One Historic Building in New Jersey, About a Million Architectural Details

This painting started with a building… and quickly turned into an architectural scavenger hunt.

This 11x14 watercolor painting features the historic Montclair, New Jersey building that was once home to William H. Connolly & Co. The company, founded in 1950 as an insurance brokerage and risk management firm, recently entered a new chapter, and this piece was commissioned as a retirement gift to celebrate the history and memories connected to the business.

Located on Park Street, this corner property has the kind of character that makes you stop and look twice. Originally designed in 1890 by a prominent architect, the building is a beautiful example of Queen Anne style architecture and has even been recognized with a historic preservation award. Between the turret, rounded windows, projecting dormers, decorative shingles, brownstone foundation, and layers of landscaping around the façade, there was no shortage of details to keep my tiny brush busy.

The biggest challenge was deciding what details deserved the spotlight. The background trees were softened and painted with less saturation so they would fade back, while the architecture, landscaping, and bright blue sky could take center stage. I also combined details from multiple reference photos so I could include the company sign out front—because tiny lettering and logos are always a good reminder that I apparently enjoy illustrating through a magnifying glass.

The finished piece became a little snapshot of a place that represented decades of work, history, and memories. Whoever designed this place clearly wasn't thinking about the illustrator who would have to sketch it 135 years later.

How to commission a custom business painting ➜