Thursday, March 14, 2013

Cambridge Doorway


They really don't make houses like they used to back in the 19th and early 20th century. In those days even an ordinary single-family house could have a majestic doorway and portico like this one. Cambridge still has many of these though some of them are shabby and have fallen into disrepair. At least they were when I lived there. Possibly with the gentrification and transformation of my old neighborhood into homes for the urban rich, the people have had the means to renovate their architectural treasures. I should go back there someday to see if this has happened, but for various reasons not to be discussed here I am not eager to return to Cambridge.

I gave this architectural study to some friends of mine in return for their hospitality letting me stay with them on a short vacation. You may have noticed that my best work is done with architecture. Even after all these years I still prefer drawing buildings to any other subject matter. I don't know why...there must be some psychological reason for it, but I don't want to force the issue of why I'm like that.

Doorway study is ink and watercolor on thick paper (Bristol board), 9" x 12", 1982. Extensively restored in Photoshop.

1 comment:

Tristan Alexander said...

You capture so much atmosphere and mood in such a sinple picture. I love this.