105 E. University - A Family's Story

105 East University - The Traugott Home

9x12 Watercolor

My work in the studio this week was a "labor of love"....a home "portrait".  This painting is of a 1920's  bungalow on a quiet street in one of Waxahachie's historic districts. My clients purchased the home as newly-weds and as the family grew in numbers, it became necessary to find a larger home. 

Two weeks ago, on the day they sold the house, they contacted me and comissioned a painting.
Intimate conversations with clients are as important as sketches and photographs. As I snapped photographs and made quick sketches from several angles,  I listened carefully as they talked about the house - and after a short while, I began to see the home through their eyes. It was evident they are excited about the move to their new home, but at the same time, there's the sadness of leaving their first home; one filled with love and laughter and children.  A photograph gives me technical information, but there's no emotional connection....it doesn't share memories. It doesn't tell "the story".

Elements in the painting - the big tree and dappled light; the flower gardens; the red door; faces in the picture window - are all connected to a family memory. Everyone - except the family - will see a  painting of a house...but the family will see and remember "the story".

Commissions like this one give me great pleasure.  I'll deliver "105 E. University" tomorrow to it's new home with the knowledge that it will continue to tell "the story" in the Traugott family for generations to come.

New Work – 209 North Grand, Waxahachie

I’ve been practically chained to my studio easel for the past week, working on a “home portrait” commission.  This “Grande Dame” is one of dozens of  historical homes in Waxahachie.  The owner purchased the home only recently and plans to begin a complete restoration in the coming year.

I began with several on on location sketching sessions.  Above and below are sketches and preliminary color study completed on location.

This was a particularly difficult project in that the home sits on a huge lot with giant 100 year old trees all around it. The grounds haven’t been landscaped in perhaps 25 years…a lot of shrubs & bushes have grown too big.  The house is in need of a lot of repair and a good coat of paint, so part of my job was to visualize what it will look like when the owner finishes the restoration later on this year. The entire 2nd story and most of the roof aren’t visible from the street….which was the best vantage point for painting.  I had to stand up close to the front of the house, and look straight up to see how the roof, turret, and porch came together.   I snapped about 20 digital “close up, detail” images and combined with my sketches, I was able to get a drawing completed.  I trimmed bushes, cut down and relocated several trees…resulting in a much better composition. I included a couple of the owner’s personal yard decorations…the flag in the flower garden and 2 lawn chairs to finish it off.  I like the way it turned out – it’s been a good week in the studio!

      “209 North Grand Avenue, Waxahachie” – 16 x 20 Watercolor

Painting Commissions

I have a like/dislike relationship with accepting commission assignments for "home portraits".

I dislike: ....that I impose the stress of a deadline on myself.

I like: ....and am flattered to be the artist selected to capture their "special place"..to suspend time and provide a lasting remembrance for generations.

I dislike: ....the mental anguish and composition decisions I go through during the drawing and design phase. I'm reluctant to,(and usually don't), accurately depict the subject "exactly" as it is. I begin a list of mental complaints: I have very little to work with; it's a bad photograph; subject hasn't any character; the season is wrong; trees are growing in odd places. This dialog with myself can go on for several days.

I like: ....when I discontinue my "negative dialog" with myself and start to make a "connection". About half-way into the drawing and design phase, I begin to develop a "feel". When this happens, my composition and color decisions become easier; I'm working as if it's my own "special place".

I dislike: .... when I have to make decisions about certain elements in the final composition. Although I've been given full creative license, I want to honor all the important elements that may be important to my client.

I like: .... when I begin painting; it all comes together; composition, color, values, and the most important element of all....a sense of place.

I LOVE: .... that moment when I lay my brush down and consider my day's work as "well done".
I LOVE: .... the moment when I deliver the painting and see the joy on my client's face.
I LOVE: .... being an artist. painting. for others, for myself. It's what I do. It's who I am.

Fortunately, there's many more "likes" than "dislikes". Or I'd be doing something else with my life.

I completed this commission yesterday. I'll contact my client tomorrow and make arrangements for delivery. I think they'll be pleased.


"Brumley Boulevard" 9" x 12" Watercolor

Atteberry's Home

9" x 12" Watercolor

I've been working on a commission for the past couple of weeks and I finished it yesterday.  This is a portrait of Bill and Kathy Atteberry's home in Midlothian, Texas.  I started the painting on location, returning 2 more times to make sure I had the roof and porch lines correct.  The home faced the East with a "ga-zillion" trees in the front yard that kept the entrance in shadow all day. The only time sunlight hit the entrance was for about 45 minutes around 10:30 am, therefore my time on location was very limiting. On the last trip, the sun was filtering through the trees highlighting the American Flag.  Up to that point, I hadn't really committed to an area or "center of interest".  Shadows on the lawn leading to the flag on the porch was the perfect lead-in to the painting.   I presented the Atteberrys with their painting this afternoon; they were delighted with it.  Bill said that I had "nailed it".  That's about the best compliment a patron can give me.  

An Update

Be sure and drop by the website of International Plein Air Painters (see link on the right side of this blog). I'm the Featured Artist for the month of February.  I've received some very nice comments from fellow IPAP members. I really appreciate the exposure by the association.

On February 26, I'll be the guest artist for DeSoto (Texas) Art League and will do a watercolor demonstration. The artists that make up this organization are all fun to paint with (and for).  I'm really looking forward to it. I'll have a friend take some photos and I'll get them posted a few days afterward.

This is a busy week for me; several tasks that must be completed for Ellis County Art Association (I'm the Prez), along with some personal commitments (home & family) plus my weekly class.  Somewhere in all this, I must finish a painting commission by Saturday; I'll post a photo as soon as I complete it.  Away I go, task list in right hand, paint brush in left.