Red Chair, or Black?

[Alexandra Tyng]

Hi Garth,

Yes, I also vote for the red chair. Linda, I was just looking at the photos, thinking the same thing about the wall, then I came down to your post! I think the red in the chair provides enough contrast with his black robe. But then, if the color of the wall were negotiable, I would vote for a cool color. Congratulations on the commission, by the way, Garth! You really put a little life into those judicial portraits! I'm beginning to think the courthouse should have an exhibit of your work.

Alex

[Garth Herrick]

Alex,

You are brilliant. Yes, a more neutral, cooler tweak of that red wall may be the answer. I tried going warmer like I often do, and did not like it at the first try. Here are a couple of diminished variations with the background color:


Thanks,

Garth

[Alexandra Tyng]

Hi Garth,

Wait, before you call me brilliant. . .

I think the second version is too dark and too much like the chair. The thing is, you have so many dark elements in the painting, you need something to make him pop out more as the center of focus.

I was thinking more in terms of a cool neutral, maybe with some warmth in it (yellow/orange), but predominantly mid-tone cool grey. It could get more shadowy in places where there would normally be a shadow. I wish I were clever in photoshop like you, then I could experiment and show you what I mean. I guess it's lucky we have these ways of trying things out before actually applying paint! Maybe I'll take one look and say, "Ugh,what was I thinking of?" But it's worth a try.

Alex

[Linda Brandon]

Garth, I'm leaning toward Bartnerlavender.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Linda, if that is a cool, shadowy midtone, then I am for it too. You are the brilliant one!

Alex

[Garth Herrick]

Anyway, with all due respect for Scott Bartner whose work I highly prize, the idea of a "Bartner Lavender" may have some merits here, although I always considered that a proprietary color effect of his. So no disrespect to Scott is intended in this experimentation, crudely executed as it is......

Here are more variations:

Garth

[Heidi Maiers]

Garth,
I really like this last version on the bottom. In addition, the red, white, and blue combination adds to the feeling of patriotism.

[Allan Rahbek]

Garth,

I try to imagine this portrait in the company of the other judges you