A Cheerful Yellow House in Texas Painted in Ink & Watercolor
I love a house with a little personality, and this cheerful yellow home in Hockley, Texas, definitely brought some. With a bright red door, lots of greenery, flowers, hanging plants, shutters, brick, siding and a charming porch, there was no shortage of color or little details to paint.
I also had to brighten up some of the landscaping since a few of the bushes hadn’t quite filled in yet when the reference photo was taken. The finished 8×10 has that happy, lived-in feeling.
But the best part of this painting actually came after I finished it. The client sent me one of the most thoughtful thank-you notes I’ve received in eight years of my art business. Her parents had recently moved after 30 years in their home, and she wrote so beautifully about what the painting meant to them and how it captured a feeling she wasn’t sure could be captured in a painting.
I could try to summarize what she said, but her words say it much better than I ever could...
"Jenny, I wanted to reach out and thank you after receiving the final painting. I was already excited to see it, but when I opened it, I was honestly blown away. It is even more beautiful and meaningful than I imagined it would be. My parents just recently moved to Lubbock after spending over 30 years in their home in Houston, and leaving that house was incredibly difficult for them. It wasn’t just a house — it held decades of memories, family moments, and so much of our lives. I wanted to give them something that would preserve a piece of that home and everything it represents, and you captured that so perfectly. You somehow created more than a painting; you captured a feeling. Looking at it immediately takes me back, and I know it will do the same for them. I already know this is going to be one of those gifts they will treasure forever. You are unbelievably talented, and I’m so grateful for the care and heart you clearly put into your work. Thank you for creating something so special for my family during such an emotional transition. With sincere gratitude, Sydney"
I’ve painted hundreds of homes over the years, and this one will always stand out—not only because the colors made it one of my favorites, but because of what came back to me afterward. I spend a lot of hours hunched over tiny pieces of paper, obsessing over windows, flowers, shadows and approximately 400 shades of green. Getting a note like this is a pretty incredible reminder of why I do it.
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