Yorky
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HOUSE PORTRAITS TUTORIAL
Many of us paint away, varying the subject as the whim takes us then find it difficult to interest purchasers in our work. Maybe the answer is to paint to order.
I hope that with a few pointers, I can encourage you to add house portraits to your portfolio. Once you have sufficiently developed the skill, you will certainly get commissions by reputation. You might start by painting your own house, a house that you have lived in or even a local landmark building. The principles are the same. Ask any questions and show your results in the Homework Thread.
As someone who concentrates on landscapes, often involving street scenes, the easiest and most enjoyable commissions I have done since I started painting watercolours have been the house portraits.
How to Start
First of all, you should discuss the project with the customer and ask if they have any special requests. They may wish the painting to show the garden in a particular season, with the flowering tree and the roses around the door, their dog on the drive or cat in the window. They may wish the house on its own or within the landscape and including adjacent dwellings. They may want a particular size and choice of frame to fit the hanging location etc. With luck, they may want paintings of both the front and the rear of the property to show off their landscaping etc.
Although I say discuss the project with the customer, on more than one occasion I have painted a local historic building and then offered the finished painting to the owner who has purchased it.
Bearing in mind the painting remains your copyright so it is important that having completed the painting an accurate high-quality photograph is taken. The image can then be used on further items which the customer may wish to purchase, such as letterheads, business cards, note cards and after judicious computer editing, even Christmas cards. I have a customer who comes back periodically for another 100 letterheads, note cards and business cards which I print off at home. Be sure to include copyright information on the rear of the painting. to be continued in next post
Many of us paint away, varying the subject as the whim takes us then find it difficult to interest purchasers in our work. Maybe the answer is to paint to order.
I hope that with a few pointers, I can encourage you to add house portraits to your portfolio. Once you have sufficiently developed the skill, you will certainly get commissions by reputation. You might start by painting your own house, a house that you have lived in or even a local landmark building. The principles are the same. Ask any questions and show your results in the Homework Thread.
As someone who concentrates on landscapes, often involving street scenes, the easiest and most enjoyable commissions I have done since I started painting watercolours have been the house portraits.
How to Start
First of all, you should discuss the project with the customer and ask if they have any special requests. They may wish the painting to show the garden in a particular season, with the flowering tree and the roses around the door, their dog on the drive or cat in the window. They may wish the house on its own or within the landscape and including adjacent dwellings. They may want a particular size and choice of frame to fit the hanging location etc. With luck, they may want paintings of both the front and the rear of the property to show off their landscaping etc.
Although I say discuss the project with the customer, on more than one occasion I have painted a local historic building and then offered the finished painting to the owner who has purchased it.
Bearing in mind the painting remains your copyright so it is important that having completed the painting an accurate high-quality photograph is taken. The image can then be used on further items which the customer may wish to purchase, such as letterheads, business cards, note cards and after judicious computer editing, even Christmas cards. I have a customer who comes back periodically for another 100 letterheads, note cards and business cards which I print off at home. Be sure to include copyright information on the rear of the painting. to be continued in next post