The stage lighting at the Larry Holmes Ringside Restaurant inspires pure bright color, even in the dark.
The lights bring out the warm colors on the musicians, their flesh, the guitars and drums and the clothing they wear if it isn’t black. The background colors in the paintings are usually invented based on providing a contrast against the value and color of the musicians’ hair and clothing. When I paint at Porter’s Pub, I do not end up painting with pure colors. I can only guess that it is the difference in the lighting that inspires the results.
I would love feedback from other artists who paint in the dark during live jams or performances.
aloha Chris – i cant say i have really painted in quite the same conditions you are working in. i do know that i’ve begun to understand that painting live, even when going after likeness, i’ll still invent or at least push a little invention into color if i think it will help the painting. i like the idea of what you are doing to get that color push pull bounce going. many song writers take inspiration from life to write their song, but if the story or source needs some adjusting to make it a good song – i think they’ll do it because they want the song to work. i see painting in the same way – if something inspires a painter, i say, make it a good painting, make the painting so it will work as a painting. after all, looking at your painting any time after the night it was painted, the source wont be there for the beauty of that moment – but your painting will.