Posting a page I am not 100% happy with.
I may even try again . . . We’ll get to that!
The carpet in the State Reception Room floored me.
It is so oddly modern when in fact it is a century old.
Meandering big bold flowers in electric wool
colors appear from the tropics!
Not even the touch of mauve against eggplant
bothered me because somehow it all works.
Until recently, this was the largest rug in the world.
Now a Saudi public building has that distinction.
I wanted to give you context on this amazing carpet in the room!
The State Reception Room is closed except to tours (free); Mitchell snapped images from which to draw.
Initially I intended this to be a sepia page which would hold writing, right. Watercolors leapt to the page of their own accord. This is where I got into trouble.
It is SO easy to overwork a watercolor.
I wanted the colors to be as bold as they were in the State Reception Room. The watercolors were not vibrant enough, coming through as pastel version, so I added second and third layers.
*Sigh* Muckity muck muck MUCK.
Unfortunately, this is also a case where the colors are pretty accurate but the whole does not appear the correct palette. My palette is simply too bright, too orange, too pink!
Since I was unhappy, I felt I had nothing to lose. I used the middle of the page to
sketch a faster impression of the carpet in watercolors. Quickly. This impression is closer to the feeling of the carpet when you are in the State Reception Room.
Then to save the overworked watercolor, I first tried spritzing a paper towel and blotting the overworked watercolor. I lifted a lot of paint, which helped, but it still looked all wrong. Then I tried spritzing the water-colored borders and blotting directly. This resulted in the mottled effect below. NOT what I was going for, but an improvement!
I really love this carpet — odd for me — and may have another go at it!
Maybe I can sit on the floor outside the glass doors!
Drawn in an Stillman & Birn Delta journal with my bright shiny new yellow
Lamy Safari pen, a Noodlers’ giveaway pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink.
Daniel Smith (Opera Pink, new Gamboge, Chrome Green — big mistake as it is opaque — Perelyne Maroon), Sennelier Quinacridone Red, and QoR Terra Verte watercolors.
I agree to Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License, which you can learn more about by visiting the site, or,
visit my web page for a more user-friendly summary on my terms.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
D.Katie Powell Art 
Reblogged this on Mpfconservation's Blog and commented:
The lovely State Reception Room carpet is featured in Kate’s watercolors. Grand images of the State Reception Room are also shown. We are in love with this building!
LikeLike
That is WILD !! Are you saying the carpet itself is a century old? I can’t imagine someone selecting such bold colors thinking about the colorful ball gowns that would stand on top of it, but somehow it works. It’s almost a clash between the ‘busy’ marble walls and the heavily-patterened carpet, but I think it must give such vibrancy to the events in the room.
You might be disappointed bcause you had expectationd but i think Your watercolors are wild in a similar fashion. So unexpected and such vibrant blooms.
Thanks for the tour!
LikeLike
Thank you gal. Oddly, in a space this big the colors are nto garish and don’t clash. the marble is stupendous, and if I can I will try rendering it as an exercise. They also matchbooked some marble and made it look like trees in the senate chambers. Unfortunately, I can turn the lights up bright enough to take a photo. They keep them quite dim in tours.
LikeLike
Well it is all very stunning. I’m glad you get to spend some time there!
LikeLike
Yes, I like the impression better, too. Sometimes that’s all we really need to convey the truth of the thing. If we try to create some type of exacting reproduction, we lose the verisimilitude. Ironic, isn’t it?
LikeLike
Jilanne, you taught me a new word. Yes, sometimes we lose the gist, as I would say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loving your analysis as you work your way through the challenges. Overworking, mudding…these are big ones. How much is enough?!
LikeLike
I am still such a beginner with watercolors. I so appreciate when others share their messes and talk about it. Also, for beginners, I have a LOT of paint experience but just am learning to sue watercolors — so am picking up things fast.
LikeLike