I made a decision several months ago to give up the commission side of my art business. As my calendar had filled with teaching engagements and trips to far-flung places, it became more and more difficult to find time to squeeze in the labor-intensive custom artwork. But when my friend Mary approached me a few […]
Category: Custom Artwork
Meet Maggie the Goldendoodle
Introducing….Maggie! A sweet, lovable Goldendoodle puppy who lives with her family in a cute cottage in Atlanta, the same cottage that I painted last December and shared with you in this post. “Maggie’s Dream”, 10″ x 12-1/4″, ink & watercolor on Saunders Waterford 140 lb. paper Maggie’s “grandma” commissioned me to do a portrait of […]
Commission #7: Tin Can Hollow Road
Here’s the final house portrait in this series of 2015 commissions, a renovated farmhouse on the charmingly named Tin Can Hollow Road in Greene County, Pennsylvania. I took my reference photos in August when the yard was filled with flowers and the white hydrangeas were just beginning to develop the rosy blush that comes as […]
Commission #6: Victoria Belle Mansion
Imagine an outdoor wedding in this beautiful location, with violinists serenading the wedding party from the balcony and guests arrayed in white chairs surrounding the fountain. That was the scene when my client’s daughter was married at Victoria Belle Mansion just a few years ago. 12″ x 8″ watercolor on 140 lb. paper Victoria Belle is an […]
Commission #5: A Cute, Cozy Cottage
When you read the title of this post, what image popped into your head? Clapboard siding, picket fences and porch swings? Colorful flowers tumbling over stone walls? Well, this adorable cottage has all that and more. 12″ x 8″, ink & watercolor on 140 lb. paper The house is framed by pretty white picket fences… […]
Commission #4: “The Pecan Grove”
I’ve done a wide variety of custom artwork over the years, everything from pet portraits to illustrated recipes, but this is the first time I’ve been asked to paint a grove of trees. This idyllic scene of a family walking through a Georgia pecan grove was a challenge for many reasons. “The Pecan Grove”, 12″ […]
Commission #3: “Built with Love”
You see simple ranch-style red brick homes all over western Pennsylvania, where I live. You might drive by this one and not give it a second glance. Its not impressive or imposing. It doesn’t have columns or dormers or gables. It was built in the understated style of a typical 1960s ranch. But this little […]
Commission #2: A Stately Home in Atlanta
House portraits require quite a bit of back and forth communication with my clients. I usually ask for lots of photos of the property from different angles, so I can choose what works best for the composition. The client often requests a change of season for the painting, so there are discussions of what type […]
Commission #1: “Memories of Home”
I promised before Christmas that I would show you all the commissioned paintings I’ve been working on lately. Most of them were intended as gifts, so I couldn’t spoil the surprise and reveal them before the holiday. Well, now that the decorations have been packed away and things are getting back to normal around here, […]
Step-by-Step Watercolor: Winter Farm Scene
My Christmas gift to you…a new watercolor tutorial! The Minor Farm, Greene County, PA, 17″ x 10.5″, ink & watercolor on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. paper Come on into my studio and look over my shoulder as I paint a rural farm scene from Greene County, Pennsylvania, where I live. This painting was done […]
