The French Quarter’s Yellow Door ~ Painted doors of historic homes in Charleston!
Growing up I loved to sketch in pencil. Everything I drew was in black and white. When I took my first painting class in college my eyes were opened to the world of oil paints. In class we started with a limited palette, learning how to mix colors. As I grew as an artist I started collecting a vast array of colors. In my studio I have drawers full of beautiful colors. Many I rarely use but I have them just in case I ever need them. I am drawn to color. Pardon the pun. :)
Charleston is known for its colorful pastel colors on many homes and buildings, of which Rainbow Row instantly comes to mind. But, it also has painted window boxes and doors that add to the charm of the wonderful architecture in town.
We have good friends that started an incredibly important and much needed foundation to provide families a place of respite while their child is going through cancer treatments and organ transplants at the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. It is called The Yellow Door Foundation.
Every time we walk the charming streets of the historic district known as The French Quarter and head down the cobblestone street Chalmers, we go by a beautiful brick home with a bold yellow door. I always think of The Yellow Door Foundation. I’m always on the lookout for yellow doors now.
The French Quarter’s Yellow Door by William R. Beebe, 12 x 12, Oil on board.
As a side note, if you decide to drive down Chalmers it is a terribly bumpy ride! It rattles the nerves. It is like one long giant speed bump.
When I heard that YDF was having an art auction in May I decided it was time to paint the house on Chalmers. My painting will be in the silent auction and will go towards helping to raise money for the foundation.
My first instinct was to pull my yellow paints out of the drawer. I painted the door a nice mustardy yellow with bright sunlight lightening the yellow, similar to my photograph. It would have been easy to leave it as is, but in order to make the door a little more interesting I touched it up with some pinks and violets, adding a touch of refracted light from the brick home and from the sky.
It adds a bit of an impressionist feel to a realistic painting, which I think works nicely with the cast shadows on the brick and doorway.
Now that I’ve painted the yellow door home I have a few other homes in mind, also with painted doors. I can think of many that I’ve photographed that I’d love to paint. A white stucco home with a bold green door stands out as a top contender for my next “painted door home”.
I hope you like my painting The French Quarter’s Yellow Door. If you get a chance please check out The Yellow Door Foundation and help if you can. Joanne and Jeff McTague have put their heart and soul into the organization and they continue to expand their reach to help more and more families in need.
Thank you for your interest in my art! I’ll be starting a big commissioned piece next of eagles nesting, which I’m anxious to start. Happy spring to y’all! :)
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
What’s next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe