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Watercolor Paint Palette

THE MAKING OF A CUSTOM PAINTING

Every custom work of art begins with your photos and is meticulously hand-drawn, hand-painted and packaged by Jenny in the her metro Detroit studio. Here's a peek at the behind-the-scenes of what happens between placing your order and receiving your finished artwork.

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Ready to request a commission? How to Order & Pricing →

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house portrait process

​​​ STEP 1  SKETCH & PROOF

Every commission starts with a hand-drawn pencil sketch based on your photos. This is the outline of the finished artwork—all of the texture, shading and other fine details come later.

 

Your photos are the inspiration, but Jenny's artistic license is part of the process: a crack in the sidewalk might get "patched," a distracting power line will likely be eliminated. Small adjustments like these help create the best final painting while maintaining the important details that make your subject recognizable.

 

Once the sketch is complete, you'll receive a scan of the proof for review and approval. This is your last chance to suggest revisions—once Step 2 begins, there's no Ctrl+Z!​​​​​​​

​​​​ STEP 2  INK & WATERCOLOR 

Once you appove the proof, the real fun begins! Jenny's ink and watercolor technique has been developed and refined over many years. Every line, detail and layer of color is applied by hand and the process takes many hours, often spread over several days. Some of the tiniest details are even painted under a microscope!

 

No filters, digital shortcuts or AI-generated artwork—just traditional materials, a lot of patience and the artist's left hand.

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Each commission is created on high-quality, 100% cotton acid-free archival watercolor paper (140lb.) using fade-resistant, waterproof archival ink, professional artist-grade watercolor paints and gouache.​​​​​​​​​

house portrait process
house portrait process

​​​​​ STEP 3  PACKAGING & SHIPPING

All artwork is shipped unframed and unmatted to help protect it during shipping and give you the flexibility to choose your own framing.

 

Each piece is carefully wrapped in an acid-free cellophane sleeve with cardboard backing, then securely packaged and shipped via FedEx Express.

 

Delivery is typically 2–3 business days, and a tracking number is emailed as soon as your artwork is on its way. ​

 

(Sorry, Metro Detroiters—local pickup is not available.)

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Then comes the best part: opening the box, finding the perfect spot for it and finally getting to enjoy your finished artwork in person!​​​

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