Claudemir, Richard, Cynthia, Jeff, and Linda,

Thank you all so much. I am feeling like there is a strong consensus among our Forum constituents for my court chair nominee ;). I f we had a straight-up-or-down-vote today the red chair would be a shoe-in for the Federal chair vacancy (sorry! I couldn't help it given today's announcement. This Judge presides in the same court edifice as the new nominee). Kidding aside (It's Halloween, so my Mac is going out as a Windows computer to trick-or-treat tonight), I am encouraged by the solid response and feel ready to commence painting! :)

Linda, I am somewhat flexible about the wall background color. I already tested several options and tweaks but so far found no likeable improvements. Do you have an inspired color relationship in mind? :?

Garth

No. I just wanted to criticize you because you get to paint judges and so far I have not, and I am filing a complaint about that as soon as I find an appropriate venue.

Seriously, though, I am pleased as punch you have this commission, you are brilliant at these and I'm very happy for you! :)

Well then come east and help me out with all these abundant judges, Linda! Evidently we have one to spare for higher office nomination here today in Philadelphia (never met him though, to my knowledge).

We are shooting for a New Year's unveiling for the Portrait. If this can be as straight forward and direct as this thread to paint, all the better!

Garth

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

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

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

Garth, I'm leaning toward Bartnerlavender.

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

Alex

Both of you are brilliant.
 

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