Need help with background

[lensman]

I posted this WIP quite a long time ago and practically gave up on it. I have since revived it and need some help with the background.

This is an 8 x 10 on white scratchboard (wonderful to work on). I had intended it to be purely black and white but introduced some diluted ink later on.

The foreground figure is about 95% complete and I worked on the background lately. I had started off trying to do a flat grey background but this board is not good for that. I now hate what I have done to it.

Any suggestions to recover it? I had thought about now turning it into a "multimedia" piece by painting a grey background in gouache...?

Glenn

[MonicaB]

Hi Glenn, good to see you. This is beautiful. I think you could do a diluted ink background, and it could be graduated, because of the way the light falls (light to dark from left to right). You could do a coat or two over the background that you've already done, or try the gouache to cover it first. Either way, you'd want it relatively plain, I would think, to show off your beautiful pen work on the lady.

[joatmon]

Hi Glenn, what I would think about trying, is to run a very thin white border around the right side of the figure...the grey part. Then do that whole right side in a solid darker grey. I would leave the white alone on the left, it makes her stand out. By the way, the woman really is outstanding, so detailed
LeAnn

[DBSullivan]

Glenn, if it were me, I'd go over the entire bg area with ink - I'd cross-hatch (or better yet.... all vertical lines - Franklin Booth style) right over top of that painted area.... the gray "undercoat" would give the ink some great variation and texture.

[dynamicinker]

I agree with the others about filling it in with a very dark or completely spot black background. Black can be a wonderful tool for "pushing" things "back" and in this piece it would further emphasize the intricate details on the figure. I think it would have a dramatic effect--and you could always use spot whites on top of the spot black if you still are in the mood for experimentation.

[lensman]

Well, I went with the majority of opinion here and went almost black with the right half of the background, with a thin white line to differentiate between background and foreground. I like this since as as been mentioned it has pushed the woman forward and, I think, heightened the impression that she is standing at a large window.

I titled this piece "Is He Coming?"... and it is now framed and hanging since I feel any further work could ruin the piece.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. This is such a great site for bouncing ideas off people other than family who think everything you do is great (or are afraid to say otherwise )

Glenn

[joatmon]

Glenn, she turned out beautiful With your new bg it really brings her out, all of the delicate details really pop I know what you mean about family, my husband is the worst, thinks every dot I put down is "great"! Fitting title too
LeAnn

[Rodman]

I say. Because you used white scratchboard. (tech-pen? Size?) ink it (airbrush?) then scratch in something. Buildings? G'luck.