Jekyll 10 | Relativity of Colour Perception
A concept embraced by the Impressionists, the ‘relativity’ of colour perception considers how the appearance of a colour is influenced by its surrounding colours. In a garden, one flower’s colour might look different depending on what colours are next to it.
Jekyll became especially aware of the power of complementary colours, which are pairs of colours located opposite each other on the colour wheel (see the colour wheel below). Complementary colours always look good next to each other because together they include all three primary colours. For example, yellow and purple are complementary colours. Yellow is a primary colour while purple is a mix of the other two primary colours, red and blue.
The Impressionists used complementary colours to create visual contrast and to enhance the vibrancy of a scene. This insight helped Jekyll in creating dynamic contrasts in her gardens, where contrasting flower colours placed side by side could intensify the vibrancy of each other.
Jekyll experimented with combinations of flowers that were colour opposites, knowing that the clash of complementary colours would produce a lively, energetic effect. For example, pairing the golden yellows of marigolds with the deep blues of delphiniums would create a visual tension that was both striking and harmonious, much as it did on the canvas of an Impressionist painting.
Jekyll 10 | Relativity of Colour Perception
A concept embraced by the Impressionists, the ‘relativity’ of colour perception considers how the appearance of a colour is influenced by its surrounding colours. In a garden, one flower’s colour might look different depending on what colours are next to it.
Jekyll became especially aware of the power of complementary colours, which are pairs of colours located opposite each other on the colour wheel (see the colour wheel below). Complementary colours always look good next to each other because together they include all three primary colours. For example, yellow and purple are complementary colours. Yellow is a primary colour while purple is a mix of the other two primary colours, red and blue.
The Impressionists used complementary colours to create visual contrast and to enhance the vibrancy of a scene. This insight helped Jekyll in creating dynamic contrasts in her gardens, where contrasting flower colours placed side by side could intensify the vibrancy of each other.
Jekyll experimented with combinations of flowers that were colour opposites, knowing that the clash of complementary colours would produce a lively, energetic effect. For example, pairing the golden yellows of marigolds with the deep blues of delphiniums would create a visual tension that was both striking and harmonious, much as it did on the canvas of an Impressionist painting.
Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel are complementary colours.
Here are some examples of complementary colour combinations in the garden.
Now, using the colour wheel and examples above, can you match the flower pairs to make three complementary colour schemes?
Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel are complementary colours.
Here are some examples of complementary colour combinations in the garden.
Now, using the colour wheel and examples above, can you match the flower pairs to make three complementary colour schemes?