Red Chair, or Black?

[Claudemir Bonfim]

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!

[Richard Monro]

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.

[Sharon Knettell]

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!

[Garth Herrick]

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

[Geary Wootten]

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

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Geary Wootten

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

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

[Brenda Ellis]

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!)