Visiting the Rothko Chapel

This is the interior of the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas. The main room contains six murals painted by Mark Rothko. They are all dark, but each different. It's tough to tell in this photograph, but each work has its own character.

This photo, with two people setting on one of the four benches, shows the scale of Rothko's work. These are typical sizes for him. The National Gallery (Washingon, DC) has even larger works on display.

The Rothko Chapel is very quiet, solemn, even sacred space. Everyone is welcome. When we stopped in a few months ago, there were people meditating and praying. One man appeared to be a Muslim, and another was practicing an Eastern religion, perhaps Buddhism.

The serene stillness of the place drove my children to distraction. My son kept whispering to me in a barely audible voice asking when we might leave. I sat on each bench and admired the paintings and the coolness of the room and the rustling of clothing. I don't believe there is such a thing as silence.

I have created a couple of Rothko-like canvases. It looks easy, but it takes layer after layer of paint to achieve the desired effect. Not all of his works are "color field" paintings, but those are his most popular. He worked with all sorts of color combinations.

Check out his works and try it yourself on a small canvas. You'll know you've done it when the painting takes on a depth and mystery that you didn't anticipate. The moment that happens, put down the brush.