a gray/black that uses the main colors in a given composition.
Cheryl,
You make a very good point. Even colors that look the same to the naked eye may use different pigments in the manufacturing process or a different recipe involving the same pigments. That means that the colors will mix differently. That’s true with watercolors, as you mentioned, and with colored pencils.
And that’s way testing before using color mixes on a drawing or painting is such a good idea!