House Painting with People.

16" x 20" oil on linen

This is a house in Connecticut that I painted for a couple who won the bid in a grand prize to benefit the Autism Society of Connecticut. I donate a few paintings a year to worthy causes and this is one. The couple sent me three pictures, one of her with the boys, one of him with the boys and another of the house. Adding the people in front of the house is a nice way to personalize a house portrait.

A Gift for Dad on Father's Day-- A House Painting

This house painting was commissioned as a surprise gift for Father's Day. The client sent me several photos of her house and a few pictures of her and the family.

The key to putting people into a house painting is to keep them "in the background". That doesn't mean you have to put them behind the house; you just need to keep the values fairly close and don't add much detail. I blocked in the shapes in raw umber, then allowed it to dry and colored in the limbs and clothing loosely with paint very similar in value.

The painting is about the house and if we don't lose sight of that it's a better painting. Resist the temptation to put in features, bows, shoes etc. The house is the subject and the family is secondary.

16" x 20"

Alexa's House