Unlocking the Artistic Gift: Commissioning a House Painting is the Ultimate Present!

Unlocking the Artistic Gift: Commissioning a House Painting is the Ultimate Present!

News
Hello friends! I’m quite often asked to help folks find the perfect artistic gift for their loved ones. Imagine this – it’s a special occasion, like a wedding anniversary, a housewarming party, or a milestone birthday. Maybe it’s Mother’s Day or Christmas and you’re searching for that perfect. last-minute gift, something for the person who seems to have everything. You want a present that captures the essence of home that encapsulates memories and emotions. This is why I often suggest a commissioned house painting – the epitome of thoughtful gifting. Commissioned house paintings elevate gift-giving to an art form. They transcend the ordinary, offering a personalized touch that resonates deeply with the recipient. Unlike mass-produced items that are a dime a dozen, I craft these paintings with incredible care and attention to…
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Hanging your house portrait in your home

Hanging your house portrait in your home

House Portraits, News
Look at these creative places to hang an original house portrait! My clients often ask for suggestions as to the best place to hang the portrait of their home.  The answer is practically any place in your home where  the painting can be seen and enjoyed.  Most portraits I create are smaller in size, as this is the most popular.  Many of my clients have lived in their homes for many years and  lack wall space, however I contest that there is always room for another original work of art if you are creative about where to hang your painting. Here are some great examples that show spaces in your home you can utilize for our orignal house portrait. Iin my opinion, t's better to group your art than have…
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San Francisco Custom House Portrait Collection

San Francisco Custom House Portrait Collection

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, News
Presenting my Hand-painted Homes of San Francisco San Francisco, the City of Love, has a brand of unique and romantic architecture that sets it apart from any other city across the USA. Its architectural history is as diverse and dynamic as its landscape, marked by a series of booms and transformations that have shaped its unique skyline and streetscapes. The city's architectural uniqueness can be attributed to a variety of factors, including its geographical location, historical events, and cultural influences such as the Gold Rush, the Victorian Era, and the Beaux Arts Movement.  This has resulted in unique home styles throughout the city that are characteristic of its charm. Over the years I have worked on my San Francisco collection and for the first time I am presenting it here…
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What Personalized Closing Gifts leave a lasting impression on homebuyers?

What Personalized Closing Gifts leave a lasting impression on homebuyers?

News
In the world of real estate, a little something extra can go a long way. When it comes to saying thank you to your clients, why not go beyond the usual and give them something truly special? Imagine the joy on their faces when they receive a custom-made portrait of their new home, a unique piece of art that captures the essence of their journey. Unique House Portrait Gift Think about it – instead of the usual gift basket or generic item, picture your clients unwrapping a handcrafted portrait of their new house. It's not just a decoration; it's a memory that will hang on their wall and remind them of the exciting moment when they first stepped into their dream home. Why House Portraits Stand Out? In a world…
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Hand Painted Home Portraits of Los Angeles City

Hand Painted Home Portraits of Los Angeles City

House Portraits, News
Watercolor Custom House Portraits depicting 20 Los Angeles neighborhoods I spent many years in Los Angeles, America's fourth largest city, living in a variety of neighborhoods and always enjoying the eclectic architecture and diverse nature of the city. And I found there was certainly no shortage of amazing house portrait subjects in Los Angeles city -- in every architectural style imaginable.  The increasing congestion of the metropolis finally became unlivable for us and we left the City of Angels, however I took with me a treasure trove of happy memories. Going back decades, Los Angeles has always been a patchwork of neighborhood enclaves separated by highways, thoroughfares and plenty of hills. There are so many fascinating neighborhoods in L.A. proper that I am concentrating on a favorite that represents many…
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Hand Painted Watercolor House Portraits of Clayton, Missouri

Hand Painted Watercolor House Portraits of Clayton, Missouri

News
Welcome to my Newly Completed Clayton House Portrait Watercolor Series! Clayton, Missouri, a beautiful city in St. Louis County, is part of the greater St. Louis area.  I am particularly fond of Clayton due to its incredible wealth of house portrait subjects. Not only is there an eclectic mix of historic homes in terms of architectural styles, but they are all so uniquely different. The area has provided me with great artistic inspiration for my custom home portraits series. Architectural History of Clayton Clayton, Missouri, has a rich architectural history that reflects its development over time.  Early Settlement began in the 1800’s when Clayton was initially established as a rural area with farms and small settlements. The architectural style of this period often included simple vernacular structures, reflecting the rural…
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City of St. Louis House Portraits and Surrounding Cities

City of St. Louis House Portraits and Surrounding Cities

House Portraits, News
First Phase of House Portrait Series of Greater St. Louis Completed! [caption id="attachment_37213" align="aligncenter" width="2225"] Class St. Louis historic building: original painting of Spine Cafe and Book Store in the Benton Park neighborhood, St. Loui[/caption] Watercolor paintings covering 21 distinct areas Situated on the banks of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, St. Louis became the “Gateway to the West” in the 19th century for the adventurers and settlers following the path of Lewis and Clark into the new frontier. Early architecture in St. Louis had strong French influences along with Victorian, Italianate, Federal and Colonial styles. Tudor homes became popular in St. Louis in the early 1900s. This architectural mix is reflected in neighborhoods like Benton Park, Lafayette Square and Carondelet. I can truly say that the the residents in this…
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Lake Bluff Illinois House Portrait Collection

Lake Bluff Illinois House Portrait Collection

News
The first of my custom house portraits portraying homes in Lake Bluff IL. I really enjoyed wandering through Lake Bluff and viewing the eclectic mix of homes there.  Lake Bluff reminded me of a typical New England village with its old-fashioned corner store and interesting boutique stores, hotels and restaurants. Additionally, one can find a wonderful array of shingled historic home right in heart of Old Town Lake Bluff. As you can see here, I  selected a number of interesting homes to create pen and watercolor house portraits of and start building my Lake Bluff hand-painted watercolor house portraits series. [caption id="attachment_37116" align="aligncenter" width="988"] Queen Anne watercolor house portrait found on Sunrise Ave, Lake Bluff[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37111" align="aligncenter" width="1375"] Lake Bluff Victorian style watercolor painting on E. North Ave, Lake…
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Custom Watercolor House Portraits of Historic Illinois

Custom Watercolor House Portraits of Historic Illinois

House Portraits, News
Illinois architecture captured in my hand-painted house portraits  The “Prairie State” of Illinois runs from urban in the north to rural in the south, and this diversity extends to Illinois’ architecture. The most obvious examples of Illinois' architectural variety can be found in the state's largest city -- Chicago. After the Chicago Fire of 1871, the city went on to influence the nation with its architectural innovation and originality. The  heritage of Illinois found in their historic homes and buildings  Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, achieved statehood in 1818. Its largest and most populous city, Chicago, became a booming metropolis due to its prime location on Lake Michigan and connection to eastern ports via the Erie Canal. In the second half of the 19th century, the need for workers in…
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Tour of Historic Ste. Genevieve: the Earliest Beginnings of Missouri

Tour of Historic Ste. Genevieve: the Earliest Beginnings of Missouri

Historic Perservation, News
Last month I was thrilled to be invited by a board member of the French Colonial America organization to tour three of the historic properties it owns and operates in the Centre for French Colonial Life Museum Campus in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri.  This unique, historical museum site consists of four historic houses as well as an education and exhibits facility and it is dedicated to preserving and promoting French and Creole Culture and History of the Mississippi Valley during the Colonial Period. Ste. Genevieve is Missouri’s oldest permanent French European settlement. The village of Ste. Geneviève was settled by Canadians around 1735 on the west bank of the Mississippi River about two miles south of its present location. It was one of several important French communities forming a region known as…
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