How I Create My Custom Watercolour House Portraits
You’ve seen the finished paintings here on my website and on Instagram, but have you ever wondered how I actually create my custom watercolour house portraits? Before I explain the process in detail, let me tell you how I became an artist and why the beautiful buildings I paint mean so much.
My Journey with Watercolour Painting
I first experimented with watercolour painting when I decided I wanted a create an illustrated artist’s journal for myself. I bought a small palette of watercolour paints and started practicing. Eventually, I managed to paint a handful of illustrations I was happy with, including some floral wreaths which I hand lettered and gave as new baby gifts.
In 2019, we moved from the North-East of England to Northern Ireland, and discovered we were expecting our fourth child. As we settled into our new life and 2020 rolled around, I found myself feeling antsy. I really needed to be creative, so I dug out those paints and practiced some more, doodling and experimenting with brush lettering at the same time.
Eventually, I turned my love of painting and calligraphy into the small business you see today. And Hope Designs is now home to a large, ever-growing selection of joyful cards and gifts, including my custom watercolour house portraits.
About The Buildings I Paint
Every commission I paint is personal and filled with meaning. People often choose a family home, or a house they knew growing up. Sometimes, they’re selling the house having lived there a very long time.
Other reasons to commission a house portrait include buying your first home or to give as a housewarming present. They’re perfect for anniversaries and milestone birthdays too. It’s also an excellent way to commemorate the completion of extensive house works. One customer bought her dad a set of portraits featuring the before and after of a house he’d spent a couple of years renovating. As you would expect, many of my custom house portraits are given at Christmas. They’re great for someone who is a little harder to buy for!
I also paint wedding venues and churches. These are usually gifted for weddings, anniversaries, engagements and baptisms. To make these even more special, I tend to finish them with hand lettering such as a date, location or names/initials.
How I Create My Custom Watercolour House Portraits
Step 1. From Photo to Digital Sketch
My paintings take several days to complete as the process includes various stages. It all starts with the high-quality, colour photo you’ll send as part of the order process. As well as sharing the building in its entirety, close-up pictures are helpful if there are small details you’d like me to include. I also encourage you to consider which season you’d like your house painted in. I can easily add seasonal details like snow, autumn leaves or spring flowers on trees and bushes that aren’t present in the original photograph. I love to use colour and show a home at its very best – all you have to do is ask!
Once I receive an image of the house or wedding venue from the angle it’s to be painted, I upload this to my iPad and trace over the main lines of the building. This ensures I capture the right proportions and allows me to print the outline centred to the page. This is especially important if I’m adding hand lettering beneath the illustration. Unless you have specified a preference, whether the finished artwork is landscape or portrait will depend on the image you send.
Step 2. From Digital Sketch to Watercolour Paper
I use this minimalist illustration as a guide, printing it off and tracing it gently onto a piece of watercolour paper. I favour 300gsm cold press watercolour paper as it has a light texture of bumps and dimples, giving the finished painting even more character.
First, I trace the building in lead pencil, referring to the original photograph at the same time. I then go over these lines with a 0.05mm black fine liner. My favourite pen is made by Unipin. It’s waterproof, which is essential when working with watercolour paint. If necessary, I use the same pen for hand lettering, but with a much thicker nib.
Step 3. Painting Begins
My paints of choice are Winsor & Newton half pan watercolours. I currently have a collection of 48 shades, but I still enjoy the process of mixing these to capture the exact colour of a brick, front door or plant in the photo provided. I also use my knowledge of what plants look like in real life to ensure the trees and flowers I paint look as close to the real thing as possible, even in their miniature, distant form. I knew the biology degree would come in handy eventually!
The way I approach a painting really depends on the building. Sometimes, I begin with a light wash of colour and then move on to the details. Other times, I’m so excited I immediately throw myself into the tiny details! I’m often guided by how intimidated I am by the work ahead of me. If a vast blank page feels daunting, I begin with a large area and work in the details later. If I’m painting a small cottage with roses and gorgeous stonework, or a wedding venue with beautiful little windows, I can't help but dive straight into the details.
I like my watercolour house portraits to be quite pigmented rather than loose or soft. The painting style is elegant yet fun, like all my other work. The lines are drawn by hand without a ruler so there’s a slight amount of wiggle in them, but the paint is applied very carefully to be as precise and accurate as possible.
Step 4. Finishing Touches
Once the painting of the house or wedding venue is finished, there are three things I do to complete the commission.
First, I make sure I’ve added the sky. This is often painted lightly to give the appearance of white clouds. Once everything is dry, I make a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the shadows. Using my right hand as the sun, I work out where the shadows would be, and place these where they would appear in real life. Around windows, under windowsills, along doors, and where plant or tree shadows would naturally fall. This process really brings the painting to life and makes it feel three dimensional. Finally, I sign the painting in pencil. This is an Anna Hamill original, unique and just for you.
Step 5. Sent With Love
To get the custom watercolour painting to its owner, I place it on a backing board to prevent it from being bent in the post and wrap this in a cellophane envelope. This means it’s less likely to be damaged by rain. This is then wrapped in my signature mint green tissue paper, and along with a little personal note from me, placed in a hardback envelope. Then off in the post it goes!
Commission Your Own Custom Watercolour Painting
You can learn more and commission your own custom watercolour painting via the following links:
I can’t wait to create a beautiful piece of art for you and your loved ones!
