Moving Away

Here is the pencil drawing and two 8 x 10 acrylic paintings I've done for a collector who would like to give a gift to a friend who has moved away.

These 2 started with two different background colors and, because the acrylic paints I use are transparent, the background color usually influences the entire painting.

Which one of these do you like best? Do you think the choice of background color has anything to do with your preference? Or are there other reasons you like one better than the other? If so, I'd love to know.

Currently working on some family "homeplace" paintings and will have the story of one here later this week.