Old Homeplace in Hawkinsville

House portraits are fun, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. Every house presents similar and unique challenges. My job as an artist is to find creative solutions and it is in finding solutions to the problems that I experience the most satisfaction. My process begins with the reference material. I prefer taking my own photographs because I begin to make compositional decisions as I frame up the shots. However, sometimes that is not possible and I must rely on whatever photographs the client can provide.           Old Homeplace in Hawkinsville is a good example. This home burned to the ground many years ago and my client only had two photographs of the house. Below, you will see the two, black and white, out of focus photographs I was given to use. One was even printed in reverse. Luckily, I’m on good terms with a patient and talented photographer who flipped it for me. From these, I produced a detailed drawing, value studies, a line drawing, and finally a painting. 

The only detail shot of the house was out of focus and incomplete.

Reference photograph, before it was corrected.

Photographer printed corrected image for me.