In the matter of color: the Hon. James T. Giles

[Garth Herrick]

Here's my most recent portrait, unveiled this past Friday January 6th, in Philadelphia:

This is the Honorable James T. Giles, having completed his term as Chief Judge of the United States District Court, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It measures the standard 42 inches by 36 inches, and wil hang permanently in the Ceremonial Courtroom with all preceding Chief Judges of this Federal Court.

As one who has generously mentored and encouraged me as an artist for twenty years, I wanted to paint a fitting portrait for "Jim". "In the Matter of Color" is actually a published book title of the late Honorable A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., whom Chief Judge Giles arranged for me to first paint for this Court, six years ago.

In his honor, I decided to push color further than I have before in a formal portrait; some red passages being colors that push the very saturation gamut possible in an opaque oil impasto (glazes being another story). In the effort to keep these somewhat daring colors under control, these were very carefully calibrated and tuned in chroma and value. But that's a long and involved story . . .

Anyway, I will be delighted to know what you all think.

Thanks,

Garth