An artist stops to admire his work.
Painting house portraits is a good way for a young artist to gain experience using business sense and artistic skills. You will make a little money, but the satisfaction will come from the look in the homeowner's eye as he sees it for the first time. Commissions are a big deal for artists. Most of your income will come from commissioned works. It is a bit different working on someone else's project instead of your own. You need a clear idea of what they want to avoid misunderstanding. When it comes down to it, the painting may be the easiest part.
Instructions
1. Negotiate the commission. This is the nitty-gritty and should always be done before you begin any commissioned art project. Talk to the homeowner to settle on the price, size and scope. Find out what he or she has in mind and try to get on the same (visual) page. Ask her about what she is looking for. You may need to show the homeowner examples of your work to solidify the commission. Inflate the turnaround time to cover your time to get materials and to allow for other things in your life. Painting is a good stress-reliever unless you are up against a firm deadline.
2. Photograph the house. Capture the best angle. Most homeowners would decline a front-on street view. He may prefer an intimate, more personal view of the home or have a personal spin. Your painting may last longer than the house. It may be relocated to another home. Feel comfortable living with the picture. Your customer may live with the image forever. Like any type of portrait, it needs to embody the spirit of the house, its emotion, feeling, security, fragility and, most importantly, time. Homeowners who commission house portraits want to look at the painting and reminisce on happy memories in and around the home. Take the picture during the "magic hour" for the best lighting effects. The magic hour is the time just after sunrise and before sunset. Develop the picture. Enlarge to a size that allows you to see details clearly.
3. Prepare to paint. Sharpen your pencils, clean your brushes, and get your paints set up. Get your work space ready. A messy studio is reflected in the work.
Center the house in the picture frame. Make it aesthetically pleasing. Mark out your areas of shadow and lightly sketch in the house. With your pencil, mark out landmarks such as the driveway or a prominent garden or landscape features including old trees. The landscape is just as important as the house itself.
4. Mix your colors. Test them on a piece of scrap paper. Feel comfortable in using your style. The homeowner commissioned you. So do it your way, and mentally prepare to make a good painting. Block out any stresses in your life and give yourself to the painting. Play music to get in the mood. Give yourself clear tasks or benchmarks to paint.
5. Paint large areas in solid colors first. Then add details. Double check the house color to match it exactly. You may be adept at colors, but the homeowner may see your stroke of genius as a mistake. Try to see it from her point of view. Add details such as the family pet or treasured vehicles to personalize the painting.
6. Finish up by showing the painting to the homeowner. If there is not a "wow" reaction, you may want to rework it. That's ok. It's the prerogative of the commissioner. You should be satisfied with the finished painting as well.
