3 Tips for Vibrant House Portraits

House portraits capture the essence of a home like no other art form. Each home tells a story, reflecting the love and memories that reside within its walls. I take pride in creating accurate and charming watercolour house portraits that bring out the personality of each dwelling. Whether it’s a quaint cottage, a modern marvel, or a rustic retreat, custom artwork serves as charming keepsakes that celebrate a home’s character and charm, perfect for gifting or proud display.

I’m going to demonstrate these three tips in my painting of the Coldwater Grist Mill in Ontario, Canada. I was commissioned to make a piece for a local silent auction this fall, and I selected this mill because I love how the vibrant red stands out against the surrounding foliage. 

Tip 1

Mastering lights and darks is essential when creating a house portrait that captivates the viewer. Knowing where to leave white space for highlights is crucial in watercolour painting. Unlike other mediums, once colour is applied, it can't be easily removed. Strategically allowing areas of white paper to show through can create stunning highlights that add depth and dimension to your artwork. By envisioning your final piece and identifying spots that would benefit from that bright contrast, you enhance the vibrancy of your colours and draw the viewer’s eye to the focal points of your painting. This technique not only emphasizes the luminosity of your work but also helps maintain a balanced composition, ensuring that your quirky style shines through beautifully.

Here, I am leaving the highlight on the railing in the foreground of the picture. I painted resist (see my Essential Tools post, coming soon) over the railings when filling in the river and greenery behind. Then I removed the resist and added shadows to the bottom of the railing. The contrast felt stark while I was painting it, but when I looked at the reference photo, the top of the railing was reflecting the sun and therefore bright white. In the end (see the photo at the top of the post) it all came together and added more interest to the painting. 

Tip 2

Similar to leaving highlights, incorporating deep shadows can add depth and dimension, allowing your artwork to pop off the page. Start by identifying the light source (e.g. where is the sun shining from?) in your composition and use it as a guide to strategically place your shadows. Sometimes I look at a photo without focusing on it, it will be a little blurry, which helps me see the contrasting colours rather than the details of the building. This contrast not only brings your subject to life but also highlights the unique features of the house, making it more visually appealing. I know it can be scary, but don’t shy away from using bold, dark hues; they will enhance the overall richness of your portrait and draw the eye to the intricate details that tell the story of the home.

To make the shadow colour, I added purple to the remaining red paint. Blue could also be added, as cool colours help create deep shadows, but avoid black because it is a “dead” colour and reduces the vibrancy of the work (that said, I do occasionally use black, like when painting the windows). Always test your shadow colour on a scrap piece of paper to ensure you like the colour before adding it to your final work. I used my shadow mix under the eves, beside/under the windows, and on the right side of the building (again, see the final painting at the top of the post).

Tip 3

Limiting the number of layers in your watercolour painting is essential to preserve the vibrancy of your colours. If you go over the same area more than four or five times, you could risk creating a muddied and dull appearance. Each layer adds its own characteristics, and too many can not only darken the overall effect but also obscure the delicate nuances that make watercolour so enchanting. Embracing restraint allows those beautiful transparent qualities to shine, ensuring that your work retains its lively charm. Always practice layering on a scrap piece of paper so test how the colours will look layered on top of one another after they dry.

To make the long grasses in the foreground, I left the space blank to ensure the white paper shown through to create highlights (as described in tip 1). I used a light brown colour in the first layer, leaving some white dappled through the grass. Then I painted over the first layer with green, painting some leaves and leaving others to create interest with two colours. Afterwards, I added another layer with deeper greens and browns in the middle and lower portions of the grass to create shadows (see the final painting above). 

In conclusion, creating captivating portraits can be achieved by focusing on three key tips: first, pay close attention to lighting, as it dramatically influences the mood and depth of your work; second, don’t shy away from creating dark shadows, as they bring character and life to your subjects; finally, find balance in layering colours without losing brightness . By applying these techniques, your portraits can transform into vibrant reflections of personality and emotion.