Renderings
by habituallychic
10 . 09 . 08
One of the things I love about The Book of Decorating from Domino is that there is a beautiful watercolor rendering of an interior on the title page to each chapter. I collect vintage watercolors and am always in awe of anyone who has mastered the techniques, especially John Gibson. John creates renderings for many top designers and architects so that they can show their clients what their space will look like when it’s finished. Most non-creative types have a hard time visualizing which is why they hired a designer in the first place!
He will also create watercolors of finished interiors which he said is much easier. I have been thinking about commissioning him to paint a view of the bachelor pad since it’s a rental and at some point will cease to exist. It would be nice to have a lasting memory that is much more special than just a photograph. Check out John’s website for more beautiful watercolors!
11 Comments
Absolutely divine! I’m in love – think my heart just skipped a beat.
Agreed – these are lovely. A rendering of the bachelor pad would be special.
Anonymous – I agree! See why I collect watercolors!
Alice Olive – I thought it would make a nice present to the bachelor but I’m not sure he would appreciate it so I might just have to have it done for me!
One word of advice: keep your original stored in the dark in an acid-free mount.
Make a digital copy if you want to display it–most people won’t even notice. But definitely give T.B. a copy–suitably framed, with a same-size enlargement of the area in its wretched ‘before’ condition on the back (along with your contact information)–so that after he moves on, he’ll always have a tangible reminder of what you did for him.
After all, just because you found some nice stuff for him doesn’t mean he could ever put it together in a different place all by himself, so he’ll need to know how to get hold of you on short notice. I mean, you never know when a sudden raise might propel him into a much bigger place. Then where would he be? No, whether or not he knows it now, he needs a picture of his place just as much as you do.
Meanwhile, your digital copy goes into a separate scrapbook that consists of nothing BUT renderings of the rooms you’ve created, at whatever time of day they happen look their best. I have no scientific data to back it up, but I think a beautiful rendering reaches a deeper level of our psyche than than even the best photo. My only evidence is the Chinese-wallpapered salon that Elsie De Wolfe did for Conde Nast & the Directoire drawing room that Eleanor Brown did for herself back in the late 192Os. In photos, each room is handsome. But in the paintings of the same rooms done by Pierre Brissaud & Elizabeth Hoopes, those rooms are magic. That’s why even though I take ton of pictures, I always paint a watercolors of any room I do.
http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/MAGNAVERDE/?action=view¤t=Desk–MagnaverdeMorningRoom.jpg
Anyway, people will flip through your scrapbook–and make sure it’s a real book, not a cold powerpoint presentation that they see first- and ask “Did you do all these rooms?” and whip out their checkbooks. At least, that’s the plan.
Wow, he is so talented. As I am an interior designer as well, perspectives are one of my most weakest areas. I usually just do loose bulletin boards with elevations of the window treatements or a focal wall and I always do my architectuals in CAD – elevations again – only. I would love to have an ounce of his talent. I will definately be keeping him on my list for future work. Thank you for such a great source!
Of course, I see in drawings and want to capture everything. I appreciate the detail and the realism of these works. Thanks for the intro. HC.
I would be happy to chronicle your work for you in my style of drawing. You should have a portfolio of all your work and what a gift to your clients, a print or note-cards.
Absolutely beautiful renderings. They remind me of Mark Hampton’s work.
I love these drawings – especially the last two, which seem much looser and “vivid”. And what great advice from magnaverde!
Though I’m not an interior designer, ( I am a designer in another discipline), I have to say I agree with HC in that clients often need a visual rendering or inspiration to help them understand (and commit!).
BUT even though I am a creative type – I’m not an interior designer, and I’m not familiar with the “materials” or possibilities when I look at a room.
So even someone with a developed sense of design but perhaps not the language of interiors would appreciate a beautiful drawing. Very impressive!
beautiful! i never knew you could achieve such rich, saturated colors with watercolor!
amazing! amazing! amazing! I have such a love for renderings as well!