A Michigan House Portrait Where a Little Dog Steals the Spotlight

I knew from my first look at the reference photos this house portrait painting wasn’t going to be simple.

This 11x14 ink and watercolor was commissioned as a gift from my client to her parents after they sold her childhood home in Clarkston, Michigan. It’s a large brick home with a strong presence, and the angle for the composition introduced a slight tilt and a more layered perspective than a typical straight-on portrait.

The landscaping was the biggest factor in that balance. In the reference photos, the front garden was fully grown in with large hydrangea bushes and mature trees that covered a significant portion of the house. I scaled some of that back so more of the entryway and side architecture could come through, especially the brickwork and structural details that define the home. The entry pillars, porch, and layered brick surfaces took a lot of time to render, and this piece became one of those where the “background” elements were just as involved as the focal points.

The family dog, who had passed, was a special add-on request. My client initially asked to place the dog in a window near the entryway, but at scale it would have been nearly imperceptible. Instead, I suggested we move it closer to the front near the driveway so it could be seen more clearly. I kept the surrounding area lighter and simplified so the dog would stand out—small, but intentional.

There was a lot happening in this composition, and somehow the dog still managed to be everyone's favorite detail.

Learn how to commission a hand-painted watercolor house portrait ➜