Most of the background on this painting has been a lesson in chroma and reducing its intensity.
I want to push the background back and one of the ways to do that is to make sure that any color is not too high in chroma or is not to high in value. Basically I make everything a bit more dull and a bit more darker.
Here is an example of what I’m talking about. On the left are some dishes that I painted in the last two sessions. See how they are much less intense and brighter than the ones on the right that still need work?
This should keep the viewers eye on the figure rather than the background, as much as possible, at least. There are still a few items in the background that pop out too much and take some interest away from Pattie herself so I may dull those back a bit later before completing the painting.