Red Chair, or Black?
 

I am cleaning up a reference photo in Photoshop for a portrait of a Federal Chief Judge, and the thought came to me overnight that he may look better in a traditional ceremonial red chair than in the contemporary black chair, normally in use.

The painting will be life size, 42" by 36". Below is the current proposed cropping, and beneath that, a GIF animation illustrating the change in the seating. He was photographed in the black chair for this pose, and also posed in the red chair during this same shoot session. I think he looks his best in this pose, but that he also needs the red chair as a frame.

Please give me your thoughts on this image and the chair. I'll need this done about Christmas.

Thanks!

Garth

PS: I also straightened the flag pole.

Definitely the red one IMHO, frames him nicely and looks much more befitting of his status and the formal look of the portrait.

The black one looks really out of place to me, more like an everyday office chair.

Carolyn.

Thanks Carolyn!

I think he favors the red chair too. He actually uses the black chair in his courtroom (as do most). He is actually posed before his bench in this reference (but back a meter or more so I could see his knees). The flag is always there as is the red background wall.

Garth

I am inn for the shape of the red chair too.
How about making the color of it a dark brown ? That might function as a link between all the other colors.

Allan

Thanks Allan,

A dark brown chair sounds like a worthy idea, for the reasons you propose.

Garth

Have you considered a bright yellow one with a purple background?! (Just kidding!)

The red one looks much better than the other one. I would like to see the brown one too!

Garth,
Definitely the red chair. it allows the judge to be the center of attention since it blends somewhat with the background. The black chair (aside from being just plain ugly) competes with the central figure.

I agree with the red one.

Another opinion
 

I would consider omitting the chair altogether, but if you include it, I'd go with the red.

A black chair emerging from behind a black robe could cause people to wonder whether the good judge were stricken with a heartbreaking orthopedic affliction.

Hi Garth,

How wedded are you to the red wall?
(I vote for the red chair, too.)

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

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

"Bartnerlavender"--my legacy to the art world.

Good grief.

Dear Scott,

I sincerely apologize for any offense. You are a supreme colorist, and have devised a whole myriad of successful solutions to your backgrounds in a range of divergent colors and gradations. Within these solutions there are many wonderful and harmonious cool lavender hues that ideally juxtapose and frame your subjects. To simply sum it all up as a blanket color association with your name is simply unfair. Your legacy is a thousandfold more, unique and inimitable.

I am just being a hack, groping for color options at the moment, and meant no shallowness or disrespect. I should rephrase my post referencing your works, and will if you wish.

Garth

Garth, Garth, Garth!

I was only kidding. I was not offended in the least, so please don't apologize. In fact I am quite honored you would look at my work when making decisions on such an important commission. My only concern is you don't try to pull another all-nighter before the unveiling of this one.

While we're on the subject of apologies, there is someone out there in cyber space who played a Halloween prank on another forum so effectively scaring the crap out of me...and while I don't expect an apology per se, an offer to cover my laundry bill would go a long way.

:)
Oh! Sorry, Scott. I apologize.
:) No, I don't! :)
This is making me want a color named after me, too.

Garth,

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

Hey there Garth... I agree with Allan on #3. #4 is a close second. . .

Garth,

For what it is worth, I think I will stick my toes into this artistic hot tub.

I think your first version with the red chair is the most effective. The grey lavender introduces another complication, it should be balanced with a bright yellow, which of course is the fringe on the flag. However that in itself creates an additional problem of the color being harmonized to go with a very distracting element, the very bright flag. I find personally that the most effective (at least for me) are color compositions based on complementaries. The red could be complemented by adding dull green to his robes. I would also really tone down that flag. It is the center of attention in what could be a very wonderful portrait. The subject is terrific.

Good luck!

Such good insights.
 

Dear Heidi, Allan, Terri, Alex, and Sharon,

I certainly value all your input and insights. Thank you.

Heidi: The Chief Judge actually called me to suggest the possibility of a blue chair (which they have as well). He said he was told he looks good with blue. I don't doubt this is true, so that is why I have considered a blue toned wall.

Allan and Terri: I agree with you in principal about weaving in ochre and sienna transitions or undertones in company with the blueish lavenders. I just haven't figured out how to do this effectvely in Photoshop. This is much easier (to me) to find a solution in paint, itself. I think most of these types of chromatic decisions naturally work themselves out during the intensivity of the painting process.

Alex phoned me today (thanks Alex!); and one suggestion she had was to make the background still lighter than in these examples. I will consider that.

Sharon: You know, we must be thinking on the same wave length at the same time, because just before you posted, I was thinking I really, really like that original unalterated red wall version. It is (naturally) the most cohesive of the schemes. I feel each red (the flag, the wall, and the chair) are really distinctly different kinds of reds in reality and I should be able to keep these distinctions apparent on the canvas. This reminds me of the time I viewed Disney's The Little Mermaid in the theater some fifteen years back. I was totally awed by how fifty or more distinctly different reds could be employed simultaneously in a symphonic animation to such a great effect. I am not sure these various different reds translated well into the video and dvd releases, but the original film stock was truly stunning!

Garth

Amen to the Reds
 

Hey Garth,

I've been snooping in at all this color stuff for awhile and just now decided to be brave enough to chime in. I totally agree with your assessment of Sharon's vote on the background and, of course, the red chair. That very first shot is just perfect to me.

So....there's your "ol' Bulletin Painter's" sighting on the subject. At any rate, I just know that you will pull off another masterpiece with whatever you decide. I'm firmly in your fan club my good man. ;)


~Gear

Red
 

Thanks Geary!

Always be brave. Now I will be brave enough to respond that I have made up my mind and intend to go for the Red version, after all. For me, it best conveys this Chief Judge's warmth of personality.

Garth

Garth,
I know you'll make a brilliant choice and don't need my opinion.
But this may be a question more than an opinion.
In the last photo you posted, the one with the background most 'blue', I was bothered (distracted) by that shape between the man and the flag that the blue color made. It felt too bright and out of place.
I like the first photo you posted at the beginning of this thread, too. I dont think it's necessarily all that important to make a definite distinction between the chair and the wall. I like the colors of red, black and yellow (and white for relief). A fourth color just makes distraction.
That's not really a question is it?
Ok here's the question. Are you going to post this in WIP? (Please please!)

Garth, if you are going to go with red, I promise I won't be mad! :) It's best to follow your intuition about these things. I do agree that introducing a background with another definite color does complicate things too much. The red looks harmonious and I have a feeling from the judge's reaction that he is partial to it. If you are willing to post this in WIP, it would be fascinating to watch!

Alex

Can we go back to the page where Garth was calling us both brilliant?

The good Judge has handed down his decision.
 

Linda and Alex: Of course you are both still brilliant!

Brenda and Alex: I should discipline myself to snap progress photo shots from the start. Perhaps you can twist my arm into narrating a WIP demo. Thanks for your sincere interest.

In other news, the Chief Judge has officially communicated to me:

"Garth, the red chair is my choice."

Of course, he has only been provided with the red-wall version; but that completes the consensus on the matter of the chair. Thank you each and all!

Garth

Sorry, Linda, that last post of mine really did sound like I had lost my marbles! Thanks for having faith in both of us, Garth. What I meant was, I still think a neutral wall would work, but I like the red wall better than any other strong color.

I'm glad the question of the chair is settled (with consensus). That, at least, was easy!

Alex

Hi!

I've come to aid in the arm twisting. *Grab, yank, turn.*

:cool: