Which Chair

Lacey Lewis · 08-20-2005, 07:58 PM

Hi!

Maybe you could chop off part of the chair. You could: A) Omit everything above the arch B) omit A plus omit the verticle lines on that part of the back C) omit all of that and have a straighter, lower back. I have sloppily illustrated C in photoshop, below (hope you don't mind).

I do have a chair like this with a small shape on the back and if you like I can e-mail you a photo of it. Good luck with the painting, I'm sure it will be lovely!

Lacey Lewis · 08-20-2005, 08:01 PM

Here it is like "A."

Brenda Ellis · 08-20-2005, 08:12 PM

Hi Lacey,

I like "A". That's what I was thinking about doing, but I am in love with those lines above the arch. Here is where I have to be ruthless I suppose. The chair is rather unusual and I love it for that (it's a cross between a Queen Anne and a Windsor--kind of the Quaker version). But I think that because one doesn't see the whole chair, those spindles above the arch are just odd.
Oh well. I'll have to use this chair in it's entirety in another painting.
I think I will probably end up going with "A". But I'll sleep on it first.
Thanks!

Enzie Shahmiri · 08-20-2005, 10:25 PM

Hi Brenda,

Whichever chair you use make sure that her elbow is not floating, but touches the arm of the chair. Hope that helps!

Brenda Ellis · 08-20-2005, 10:35 PM

Thank you, Enzie!
I still have to unify the lights and adjust a few things. And the more I look at the chair I see I need to adjust the arm of it a bit. I will remember to "connect" her arm and the chair arm. Thank you for the heads up!

Michele Rushworth · 08-21-2005, 09:47 AM

I like the first chair, and I'd omit the bars above the arch.

Sharon Knettell · 08-22-2005, 09:55 PM

Brenda,

Good for you!

This is a trick I have used for children which I have mentioned before.

I have a blow-up of the picture of the child I am painting on foam-core or cardboard next to my easel on my right, then I have the child sit as best as she or he can in the same light and pose. The photo is referred to as the 'good' child and the wiggly sitter is referred to as 'the evil twin'. You get the color reference from the child and the drawing from the photo.

The painting of the child in the ballet skirt was done this way. The impish quality of the girl would have been totally lost, I feel, working only from the photo.

Allan Rahbek · 08-21-2005, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacey Lewis

Here it is like "A."

I like this #8 version if the arm lean could be seen a little from above at a slightly diagonal angle pointing downward.

Allan

Brenda Ellis · 08-21-2005, 08:10 AM

Okay, I've slept on it and I'm going with "A".

Allan, I think I understand what you're saying. I think this will be accomplished by curving the arm of the chair more toward the viewer instead of going so much to the side as it does now. I will have to do a better job of explaining where her left knee is under her dress and bringing that turned spindle toward the viewer a bit more too.
Thank you all so much for your help and input!
I'll post it when I've fixed those things.

Brenda Ellis · 08-21-2005, 08:15 AM

I love this chair!
(just thought I'd share that.)