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

[Garth Herrick]

Here are some shots of the portrait framed and in the contect of the Ceremonial Courtroom where it will hang:

Garth

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Wowww Garth!
What else can I say? I want to be you when I grow up.

[Julie Deane]

Gorgeous! I'm in total awe!

All that color is wonderful and shines without being overstated. The brushwork is amazing. But what shines most of all is that judge's personality - alert, calm, dignified.

Congratulations, Garth!

[Kimberly Dow]

Garth - Congratulations on yet another masterpiece! Your career and contacts are so impressive - and blows us all away. But - above all that - this is a masterful painting.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Congratulations, Garth! This is a wonderful success. Forget what I said about the red wall. You know how hard it is to get the exact effect in Photoshop that you have in your mind to translate into paint. Well, I think you have done a fantastic job with the gradations of color. Starting with the face as a reference point, the wall is redder, and the flag is brighter and redder--each step very carefully orchestrated. The interesting this is, when you come back to the face, you then notice the yellow lights in it, brought out by the yellow in the flag fringe. The funny (and very cool) thing is that the face color is the most subtle, yet it is the center of focus. I love the way you've painted the face and hands, and those little rose highlights make the skin zing.

Most important, you can really feel the personality of this man. He doesn't just look important and distinguished, he looks human.

[Linda Brandon]

This is just extraordinary, Garth, and it's hard to know what to say, other than... wow... and huge congratulations to you for this very successful portrait.

Alex always gives such terrific comments and it's hard to follow her, but may I ditto them and add that his white collar is the perfect high value spot in your setup.

I am so proud to know you!

[Richard Murdock]

Garth, that's a great piece. The atmosphere, and the personality of the judge come across so well, in addition to your display of color control.

Congrats,
Richard

[David Draime]

In the matter of extraordinary talent: The Hon. Garth Herrick.

Garth....Garth....

Garth...I'm speechless. This is an amazing portrait. I think you've outdone yourself....as if any of us thought that was possible. I think what Alexandra has said is exactly what I would say - so I won't repeat it. I certainly would have been inclined to shy away from the intensity (brightness, chroma) of the background color and certainly the red in the flag, if I were painting this (my wimpy side) - I would worry that it would overpower the face as a center of interest. Yet, as Alexandra has pointed out, it is all so carefully orchestrated and considered, that the opposite is true. The exquisite subtlety - of color and modeling - and values - that describe the face (there aren't any hot, bright highlights in the face - not any of the higher contrast that we see, for instance, in the flag) is the very thing that draws our attention like a magnet. Amazing. I wouldn't have thought it possible. If the flag were even a tad brighter or more intense - I think that the balance would be lost and it wouldn't work. That you have managed to make the most quiet, most subtle area of the painting the most attention-grabbing, captivating part.... what an accomplishment. This is a work we should all be studying for a long time.

Dangit!! He raised the bar again!