Our spaces are part of our history and are filled with rich experiences and memories of moments shared and people loved. Recreating these places in a painting not only captures a moment in time, it brings back a flood of associated feelings. I can help you capture these stories in a hand-crafted custom painting as a gift to yourself, or someone you love. Here, you can see how a custom painting goes from initial conversation, through gathering references, creating and reviewing sketches, and finally to the finished piece.

A section of the completed painting, showing the family dog looking out at a favourite view from the patio.

Last year, a client reached out to me about painting a portrait of her son’s new home. She shared the story of the house and of her son making the lovingly restored heritage property into his home. The house is over 275 years old with a stately façade and is surrounded by beautifully established perennial and shrub gardens. Margie described how the back patio has become a favourite gathering spot in summer months, with its views of the rolling fields and vineyards of the Annapolis Valley. Georgia, the family’s golden retriever, loves to spend time there.

Capturing a personal story

Custom paintings of houses, neighbourhood streets, gardens, or landscapes are portraits of the spaces themselves, of the people who live there, and of memories made. I love working with clients to help capture a part of their life story in a work of art. Custom paintings make wonderfully meaningful and personalized gifts that are a joy to give – and to receive.

After some back-and-forth looking at photos and discussing memories and stories associated with the home, Margie opted to have two custom paintings made as gifts for her son. One painting would capture the house façade with its spring gardens in full splendour. The other would show the back patio with Georgia, looking out at the view as the sun went down at the end of the day.

Initial sketches

Once the general concepts for the finished paintings had been decided upon, I worked through a few ideas in the studio, and decided on the final references I would use. I then created a few black and white pencil sketches to share what I was envisioning.

First, I selected a combination of the best photos to capture the façade, including a primary reference which showed the angle and proportions. Secondary photos helped me to ensure the gardens were at their best, and that I captured the bright sunlight of a Valley day that Margie was hoping for.

The patio was a little big trickier, as there were quite a few pieces of furniture to take into account, and the dog. I made two sketches. One facing back towards the house with Georgia lying on the steps, as she often does. The other faced the other way, toward the view. This version included much of the patio, as well, but it was in shadow, and the focus was on Georgia. This version captured her looking out at the vista beyond – which I’m sure is part of what makes the patio such a wonderful summer hangout! I took care to include the beautifully chosen seasonal potted flowers, firepit, and patio seating that would be a meaningful part of the space to those who spend time in it.

At this stage, the pencil sketch both allows me to get clear on my vision for the painting, and also to share it with the client.

Creating paintings in the studio

Once the sketches were reviewed and approved, I got to work creating the finished paintings. During this phase of creating a commission painting, I put up all of my reference material on the studio wall, next to my work area. This includes: the sketches, reference photos, and my notes about key aspects of what to include/not include… as well as my own notes about my vision for the overall composition, lighting, and colour palette.

About to start on a custom painting in the studio – with sketches and notes ready to go.

The next step is to draw the scene at the final size. Once I’m happy with the drawing, I cover the whole painting with a translucent layer of warm brown undertone. This prevents bits of white from showing through, and gives a lovely warm tone to the painting. Once that’s dry, I begin on the finished painting.

As I build up the painting, I am continually checking in with my key notes about value and composition, so that I stay true to my original vision. I’m also checking in to ensure that I’ve gotten the gardens or key elements of the story in, as well.

A few paintings in-progress, showing the warm undertone, and the beginning of the scene taking shape.

Selecting quality materials for a lifetime of enjoyment

Gouache paints and brushes in the studio.

I offer custom paintings in both gouache (opaque watercolour) on watercolour paper, as well as in acrylic on panel (or canvas, if preferred).

Gouache paintings must be framed behind glass, so I custom cut a white archival mat to fit either a specified size or a standard frame. Unless I’m delivering the painting in person locally (or you’re picking it up), I usually don’t offer framing with glass, as it can break during shipping. However, it’s my experience that most clients prefer to choose their own frame, anyway, so that it coordinates well with their home and where they wish to display the painting.

Acrylic paintings are usually created on paper and then mounted to a cradled wood painting panel. This is what Margie chose for her paintings. These paintings can be hung as-is without glass. I sand and seal the sides of the panel with a clear finish, and the top of the painting is varnished with a gorgeous professional ultra-mat varnish. There is a concealed wire placed at the back, allowing these pieces to hang completely flush to the wall.

Many people – including me! – love the visible wood sides, as they create a lovely contrast to the painting itself. It is also possible to place these paintings in a wood floater frame if that would better suit your style and home. I can also paint on canvas if you prefer that.

All materials are carefully chosen to be high-quality and archival. Custom paintings can bring a lifetime of joy – and even be handed down within the family as family heirlooms.

The completed paintings

Here are the two paintings I created for Margie and her son. The first shows the house façade with spring gardens in full bloom, and the second looking out at the view from the back patio.

Custom painting of an historic house. The spring gardens are in bloom and the sun shines. Acrylic on paper/panel, 18” x 12”.

Custom painting of the family dog looking out at the view from a favourite patio spot. Acrylic on paper/panel, 18” x 12”.

The joy of gifting a custom painting

Margie gave the paintings as gifts to her son for the holidays.

A custom painting is a way of celebrating and remembering a personal or family story, and makes a truly personlized one-of-a-kind gift that people absolutely love to give – and receive! I’ve created paintings as wedding and anniversary gifts, housewarming gifts, retirement gifts, or to remember a family home or cottage that is being sold.

It can be so fulfilling to celebrate and cherish the unique experiences that make up your personal history and story. Having a painted story allows you to carry them with you, feeling grateful and filled with the good that came of these things. It makes a heartfelt gift for someone special… or even for yourself!

Consider a meaningful gift to yourself…

Over the years, I’ve had custom painting requests that are deeply meaningful gifts for the client themselves. Usually, they capture a well-loved place from the past such as a childhood home, or a garden that no longer exists.

Here is a custom painting of a garden I created for another client, Margaret.

She commissioned the painting when it came time to move from her longtime home where her children grew up. She had spent nearly thirty years creating a beautiful garden there and was sad to be leaving it behind. This custom painting captured her favourite plantings and included the most cherished aspects of the garden including: a stone bird bath, hand-built pond, red bench, and bird sculptures. Each element came with its own memories and stories. We worked together to ensure key plants were represented – even fudging the flowering times slightly to have as many things in bloom as we could!

Margaret hung her painting next to the patio doors of her new home, so she can pay a remembered visit to her garden whenever she wishes.

Pencil sketch (left) and the custom painting in-progress, in the studio.

A Remembered Garden – The finished custom painting is 8” x 16” acrylic on paper/panel. Tailored to fit the exact spot it was intended for.

To me, there is nothing like the capturing the feeling of a place, a season, or a remembered experience. Making paintings about places and personal stories is deeply fulfilling – both in the act of creating and in the feelings the finished art can bring back.

Learn more about getting your own painted story >

Artist’s Note:

I am now booking custom paintings for the fall & winter season!

You are always welcome to email me (michelle@paintedstories.co) to discuss your idea or reserve a spot. I offer a limited number of painting commissions each year.

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MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES:

Everyone loves to peek behind the studio curtain! Go behind-the-scenes of how I created the gouache paintings in my New Horizons Collection or how I created the acrylic paintings in my latest series of Nova Scotia houses.

Crafting Custom Paintings of Homes & Gardens