My sketch, above of the unpainted and beautiful doors in the Doe Library.
The Doe Library in Berkeley still has
the solid redwood doors, covered in
thick hides with brass details.
We were hired to assess the doors,
and explain to them how to properly conserve and restore them to their
original beauty. The details of the
doors are interesting and beautiful,
each bit designed thoughtfully in a time when pride in design mattered in
all aspects of the built environment.
In half the Library the doors were repainted a dull, lifeless brown or
recovered in a poorly chosen leather. They are not my favorite doors.
The doors in one part of the library have not been repainted,
and they are beautiful as they are, rotting, layers, deeply rust colored.
I took hundreds of detailed images.
Not my usual posts, not as much painting,
but then I am playing in the group Thursday Doors, led by Norm 2.0, with others, here!
Have you got a door in your sketchbook?
Pentalic Field Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil,
Platinum Preppie Pen, Noodler’s ink,
and Holbein, QoR and Daniel Smith watercolors.
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
D.Katie Powell Art 
Very handsome doors. I’m always sad when works of great craftsmanship are ruined (or made worse) by people who don’t take the time or who put other requirements ahead of preservation. I like the photos and the painting.
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If you come to Berkley take time to go to the Doe Library. One of the most beautiful buildings….
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I love leather as a door covering. I can imagine that it’s awfully hard to maintain though. I agree I’d rather watch them age and deteriorate naturally rather than cover them with a not-so-pretty paint job.
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A century in a college setting — not too shabby. Can’t be the prissy leather we have now — must be quite thick!
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Those last doors are lovely. The old leather has great character.
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I think so too. I have a great collection of amazing textures….
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Such a Western look. Love it.
janet
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Yes, and so appropriate for the California campus!
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I agree.
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