Ghost on a Rietveld Chair

[anthony mauve]

This is a small (c. 16" around) wooden chair I made fashioned after the work of Gerrit Rietveld and is mounted on the wall. The Ghost isn't Reitveld's it's one of mine. C&C invited.

[brushwaggler]

Just wondered if the colour was significant? Why two primaries and a tertiary rather than three primaries?

[anthony mauve]

Thanks and yes the colors are important. Check your monitor--the colors are red, yellow and blue--the 3 primaries.

[brushwaggler]

Sorry, on my monitor they appear red, blue - primaries, yellow orange - tertiary.

[anthony mauve]

There are variations but most agree that tertiaries are mixed with one primary and one secondary or 2 secondaries yielding some good browns and greys.

[brushwaggler]

Yes, thank you. I'm aware of those facts. I just wondered whether the colours used were important to the piece. You answered my question by telling me yes, they were and to take a look at my moniter. Red, yellow and blue. The primaries. Except, on my screen, they don't look red yellow and blue. Hence my question.
I'm unfamiliar with this artist so I have no reference. Unless he's related to the chap who had something to do with building the van gogh museum in Amsterdam.

[anthony mauve]

Yes, that's him. He was active in the Bauhaus I believe and was famous for his furniture the most familiar is the Reitveld chair. Reproductions of this chair are still being manufactured and are very pricey. An artist who I worked for back in the 70's bought one and proudly showed it to me. As I went to sit on it he rushed over, grabbed my arm, pulled me away and shouted--"No! you don't sit on it!"

[brushwaggler]

Ah, yes. Now I see the resemblance. Now that yellow, I can see. And it does look like a primary yellow.
Wasn't de styijl the movement he had something to do with? Don't really know anything about him, something just rings a bell from way back.

[davefriend]

The artwork looks closer to the Gerrit Rietveld zig-zag chair from the 30's seen here.

[brushwaggler]

Ah, a combination of both maybe? Where does the ghost come into it, Anthony? Is there a connection between the two? Or is it just an idea that you've followed through?

[anthony mauve]

The ghost was something I thought the piece needed since it looked so stark up there by itself on the wall.

[brushwaggler]

Yes, I can see why you thought that. Good decision, me thinks...wonder if anyone told the ghost he/she wasn't't supposed to sit on it!

[PushingPixels]

good work I like it.

[alangraham]

These type of pieces are even more foreign to me than abstract work on canvas. So just here out my two cents here, Anthony. I wonder if it should have some darker tones somewhere. To me, it's so bright, and especially against the warm/beige wall. I think it would 'Pop' against a black wall or even purple.

Also, since there is black in the chair you showed a pic of, I wonder what would happen if you added a thin black line (out of wood or whatever the piece is from) heading from the top of the red to the bottom of the blue (underneath of course).

Regards,
Cory

[anthony mauve]

Thanks PushingPixela and alangraham for the suggestions on this little piece in primary colors meant to give the viewer a chuckle, nothing more.