Color Scheming

Life has been crazy for the last few weeks, and will continue crazy for another few - so my posts will be spotty.  I did want to pass along some information/knowledge that I got from taking a fabulous color class at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where I am working towards a certificate in Illustration.

The concept that I want to talk about is "push/pull".  It has to do with the impact of varying foreground and background colors and values.  In this example, which I created with Photoshop, I kept the foreground color, representing flowers, the same yellow.  The background color, representing foliage, I varied.

As you can see, there is great contrast in the bottom panel, little in the top.  Think about this contrast when you are choosing plants.  If the plant flower has too little contrast with the foliage, either in color or value (lightness or darkness), you  will not see the flower well.  Maybe that is what you are trying to achieve.  Just think about it - it may change the nature and look of your garden.