Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to yet another edition of THE PENCIL CASE!  Each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. Since the weather is heating up let's bring the temperature down with COOL COLORS. ♥︎

TWO COLOR FAMILIES 

There are two main color families: Warm and Cool. If you are someone that gets overwhelmed when narrowing in on colors, start with one of these groups to make your life a little easier. Warm colors include yellows, oranges and reds, while COOL COLORS include blues, purples and greens. These colors reflect cooler elements like water and ice.

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Note that some colors can fall into either family depending on the color undertone. For example, sometimes pink can feel warm (red undertone) or it can feel cool (purple undertone). Go with your gut and see what feels/looks right.

COOL COLOR MAGIC 

The colors you choose can impact the mood and perceived physical space of your outdoor room.

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In regards to mood, cool colors are soothing, peaceful and lovely for meditation and relaxation. An outdoor space filled with cool colors is the perfect place to take a deep breath and calm your mind.

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Cool colors also have the magical ability to visually expand the space. Blues and purples, in particular, have a receding effect that can make your garden appear larger and more expansive. This optical illusion is perfect for smaller gardens where you want to create a sense of openness.

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Something to consider: plant colors are often fleeting (like flowers), so though they can pop in the garden at times, we often can’t depend on them for the long-haul. Think about how you can incorporate your colors so they take turns (plants), plus showcase permanent items such as benches, flower pots, fences, sculpture and architecture for consistent color.

COOL COLOR INSPIRATION

A book that I'm currently enjoying is COLOR CONFIDENCE by Jessica Sowerby. This book is geared towards interior design, but so practical for gardens too! Please note this is an affiliate link.

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The ultimate cool color plant: lavender! I am loving this article from Monrovia Nursery on HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST LAVENDER FOR YOUR GARDEN.

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If you've designed with cool colors, then make sure to render in cool colors too! When selecting markers or colored pencils you can simplify the process by choosing mostly warm or cool colors to start. Check out this post on MARKER SWATCH SHEETS to grab at least one suggestion for a cool color combination.

LET'S DO THIS!

Have you been dreaming about creating a garden with a cool color scheme? A great place to start is creating a mood board. This is a curated collection of images (plants, paving, furniture and other structures) to help you start visualizing what your garden could look like. Cut images out by hand or use a program like Pinterest or Canva.

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We are discussing COLOR HARMONY (which includes cool colors) this month in the GARDEN DESIGN COLLECTIVE. This is our monthly membership where we dive into one topic a month. Please join our WAITING LIST if you'd like to jump in this September when enrollment opens once again.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Thanks for letting me visit your inbox and I look forward to seeing you again in two weeks!

All my best,

Lisa

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP