Dulling red without getting pink

[melody williamson]

Working on an atmospheric piece but having trouble showing the foreground red flowers dulled in the background.  I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong?  Adding compliment green + white is too pink.  Adding med gray to pink.  Adding some orange or red/orange shifts the color too much.  Any recommendations?? 

[Stuart J. Gourlay]

Add a grayed red like Indian red and use a cool green like viridian for the compliment You can also try some dioxazine purple to gray the red. Use white sparingly and add some red back in if it gets a little pink. Grays made from ultramarine blue and transparent earth red (or burnt sienna) can be added as well. Avoid adding much yellow because that brings it forward. Hope this helps. Stu