Art Blog

Some of the first of my Brooklyn Home Portrait Watercolor Series Over the years I have spent a lot of time in New York City and there is nothing more enjoyable than strolling through beautiful Brooklyn.  It's tree-lined streets are steeped in history and  interesting architectural treasures can be found around every corner.   Hicks Street is a favorite of mine.  I thought it was time to share some of my Brooklyn home paintings with you. [caption id="attachment_6539" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Pure architectural elegance on the corner of Grace Court and Hicks Street, Brooklyn, New York[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6541" align="aligncenter" width="419"] Fourth Street, Brooklyn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6540" align="aligncenter" width="426"] Classic row house on Hicks Street, Brooklyn with a Carriage House to the right .[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6542" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Argle Rd, Brooklyn[/caption] You can…

Victorian Farm House on Prince Edward Island, Canada You can imagine my delight when one of my clients from Monrovia, California, asked if I would create a painting of the family farm situated on Prince Edward Island where she grew up.  She told me that she planned to hang it alongside her own lovely Craftsman family home  where in turn she and her husband raised their children. This was the one photo I had to work from but it gave me the detail I needed. [caption id="attachment_6519" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Victorian Family Home on Prince Edward Island, Canada[/caption] And here is the final pen and watercolor painting of this lovely family home. [caption id="attachment_6520" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Pen and watercolor of family home on Prince Edward Island, Canada[/caption] Despite the difference in…

Sizzling summer garden color to beautify your home. . . There is nothing more wonderful than summer. The heat, vacations, the plant growth and most of all the COLOR! I make a point of including all the color and warmth I see when I create my portraits of homes.  I thought you might enjoy a tour of some of my summer homes across the USA.  No matter the architectural style, whether the home is old or new or historic or modern, garden color adds so much life and vibrance! Take a look and see for yourself!  I'm starting on the west coast and travelling east. [caption id="attachment_6290" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Burbank, CA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6294" align="aligncenter" width="600"] La Jolla, CA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6295" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Monrovia, CA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6297" align="aligncenter" width="600"] San Marino, CA[/caption]…

MCR Construction – the dream builders . . . I was lucky enough to meet Mark and Lori Rolph, the owners of this amazing and creative design and construction company through  -- you guessed it – their home!  Situated on a quiet residential street in Burbank, CA, I was lured by its uniqueness and charm – a mix between a French chateau and a fairyland gingerbread house that one might expect to find in the middle of the Black Forest.  I immediately decided to add this to my Burbank House Portrait series. [caption id="attachment_6277" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Verdugo Ave, Burbank[/caption] Shortly after its completion Mark and Lori came to my studio and then invited me for a tour of their home.  They also shared its history and some before and after…

My San Francisco architectural series debut! Over the years I have always enjoyed my time in San Francisco. What an architectural feast!  For one thing it is a Sister City to my hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, so that's a big plus.  Like Auckland a bridge spans across the city and harbor views, glistening water and flaming sunsets abound.  Both cities are very hilly which makes for interesting architecture, with tall elegant Victorian homes jutting out from narrow sloping streets. As always, I have chosen an eclectic mix of homes, and not only historic. SF's modern architecture is also very interesting. I am in progress on many more subjects but wanted to share some of my first homes with you. [caption id="attachment_6272" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Steiner St, San Francisco[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6255"…

We see homes from the front all the time . . . but what do they look like from the back? The owners of these house portrait subjects are clients of mine who commissioned me to create pen and waters that depict both the front and back views of their homes so they are able to represent their home as a pair rather than just one lonely painting. This first one is in Arcadia, California. It was an nondescript one story ranch home when the owners purchased it a couple of decades ago. [caption id="attachment_6111" align="aligncenter" width="738"] South Santa Anita Ave, Arcadia CA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6112" align="aligncenter" width="738"] The back of the home with large open windows and doors.[/caption] This elegant colonial home is in Los Angeles. [caption id="attachment_6110" align="aligncenter" width="755"]…