Advancing with Watercolor: "The Parlor" Edge Control

Week 1 -The Parlor

One of the fun aspects of creating the different subjects that we use each week. This week is a good example - I thought of this subject - The Parlor - while visiting Marietta Pennsylvania … I stayed at a historic property that was built as a summer home for the gentry living in Philadelphia . Typical of that time the parlor was an import room for conversation and discussion. A fireplace, a piano, tall windows, butiful paintings on the walls to stimulate conversation. I took a few photos and realized that although beautiful the room was crowded - nothing minimalist about this parlor - so one of the first things i neeeded to do to make into a good subject for painting was to  choose a view or corner that felt approachable..

The second was to try to capture the room in natural light - this was more of a personal choice - unfortunately my camera is not that capable. So we have a few challenges this week and a good starting point to think about a parlor is a tonal study so this is how we will begin this weeks work

It is hard to imagine an interior with out a window - what a depressing room that would be….with in the context of the interior the window delivers the most beautiful element of light. There is also a connection to the outside world - viewed through a window.

Finally windows can really spice up the whole Interior - architects and interior designers know this and give careful thought to placement and size. For us the window shapes the natural light flooding in -  and that is the basis of this weeks work