Working on my Dunedin House Portrait Collection
My Dunedin Connection. . . Growing up in New Zealand, I always longed to visit Dunedin Scotland. Although I have since travelled all over England, I still haven't made it there. But ironically, Dunedin, New Zealand, was one of the first cities I explored on my travelling artistic adventure throughout NZ in the late 70's. [caption id="attachment_52345" align="alignleft" width="400"] Dunedin, New Zealand has same coastal vibe as Dunedin FL[/caption] Since then I have to come to realize that Dunedin Florida has some stark similiarites. They are both situated on the coast, and both have very interesting architecture, which for me is always a main draw. Dunedin NZ, the oldest city in the country, was founded by Scottish settlers and its name also derives from the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh,…
House Portrait gift for Father’s Day
It's not too late . . . the perfect gift for Dad As you know, every house has a story. . . Meet Jimmy, a family man who recently lost his wife of 41 years. The final blow was having to move out of their beloved home and into independent living. I was asked to create this portrait of the family home to capture all the special memories and it now hangs on the wall for Jimmy to enjoy every daFor the wonderful father in your life, give the gift of a custom Father’s Day House Portrait Certificate. (See sample below.) [caption id="attachment_52218" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Meet Jimmy, a family man and husband, who was gifted this house portriat of the family home[/caption] 15% OFF YOUR FATHER’S DAY HOUSE PORTRAIT GIFT CERTIFICATE I…
House Portraits Old Town Alexandria VA
Pen and Watercolor Old Town Home Memories Old Town Alexandria, has always been a special place for me as it is where I lived and launched my art career 15 years ago. Due to the success of my national coffee table book which includes portraits of homes and historic buildings in all 50 states, I am now focusing on creating more work to include in an art book that features my portraits of Alexandria with emphasis on Old Town, the historic hub of the area. Known for its rich history and beautifully preserved architecture, some of the buildings in Old Town date back to the late 18th century. Lee/Fenall House: I just completed this protrait of the Lee-Fendall House, which was built in 1784. General Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee,…
House portrait immortalizes home destroyed by Hurricane Helene
Rebuilding one's home after tragedy. . . On September 26, 2024, as the light began to fade, the fury of Hurricane Helene was intensifying. Julie stubbornly remained in her home, anxiously looking out the window but ignoring orders to evacuate; clinging to the hope that her sturdy brick ranch home and beautiful gardens would somehow withstand anything Helene could give out. At 9 pm, sparks started flying off the transformers and suddenly, as if released from a dam, water began gushing down W. Davis Blvd, transforming the normally idyllic treelined street on Davis Islands, Tampa, into a surging river. [caption id="attachment_50934" align="alignleft" width="470"] Julie's engulfed home on Davis Islands, Tampa[/caption] Julie knew it was time to go. She collected her most prized possessions and hurriedly left 110 W. Davis Blvd,…
Personalized House Portrait Print Service for My Clients
How do I make prints of my original house portrait? Today another client contacted me today and asked what has become a commonly asked question. . . “What is the best way to make prints of the portrait of my house? I want to give a nice framed print to my son who is going off to college." I thought that everyone knew that I have a fabulous way of doing this! But obviously, that is not the case or I wouldn’t get so many pleas for help from my clients. So I wanted to remind you of this specialized client service that I offer. This is something that I set up a couple of years ago especially for you. It is simple, fast, very reasonably priced, and best of…
Four homes depicted in house portraits — showing all four seasons
The beauty of house portraits across the four seasons can be truly captivating, as each season brings out different characteristics of the home and its surroundings. An original watercolor house portrait in each season can capture the essence of the environment and evoke a unique atmosphere. I often receive requests from my clients to capture their home in all seasons to show the home’s full personality and bring to mind all the happy memories and activites which match the different times of the year. Some of my clients have given a seasonal painting to each one of their children. Here are four examples of commissioned house portraits in all all seasons, along with four descriptions of what I love most about each successive season. Winter Winter house portraits evoke a…
House Portraits: The Realtor Gift that Keeps on Giving . . .
An extrodinary realtor with her own client House Portrait collection! I would like to introduce you to a wonderful realtor client called Paige Rhodes. I first met Paige in 2013 when we both lived in Alexandria Virginia, which is where I launched my art career. Paige wasn't even a realtor then. We both moved on and life marched forward. My husband and I moved to the west coast and beyond and Paige and her family moved to Daniel Island, close to Charleston in South Carolina. From my humble beginnings in Old Town Alexandria, I went on to create house portraits and paintings of historic buildings in every state across the USA, and released my coffee table book in 2021 which documents this journey. Paige went on to become a top-selling realtor…
House Portraits of Lost Homes: In Memoriam
I have long campaigned against the loss of historic homes to the dreaded wrecking ball, however over the years -- and especially within the last year -- I have had many requests for commissioned house portraits to memorialize homes that have been destroyed due to natural disaster. The horror of losing one’s home in disasters like fires, hurricanes, or flooding is both profound and multifaceted, leaving physical, emotional, and psychological scars. A home is not just a structure—it represents safety, stability, and personal identity. The loss of it can be devastating in so many ways. As I wrote this, the ravaging wild-fires in the Los Angeles area are still not fully contained, and thousands of Angelenos remain on edge, while thousands more are facing the horrifying aftermath of lost…
House Portraits with Christmas Decorations
The joy of a festive Christmas house portrait Decorating your home for Christmas can have many meaningful and enjoyable benefits. You can keep the joy alive by capturing it in an original house portrait, just like these clients have done. Following are a few reasons why people love to decorate their homes for the holiday season and bring to life the joy of the holiday season! [caption id="attachment_49001" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Christmas house portrait, Lansing MI[/caption] Create a Festive Atmosphere Christmas decorations set the tone for the season and help transform your home into a cozy, magical space. I find that capturing the home at dusk in a house portrait is the best way to show it off. The twinkling lights, festive colors, and holiday scents create an environment that feels…
