This my latest project.  The blue sky has not been Photoshopped – that’s what it looks like just about every day here in El Paso.  It is glorious!

Built in 1936, this exterior strikes me as leaning to the more modern extreme on the Art Deco design spectrum.  The front door is actually around the corner to the left of the big picture window.  Here’s the original shot.

Art Deco came on the heels of the curvilinear and nature-inspired Art Nouveau design era.  Art Deco has a poignant attitude and that attitude is communicated through sharp corners and pattern. Shapes like chevrons, precise and sometimes intricate patterns created from a variety of angles.  It’s a refined juxtaposition of organically inspired embellishment and the well-edited. It’s a balance and sophistication that often stands in stark contrast to other design styles. This is the photo prepped and ready for virtual color.  Gates are now black.

Colors classically associated with this period in design are mostly deep and saturated with a few lighter, muted and pastel colors in the mix. Short list of examples:  Loden Green, Dark Reds, Light blue, Salmon, Apricot, Aubergine, Lilac, Golden Yellow to Yellow-Orange.

Black also played an extremely important role in defining the look of Art Deco. Could go so far to say it was the age of the outline. Could also argue that the use of black is where Art Deco gets its air of sophistication, glamour with restrained luxury. Metallics were significant as well. An interesting mix of chrome, brushed nickel, dulled brass, and shiny brass are all period appropriate.

In an effort to find the right balance between the new landscaping and the expanse of main body color, I painted several virtual colors. Color names aren’t relevant because color varies so much from monitor to monitor.  Click on pictures to enlarge view.

---

---

---

---

---

---

Color not consistent on darker colors due to rendering effect to help define detail.

The end!