Sunday Morning

Watercolor Painting by Dennis Pendleton. I am always searching for interesting interiors to paint and this is the lobby of the Oxford Hotel in downtown Denver. The Queen Ann wingback chairs, other antique furniture, and the large painting all made an interesting arrangement and I added the lone figure for a focal point. The artificial lighting from the lamps, especially behind the figure, produced engaging patterns on the wall and the large cast shadow on the floor tied everything together.

I mixed different grays with cerulean blue, cobalt violet and yellow ochre for the walls and floor and then added more yellow ochre to show the warm lighting close to the lamps. I continued the lighting effects with the rim lighting on the wingback chairs and sofa. I used the flat lighting on the couch cushions and walls to bring out the two tables and to explain the large furniture piece. It is tempting to put to much detail on these objects and explaining them with the lighting effects is a way to keep them simple. The lighting on the figure is especially important and that is why I placed him directly under the standing lamp. You can track the lighting on his hair and face, down his arm, and finally to his knees. Darkening the sofa around him made that lighting even more effective. The "effect" created with his white shirt surrounded by his black jacket also sets him off as the focal point. Having the lightest light next to the darkest dark always commands attention.

A few subtle changes enhanced my composition. I turned the chair on the right so that it leads your eye into the painting and points to the figure and I made the two lamps slightly different with the fancier one behind the man. A magazine was placed on the edge of the table to break up that strong dark line and the large painting was cropped with the top border to knock down its importance. For the black suit, burnt sienna was mixed with French ultramarine blue and the sofa is a mixture of burnt sienna and yellow ochre. The gold frame and the lamps are transparent yellow and cobalt violet and the large furniture piece is raw umber mixed with French ultramarine blue. His skin tones are a mixture of yellow ochre and cadmium red and the painting is cerulean blue, raw umber and cobalt blue. I like it when paintings provokes thought and I think the lone figure lost in thought on the comfortable sofa creates a peaceful serine feeling. Happy Painting! Dennis Pendleton