Category: House Portraits

Painting historic homes in Greater St. Louis Having made our home in St. Louis for a couple of months now, I continue to find new and fascinating house portrait subjects.  Therefore I decided to update my initial blog post to reflect my growing collection of portraits and the architectural diversity they represent. There is certainly no shortage of architectural charm and character in this grand old city.  And while it's a really good thing I like brick  -- because historic St Louis is all about brick -- I especially took the time to select some non-brick or at least painted brick homes. One I found in Clayton is a beautiful Spanish style house and another is one of the oldest Colonial homes in this city. Another Clayton treasure I discovered…

Homes in 46 states have now been turned into architectural works of art! I am excited to update you about my upcoming architectural coffee table book.  Entitled Art Inspiring Homes Across the USA, the book will showcase homes I have painted in every state across America, and celebrate their diversity, elegance and individual style from state to state. While my artistic inspiration is the vast and captivating array of architecture one finds in every corner of this land, my fascination also lies with the individuals and families who with their hands, skill or artistic design, brought each and every one of these architectural forms into being, creating both a footprint and legacy that we enjoy today. Since my last update I have created portraits in four new states. The first…

Mom: The glue that holds the home together . . .  It suddenly occurred to me today that perhaps it's no mistake that Mother's Day is celebrated in the Spring, that wonderful season of love, hope, youth and growth. Did you know that the earliest history of Mothers Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses?  More recently, mothers were celebrated in the 1600s in England. The day was called Mothering Sunday where children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their mother.  On the occasion, servants, apprentices and other employees staying away from their homes were encouraged by their employers to visit their mothers and honor them. Traditionally children brought with them gifts and in other nations have observed similar days.…

Not surprisingly, this video is about “How to Paint a House Portrait”.  And the best part about it is that all the hours that went into this portrait have been distilled down to just 1 ½ minutes!  And yet it still contains all the basic steps.  Boy, I wish it were this easy! These days I am doing commissioned portraits all over the USA, so it was nice to get the chance to go on site and capture this charming Craftsman home just down the road from me. AN IMPORTANT FACT ABOUT THIS VIDEO. . . The portrait of this home was a commissioned painting for MOTHER”S DAY!  You might think this occasion is a long way off, but in the world of original art it is not.  Celebrate your…

Transforming a photo into an architectural work of art By popular demand, I have put together a more detailed series of steps showing how I create house portraits.  Of course it doesn't mean it is the only way to do it, but it's a way that I have found to be successful. Here we go... Step 1: First I start with a good set of photos. Then it is a matter of going through them and selecting the best one to use as the main photo. I use all the photos of course but having the right main photo is vital. It should be at an angle that compliments the house and shows it’s architectural features. It also helps that it is free from obstacles and blockages. But this is…

What does the color of your house reveal about you? Conventional wisdom says there are three common sense rules that should guide you to making the right color choice for your house. What's your architectural style? Do you live in a Spanish Colonial, an old Victorian or a Craftsman?  That can really dictate your color scheme.  For example, a Victorian lends itself to pastels like pink, mint green or baby blue. Those colors wouldn't work for a Craftsman or a Spanish Colonial, which are typically in more muted and neutral tones. What are the prominent colors in your neighborhood? There's often a consistent color scheme running throughout. Look for complementary colors and intensities that will blend right in. Color evokes moods Think about the overall impact that you're hoping to create. Do…

Watercolor Memories and Christmas home portraits ... There is nothing like a white Christmas, especially when you add a warm yellow glow streaming out the windows and reflecting on the snow, cheerful Christmas lights and wreaths and a sinking red sun silhouetted against the starkness of bare winter trees.  I love the way the twilight plays on the snow as the wind dies down and the world is still. Enjoy some of my 2017 Christmas home memories, all which were commissioned by clients. [caption id="attachment_7235" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Home in Chevy Chase, MD[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_7236" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Crested Butte, Colorado[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_7237" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Lake Tahoe home with excited grandkids at play[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_7238" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Another family home in Lake Tahoe that I was asked to paint.…

Turning a battered old photo into a work of art! Here is a small gallery of mainly commissioned subjects and the single and often ancient photo I worked from to bring the family home and all its memories to life with my pen and paintbrush. [caption id="attachment_7162" align="aligncenter" width="241"] Photo of family home in Saratoga Springs, NY[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7163" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Watercolor painting of Saratoga Springs,  NY family home[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_7164" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo of family home Prince Edward Island, Canada[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7161" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Painting of family home Prince Edward Island, Canada[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_7168" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Old photo of historic home in Kent County, Delaware[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7165" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Photo of historic home in Kent County, Delaware[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_7166" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo of old home High…

Matching 1935 home and car  - my latest house portrait commission! The reason I love painting homes is because homes are about people. That’s what makes them fascinating.  Just as we are all uniquely different, homes reflect the personalities of their owners, they have their own character and are imbued with family memories and stories. I receive a lot of fun and unique commission requests but this one is a first!  A color coordinated home and car that were both born in 1935! [caption id="attachment_6930" align="aligncenter" width="980"] Matching home and car in San Jose, CA[/caption]   So here is a little story about the owners of these twins, my delightful clients Mike and Debi Hugill.  Now both retired, Mike spent 38 years in sales and most recently as VP Sales…

A story about a beach cabin in New Zealand When I think of summer, my thoughts drift back to my homeland of New Zealand. Sparkling beaches, a family cabin and lots of sunshine and fun! This is a little story about summer in New Zealand. Unfortunately this particular story doesn't have a happy ending but the message is important for all of us. Every year our family would head off to a beach for our summer vacation.  My three sisters and I loved waking up to the sound of waves on Christmas day and like all kids we excitedly unwrapped our presents and would then dash down to the beach in our new swimsuits, try out our beach balls etc. (Remember summer is in December down under!)  One year when…