I don't know if anyone's interested in this, but I thought I'd give a little background.

Tara, you may have used the common mis-spelling of "complimentary" quite unintentionally; but let me correct it here.

The actual word is "compl-E-mentary" (with an "e"), meaning "to complete". In color theory, those opposite colors "complete" each other. When combined, they produce either pure white or pure black. (Sometimes gray.) I won't get into reasons, but we naturally resonate with these opposites because they feel like opposites. And when put next to each other---as the wonderful photos above show---they create immense contrasts.

The Impressionists (Monet) put complementary colors next to each other to create luminosity. The Post Impressionists (van Gogh) put them together to create an almost sweltering look. "Clashing" is often used in place of "complementary". They create explosive contrasts.

I give a link below---van Gogh---to show reds against greens. It's an intense hangover of a scene, one of his most famous interiors. That's the power of clashing colors...

The photographs above are all marvelous! Just wanted to give a little background...

be well, all, mark

(The van Gogh:)

http://ditegetmaleri.dk/vangogh/big/0038.jpg