First grade teacher wants to show complementary colors to use when painting. Which of the following colors should she NOT use as an example?

• A. Red and Blue
• B. Blue and Orange
• C. Yellow and Purple
• D. Green and Red

Answer: (A)

Complementary colors are pairs that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, and when used together they create the strongest possible contrast. In a typical art color wheel, the opposite pairs are blue with orange, yellow with purple, and red with green. Red and blue, however, are next to each other on the wheel, so they’re not a complementary pair. They’re both primary colors that mix to create purple rather than forming the high-contrast pairing that complementary colors provide. So red and blue should not be used as an example of complementary colors. The other options illustrate complementary relationships.