CUSTOM HOUSE PORTRAIT

Description

CUSTOM HOUSE PORTRAIT

11X14 ACRYLICS on canvas, unframed original one-of-a-kind painting of your home by Maine landscape and cityscape artist Laurie Breton. Edges will be painted, so framing is optional.

FOR MOST of us, our home is the biggest investment we will ever make. But a house is more than an investment, more than four walls and a roof. A house is the place where we live out our lives, the place where we make family memories, the place where we feel safest and most comfortable. Think about the house where you grew up. No matter where you go, a piece of that house, that home, still resides in your heart. Personally, I can think of no better way to show love and respect for this place we call home than to commission a custom house portrait.

I LOVE houses. I've always been drawn to them, from both a personal and an artistic viewpoint. As an artist, I believe my paintings reflect that love. If you look over my work, you'll get a good idea of my personal painting style. It's my belief that every house has its own story, and I find it exciting to use bold color and dramatic light to draw out that story.

YOU PROVIDE me with the photos, and I'll provide you with a one-of-a-kind remembrance that will last a lifetime.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Please convo me, I'd be happy to talk to you!

ORIGINAL WORK becomes the property of the buyer. Seller retains all rights to digital images, including the right to reproduce and sell as prints and the right to use for promotional purposes.

RETURN POLICY: I do not offer returns on commissioned pieces. However, I will work closely with you to ensure that we're both satisfied with your painting, and I will e-mail you a digital photo for your final approval prior to shipping the painting to you.

PLEASE NOTE that although I do my best to ensure color accuracy in my digital images, colors display differently on different computer monitors. Therefore, the colors in your painting may look slightly different than they did on the computer screen.

MAINE RESIDENTS will be charged 5% sales tax through Paypal.

****HINTS FOR TAKING GOOD PHOTOS FOR PAINTING****

Please keep in mind that these are just suggestions. If necessary, we can experiment with photo-taking until we find one we're both satisfied with. I want you to love your painting!

1. Wait for a sunny day to take your photos. On an overcast day, colors and details are washed out. When the sun is shining, not only are details clearer, but there's good contrast between light and shadow, which makes for a much more vivid painting.

2. Be sure the sun is behind you. If you take photos into direct sunlight, you'll end up with mostly glare. Colors and details will wash out. Also, please be sure the photo is clear. Fuzzy images are difficult to paint. If you have a tripod, you might want to try using that, but it's not necessary as long as you can take a clear photo. Just remember that if I can't see it, I can't paint it!

3. The best time of day for taking strong, dramatic photos is either early morning or early evening, when the sun is at a sharp angle and shadows are deep and long. If possible, try to avoid taking photos at or near midday, when the sun is high in the sky. While a good painting can be made from a good photo taken at this time of day, colors tend to wash out in bright midday sun, and contrasts can be weak to nonexistent. We want a strong, vivid painting that shows good contrast between light and shadow. If you can get this kind of strong photo at midday, and that's your preference, go for it! Otherwise, try to find a time of day when you can get a clear, crisp image.

4. This is my personal preference, but I think it makes for a more interesting and dynamic composition if you take the photo at a slight angle, instead of head-on. That way, I can capture the light and shadow contrasts between front and side of the house, plus it gives the painting a much more three-dimensional look. Angles show perspective.

5. Try to take your photos in a manner that avoids clutter, or anything that obstructs the view of the house (i.e., cars/campers, telephone poles/trees that cut the house in two, toys, etc.). Again, if I can't see it, I can't paint it.

Added on Dec 07, 2009