Home Portraits

"Wallingford House"

This is a drawing of a home in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle that was commissioned by the owner. Since it was not far from where I lived, I was able to visit the home and take some photographs to work from. You can imagine how pleased I was to see his old delivery van on the curb. It was in the perfect spot for the composition so I left it right where he had parked it. With homes like this I often take out things that may not be too pleasing to the eye. In this case I left out the telephone pole on the corner. When I delivered the finished drawing the owner showed me a photograph of this house from the mid 1930's it had a "For Sale" sign in front of it and the asking price was $3,500...that's probably about what a new roof would cost today!

"Seattle House"

This is a 20"X16" drawing of a house in a wonderful Seattle neighborhood. I was able to photograph the home myself and had a great time talking with the fantastic owners. I was even lucky enough to visit on a warm, sunny day in Seattle, something that is odd in itself. Drawings like this can be used on Christmas cards or any kind of greeting cards and are inexpensive to reproduce since they are black and white line art.

"New England House"

This is a 20"X16" pen and ink drawing of a house in New England. In 1993 and 1994 I lived in a small town in Vermont and managed a food cooperative. I was lucky enough to have traveled throughout the region and while there I was overwhelmed by the New England landscape. Looking back, it seems to have overtaken this drawing. I'm not sure what I like more about this piece, the landscape or the house.

"Northwest House"

This is a pen and ink drawing of a home in my area. I would love to live in a house with a yard like this. My daughter adds: "With a pool, Daddy, With a pool!" As you may be able to tell, I love the landscape and I think it is just as important as home itself in a drawing like this. Perhaps it's because of the fond memories of playing in my own backyard climbing trees and playing with my friends at the creek near my home while I was growing up. I really feel the surrounding landscape forms the character of most houses especially in older homes like this one.

I have done drawings like this for families who have decided to sell the house they grew up in. It seems a little sad to me to see older folks sell the place their children were raised and I'm sure it is very difficult for them. Having a drawing seems to ease the pain and remind them of the wonderful memories they had in their home. One of the nicest things about doing these drawings in pen and ink is that they can be easily copied with the highest quality and at a low cost so that all members of the family can have a copy of their own.

If you are interested in a commissioned portrait of your home or the one you grew up in please email me for information on your own personal piece of art.

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