Though my Instagram followers got to see the finished piece at the end of January, I haven’t had the chance to reflect on the process of creating this very special painting yet.

As you already know, our family bought and moved to our first home last November. After we settled in, the sellers commissioned a portrait of the house. Knowing this was their first home and how much love they filled it with, I wanted to make sure to captured the warm, sunny essence that made us fall in love with it in the first place.

When I am working on portraits of any kind, I always start by sketching the subject in graphite on drawing paper. This allows me to erase as much as necessary without damaging the watercolor paper. Once I am satisfied with the sketch, I trace it onto watercolor paper using carbon paper. Since the house has white trim and a white garage door, I used masking fluid to protect the white of the paper until I am ready to add details.

I sketch on a separate piece of paper and use carbon paper to transfer the image, then I apply masking fluid to areas I wish to remain paper white.

The clients provided two images of the house – one to show the angle of the house they wanted me to capture and one showing the beautiful blossoms on the tree that they wanted me to include in this springtime portrait. Since it was winter when I started this piece, I snapped an additional photo of the house from the same angle while the trees were bare, allowing me to get the angles of the roof just right in my initial sketch.

Using the photos as a reference, I mixed pigments and laid down diluted flat washes for the sky, house, and lawn. The clients requested a subtle rainbow be painted above the house, so I added a gentle arch in the primary colors used elsewhere to ensure color harmony throughout the piece.

Once these larger sections were blocked in, I focused on some of the details: adding reflections to the windows, siding to the house, and beautiful granulating greens to the foliage throughout the yard.

As the layers dried, I darkened the grass and added the trees’ shadows in the yard. Revisiting the photos several times, adding the finer details such as the flag, texture of the birch bark, and shady, sponge-painted trees.

I am so glad I was able to help sustain the memories the former owners built in this house to carry into their new home. Presenting this painting also offered some closure to the stressful house-hunting process and allowed our family to begin making this house a home.

Portraits are such a special way to pay homage to your home (and make memorable gifts). Let’s work together to celebrate the house you grew up in, your first home, or where ever else is meaningful to you.