Reducing Intensity and Creating Interest

Well... that's the goal! The first goal here was to reduce the inclination of the viewers eye to be drawn quickly to the dark wood on which Lenny rests.( end result pic at end of post) The wood limbs are important, no doubt though are there to support Lenny. Simplistically, a variegated dark, middle, light value thread seems to create interest at the same time reducing the inclination to be drawn to it visually. Then off to work on the background which was painted as a modeled light value purple. (Purple always looks nice next to green so it's a good choice of color.) The concern I had was the amount of area of light purple so with the confidence of the owner, my choice was to quilt some ghost-like foliage in the purple background adding hanging leaves, made-up large leafs, a few scrolls like sometimes come from plants. Once quilted in a 40 wt. variegated green similar to used on Lenny, I added some VERY light dry brushed ink in yellow and green. The purpose of the ink additions was to create a subtle integration of the background with the central 'Lenny" image.

Some same value purple background meandering and we're pretty much done with the painted image quilting.

I think Lenny is happy now.