The chandeliers are a crowning point in the Washington State Capitol Legislative Building. The architects felt the most important fixtures were those in the north portico, in the rotunda, and in the entry in the south porte cochere, as well as the large gathering rooms. They went all the way to New York City to have Louis Comfort Tiffany create the fixtures (no one here in this wild wild west was competent), which, along with the six bronze doors, cost the state $158,000. They were designed by Carl Moser.
I love the chandeliers in the entry in the South Porte Cochere.
The warm glow of the glass hits the delicately detailed bronze and
colors it nearly copper in places, so the lamps look like they are on fire.
I started with sketches to understand the construction.
I didn’t lie on my back to sketch the underside because my architectural training allows me to see in plan anything I look at — building plans, drawings of the cars I sit in, etc.
I am glad, because I really would have looked ridiculous sprawled on the stairs.
This is so helpful, to look and do some sketches that allow you to see, in this case,
the twelve knobby “arms” that attach to the bowl with a decorative shell motif,
and look much like hand-held candle torchéres. Or the hanging mechanism,
which consists of chains hanging from a pendulum to four medallions before opening
and attaching inside the fixture, so they do not mar the exterior decorative bowl.
I was able to draw it from the side because the second floor balcony looks
straight into the light, and you are also closer to the fixtures.
I cheated when it came to the details. I took a close-up and sketched at home.
I wanted to be able to see the sweet floral designs that I only hinted at
(because it is so far away) in the two side views. The bottom band, just above the large glass lamp at the base, has the teeny tiny egg-and-dart motif found everywhere.
All drawn in an Stillman & Birn Delta journal (rich ivory paper)
with my new Lamy Safari pen, a Noodler’s giveaway pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink.
When I returned to the studio (running around inside the building on carpet with watercolors is not appreciated) I added color with raw umber from Sennelier, quinophthalone yellow from Daniel Smith and nickel azo yellow QoR watercolors.
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D.Katie Powell Art 
Love these pages, the use of space, the color, everything!
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tank you tank you tank you. robert will see that i found my lost architectural voice . . . and am loving it in its new form!
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Absolutely!
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Gorgeous chandeliers and your sketches and detail totally do them justice
Wouldn’t you love one of those in the hallway… I know I would ;D
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Yes, a smaller version, perhaps!
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Really interesting to see your sketchbook and how you look at the subject from different angles. Thanks for sharing
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Thanks Jane!
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Great chandelier sketch. I love how you sketched it in different perspectives.
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wonderful sketches Katie. Happy PPF, Annette x
http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/
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really marvelous sketches!! I love your attention to the little details and the various angles.
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thanks linda, annette and erika — so glad you all enjoyed them! i love sharing!
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Yes, I totally agree with them.. these are lovely sketches. I love the details and the color, and I’d like to have one. :>
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thanks teresa!
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Wow these sketches are amazing. Well done.
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Thanks so much Nicole!
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What an extraordinary set of drawings. I’m just in awe. They fill my eyes to the brim. I’ve been to this building in Olympia and somehow I missed seeing these. What an extraordinary artist you are!
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Thank you Beth! Working there on the Senate Offices allows me time during breaks to really look around. . . there is so much to see. Almost of all the lighting is by Tiffany, and if you go to the upper floors you can see straight into some of the lamps and catch some detail. I love the detailed bronze much more than the crystal chandeliers.
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Oh I just love your sketches and that chandelier… so gorgeous! What a thrill for you to see it materialize. That bronze is absolutely stunning. How i’d love to see this close up. I may just have to go back to NY now. At least I got to see your incredible sketches. I’m still in awe… xx
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Thank you so much!
Keep your eye on our other blog http://mpfconservation.me/ as I am going to post some images of the whole place over the next couple of weeks — I have not had time to look at the pics my husband took, and I will take more.
If you have a blog send it to me!
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Reblogged this on Mpfconservation's Blog and commented:
Enjoy these gorgeous Tiffany Chandeliers!
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