CREATING IMAGES OF SPECIAL SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS FOR CLIENTS, FAMILY, AND MANY BELOVED FRIENDS
PORTRAITS • 2025 Marks 50 YEARS of creating home portrait and two decades of people, pets and other subjects. The commission process is SO rewarding that more often than not, clients become wondertful friends.
"HOME SWEET HOME" ON OVERBLUFF ROAD • There are many architectural styles and I appreciate them all, but the artful details I'm drawn to most are often found in older structures. Vintage architecture has been a fascination with me for years. Highlight • One of the two NEW 2026 calendars shares cottage images from many Spokane neighborhoods and the greater Inland NW.
In the photo (left) my portraits of homes are displayed at a past Spokane Preservation Advocates Tour of Homes. Russ Lundberg and Sarah Weaver-Lundberg's "Storybook" cottage on Overbluff was a favorite! The painting I did for them is on on the left side of the buffet.
Highlight • GRAND BLVD VINTAGE BRICK BEAUTY • Sarah has a connection to the vintage brick structure that's the new home of the Little Euro Café by St. John's. I finished "LATTES AT LINDAMAN'S" a decade ago and I am currently working on "BRINCH & LUNCH AT LITTLE EURO." Find its history in the South Hill Collection pdf.
MORE PORTRAITS AND PROCESS • I've also included NEW art of people and pets in Loved Ones and Pets in Painted Portraits plus help with process.
CASTLES • For many of us, our homes are our "castles." During COVID, many of us found ourselves house-bound to survive health challenges, now blessedly behind us. At that time, I spent many hours working on this neighborhood portrait artwork.
OUR COTTAGE • In July 2020, Doug and I sold our 1937 columnedCraftsman (lower right) by Manito Park, moving to a brick-trimmed Moran Prairie cottage (left center). Highlight • I learned my Simpson grandparents had ranched here 1931-1945. Neighbors planted fields east of Regal Road and the farmhouse and barn sat west of that where our oomplex of homes sits now.
INSIDE • Doug loved our floor plan, but as our new place was built in 1989, it was full of dated oak, linoleum, and Formica. I painted miles of woodwork white (cupboards professionally done) and replaced hollow-wood doors with 6-panel solid white ones. Before he passed, Doug also had our contractor lay sleek dark vinyl flooring and got rid of all the linoleum. Doug hugely enjoyed his last months here.
CHANGES OUTSIDE • Doug had our messy Honey Locust in front removed, installing an Ornamental Pear. We took our old wicker furniture to the dump, replacing it with new easy-care pieces. In Doug'd last days, I promised him I'd finish ALL tasks on our list • and I am nearly there.
A SPECIAL GIFT• If your or a loved one's home is a "dream house," why not commission its special?
AMERICANA PAINTINGS WITH MULIPLE HOMES • I've created four neighborhood pieces since the mid-1970s. The most common size I use for paintings is usually 8x10-inch, but with all the detail necessary for the neighborhood works, the canvases are larger • 11x14 and 16x20-inches.
FINAL REVISION! "SPRINGTIME COMES TO SIMPSON STREET" (2007 to 2023) • Pictured (below) is the original I first painted in 2007 plus a 2016 revision. So much has changed over the last two decades. I've added family members (including six grandkids), pets, cars, new colors on the original siding, columns, and more. As Doug's children Matt, Kevin and Leah said, "No more kids planned," other final touches like the VW bus (I took my driver's license in this) by the Mid-Century Modern where I spent teenage years, and the last final touch in the center, Doug and my Moran Prairie cottage with us in front by the garage with our golf clubs ~ a final homage to honor his beloved pastime, "Golf • The Greatest Game."
Highlight • This year, I've begun NEW art similar to the opening piece above. Full of memories, it will include Doug, with a FALL INTO WINTER theme.
"FINE FALL FINISH" (2010) • I painted the Autumn-themed art (below left) as a gift for Lance Elliott and Chris Garrett (Elliot Construction) at the close of our huge 1937 Craftsman project. Instead of six weeks, it took over six month to complete! I pictured us all celebrating pounding in the last nail with our contractors, their spouses, and pets at a Fall picnic. Included in this piece was the Garret two-story and the Elliott rancher added below the happy scene. The remodel was a huge undertaking with major challenges at every turn, so they were delighted to be rewarded for their efforts and perseverence with prints of this artwork I gave them during dinner at the Wolf Lodge. Highlight • Blessedly, this memory was created before 2024 fire reduced it to rubble.
"THE PEGGY PLACES" (1975) • I created this very early artwork as a wedding gift for sis Peggy and her fiance Jeff Barton. It honored all the homes she lived in before their marriage (some with me), including the small ranch-style rambler near San Francisco that Jeff purchased as a wedding gift for his bride. Now a very active happily retired couple with two granddaughters Lola Ann and Juniper. Peggy and Jeff's original is still in immaculate shape!
Highlight • This art shows in a very real way how my Americana style has evolved over time with the addition of lots of detail and more perspective.
LIFE ON SPOKANE'S BEAUTIFUL CANNON HILL POND
"CANNON HILL COTTAGES" (2016) • This scene shared two pretty Colonials, one white with green shutters and the other a yellow barn-roofed Dutch Colonial. They overlooked Cannon Hill Park on Spokane's South Hill, a neighborhood Doug and I loved. In the last couple of years before I lost him, we often walked around this pastoral pond.
The families who owned these home for decades have fond memories. In Summer, picnickers lunched here, thus the theme. Moms pushed strollers and kids played on swings and bridges that once spanned the pond when it was much larger. Folks of all ages still skate on it and Winter visitors see boys playing hockey. Occasionally, someone builds a bonfire on the shore. Is that brandy in their thermoses?
HISTORY • A brick yard In the early 1900s, when the clay deposits ran out, the owners (relatives of John and John Quincy Adams) donated Adam's Park to the community. Later, it was renamed for early devoper A.M. Cannon.
Before completion, Lynn Nevers requested prints of the yellow Colonial for her siblings that Christmas. Owner Kay Richardson Edmonds then had me add grandkids and bought it for her husband Todd as a Christmas gift as well.
Highlight • These twp Colonials were home to Five Holy Names Academy alumni. Bridget and Lana Lavin grew up in the white Cape Cod, and Carly and Lynn Nevers, the yellow Dutch Colonial. Years later, the fifth alumni, Kaye Richardson Edmonds and husband Todd moved in, living happily ever after for many decades!
THREE CHOICES OF MEDIA FOR AMERICANA FINE ART COMMISSIONS
Find more in The Portrait Process • And More section further down on this page. It shares everything you need to know about the commisioning process.
COMMISSION FEES • Costs varies for a commissioned piece based on the hours it takes to complete the artwork and on your choice of media. In other words, I record my hours and charge accordingly. Some media inherently takes longer to complete artwork than others. For example, paintings require more time than pen and ink line drawings. Highlight • Consultations and framing by me of the finished art are always complimentary.
THREE COLLECTIONS OF SUBJECTS SHARED IN THREE DIFFERENT MEDIA •
ARCHITECTURAL SETTINGS, PLUS PORTRAITS OF BOTH PEOPLE AND PETS • You'll see a diverse group of SPRING INTO SUMMER and with a few FALL INTO WINTER (HOLS) images mised into this season's collection of paintings, sketches and line drawings. They show the many options for creating memorable settings and subjects we hold dear. Below I've shared samples from all the media I currently use for commission projects.
"HOMES SWEET HOMES / GARDENS" • NIECE STEPH / RYAN'S NORFOLK, VA COLONIAL, PLUS SIS MARILEE'S KENMORE, WA GARDEN
1 NEW! • MARVELOUS MANSIONS • SPOKANE BROWNE'S ADDITION VICTORIAN • AND KANAB, UTAH'S PARRY LODGE (LITTLE HOLLYWOOD)
BEACH BEAUTIES • COTTAGE IN MAUI AND CABIN ON PEND OREILLE RIVER, WA
1 NEW! • FRIENDS AND FAMILY HOUSES • SIMPSON GRANDPARENTS MORAN PRAIRIE RANCH AND ICE CREAM TRUCK ON CANNON HILL
INVITING INTERIORS • THE MAC'S CAMPBELL HOUSE IN BROWNE'S ADDITION SPOKANE AND A TEA ROOM IN ARIZONA
WINTER'S COZY WONDERLAND • SPOKANE'S GLOVER MANSION AND HOLLY FESTOONED PORT TOWNSEND, WA BEAUTY
SIX PEN, INK AND PASTELS DIVIDED INTO THREE THEMES OF TWO EACH
HOME SWEET HOMES AND GARDENS • SPOKANE, WA MANITO PLACE CRAFTSMAN AND KIRKLAND. WA LAKE WASHINGTON VIEW COTTAGE
MARVELOUS MANSIONS • LAW OFFICES IN A GRAND MANSION ON CAPITOL HILL, SEATTLE, WA
FRIENDS AND FAMILY CABINS AND COTTAGES • LOON LAKE CABIN IN WASHINGTON AND A DESERT GETAWAY IN MESA, ARIZONA
FOUR PEN, INK AND PASTELS DIVIDED INTO TWO THEMES OF TWO EACH
"HOME SWEET HOMES" AND GARDENS • SPOKANE, WA SALTBOX AND A FAMILY'S LODGE AT HAYDEN LAKE, ID
GORGEOUS GETAWAYS • JUST-A-TUG IN THE SAN JUANS, WA AND OUR FRIEND'S INVITING PATIO IN PALM DESSERT, CA
OTHER FUN OPTIONS WITH YOUR COMMISSIONED FINE ART
HOLIDAY CARDS • For several clients, I've painted on a canvas reproduction of their art (or a paper print of their drawing if the art lends itself well to that) • adding in Holiday details like wreaths, family, a dusting of snow, and in some cases, a sparkling Christmas tree in the front window.
WEDDING INVITATIONS • For one couple, after painting their home portrait, I re-worked a print into a New Year's Eve scene picturing them as bride and groom. The invitation was a perfect memento of their at-home ceremony (lower on this page) Challenges & Creative Solutions. Find their wedding imag on my BRIDAL page.
OUR BELOVED GRANDKIDS
COLLECTION OF SAMPLE PAINTINGS, AND MORE
COLLAGE PHOTO • Here's an image blended from different photos of Doug and my beloved grandkids picturing each when they were youngsters (L-R) • Matt and Heidi's Addison • Leah and Sean's Connor and Nathan • Kevin and Taryn's Piper, Austin and Harrison.
BEST PORTRAIT MEDIA • As it can be a challenge to recreate a true likeness of a family member, friend, or pet, acrylic paintings work best for portraits. It allows easy tweaking to achieve a perfect likeness. Pen and ink is much more difficult to alter, as once the ink dries, these are nearly impossible to change.
HOW THIS ALL BEGAN AND AN EARLY UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT • As I shared above, I've built a following with art of "Home Sweet Homes," landmarks, parks, gardens, schools, churches, and more. Architecture is my first love. It took me nearly two decades into my career to add portraits of people and pets into the body of my work. Blessedly, I found the results to be much more pleasing than I expected.
OUR WEDDING • Done for my sweet Doug to honor our 4th Anniversary, I painted a portrait of our wedding party bordered with flowers chosen for our ceremony. This very special portrait is still hangingin our master bedroom reminding me of our special day that still feels like yesterday.
EXPO '74 FAMILY SCENE • I took some poetic licence with this homage to EXPO '74's 50th Anniversary. This easily could have happened if we had not lost Doug in Autumn 2023. Riverfront Park was a frequent destination when Kevin, Taryn and their family visited us from their home Westnern WA.
1 NEW! • OUR WEDDING PARTY AND A NOD TO EXPO '74'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH DOUG, ME AND SON KEVIN'S FAMILY
PORTRAITS OF OUR GRANDKIDS • PLUS THE FRUCI GIRLS WITH THEIR TODDLER DAUGHTERS
FUN FAMILY TIMES WITH THE WARDS • AND MORE!
MY GRANDKIDDO PORTRAIT TRADITION • As a gift to our children's family's (Matt and Heidi, Kevin and Taryn, and Leah and Sean), I've created portraits (three above) picturing their little ones in different seasons over the years, often when they were toddlers. Doug LOVED this tradition and so did our kids!
"PIPER LOVES PETER RABBIT" • (2020) This darling little girl has always been impossible to resist. When she was born to Kevin and Taryn in Spring 2018, I began sharing goodies from my Beatrix Potter collection which inspired the portrait of her here painted with a Peter Rabbit theme. She's an energetic, charming seven-year-old now, and is growing up much too quickly. Highlight • Some of Beatrix Potter's books from my library have found their way to Piper's bedroom's bookshelves.
BEATRIX POTTER • Many of my Peter Rabbit treasures came from the trip Sally Mom and I made years ago to England's Lakes' District shortly after my marriage to Doug. We spent the day where Beatrix Potter and husband William Heelis once shared life together at Hilltop Farm. I had such respect for her beginning her career as a fine artist and childen's writer later in life, bravely introducing her stories and images of beloved woodland creatures.
Highlight • Add to that, she helped preserve the Lakes District for Great Brotain's National Trust so anyone who wanted to, could enjoy the beautiful countryside, not just the developers and wealthy land owners. Beatrix Potter saved Windermere for everyone.
"HARRISON ALLEN AT HARVEST FEST" (2021 ) • 2021 was a milestone birthday for son Kevin, so in addition to all the gifts that came his way at Christmas, he also received my portrait (above) of his youngest son Harrison. Pictured (left) is the cute little guy with "GW' (Grandpa Ward) at the pool we used to enjoy at what was once our Arizona "Snow Bird" getaway in Mesa.
When I shared with Taryn, Kevin's wife, that Harrison Allen's was next on my list of Ward toddler paintings , she was a huge help in finding photos. As it was Autumn 2022, the pics she shared just popped from their family outing to the Snohomish Harvest Fest.
The vivid seasonal colors were in their full glory at their Pumpkin Patch, a colorful magnet for the kids who pushied their way through the patch of brilliant gourds. The scene was stunning, plus I realized I had never created artwrok of any of our grandchildren using Autumn as its theme.
Highlight • I finished the painting, framed and wrapped it with the other gifts ~ and the package made it to Bothell just in time for Christmas 2021. Blessedly. it was a couple years before we lost Doug, so he was part of the festivites and was so proud of the artwork I created for Kevin.
"BABY BUNNY ADDISON" (2009) • OUr oldest granddaughter Addison, and has always been a very feminine young lady. This aspect of her personality has persisted and developed, even though she's in her late teens now, as shown in the painting above, "LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!"
Addison's played soccer for years, but also took over a decade of dance classes, thanks to her her Aunt Leah. With the elaborate costumes she wore at competitions, Doug and I guessed she loved dancing more than soccer.
When I painted her as a toddler on Easter Sunday 2009, she was wearing a sweet yellow frock (left) that was a gift from another Grandmas Patsy and Liz. Her outfit was topped off with furry pink and bunny ears and rainbow striped Mary Janes.
In this photo, Dougie and I had just given her an Easter basket filled with choclate bunnies, a Beatrix Potter storybook, and two yellow rubber duckies. One of these caught her eye, and she carried it around all day. It was even on her lap at dinner ~ not usual protocol, but it was Easter!
Highlight • TIME FLIES! Addison is off to the University of Oregon in Eugene this Autumn to be a "Duck"!
KRISTANA WITH LUCIA MARIE AND JELSI WITH EMERSON
NEW GRANDPARENTS • In 2000, Kristana gave birth to Lucia Marie, making Jeannie and Dave Fruci grandparents at last! Then in 2022, Jelsi had Emerson, so grandparents again! Highlight • Jelsi is pregnant, this time expecting a son, sp great news for both her Drew and her parents!
BIG BIRTHDAY • As 2025 was a milestone birthday for Jeannie, after trying to come up with a gift for a friend who already had everything she'd needed, this portrait ideapopped up!
I reached out to both of the Fruci girls, asking each to share one of their most favorite photos of them with their daughters thata I could work from. They came through beautifully.! The one of Kristana and Lucia even had their parent's beloved Loon Lake in the background!
Working for long hours before the party at Loon Lake, I was able to finish and frame the original for the Jeannie and canvas reproductions for her daughters. A nice unexpected surprise!
OUR BELOVED PET COMPANIONS • HOUSEMATES AND DEARLY-DEPARTED PETS
PET PORTRAITS CREATED FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS • In the past decade, I've painted over a dozen of these for my family and friends. Included here were sis Marilee's KINDRED SPIRIT KITTIES" • and "snowbird" Linda Ebner's kitty she her husband Joe rescued in Arizona, "CUTE CACTUS KITTY." Brother Bob and wife Jan's "AUTUMN OUTING • BRYCE, SPIKE & PUMPKIN" portrait was a reminder of their three pooch pals who passed away a few years ago. I did "THE FRIENDLY FOREST" as a special gift for friend Karen Karila's toddler son when she redecorated his bedroom.
STEP 1 • INITIAL CONSULTATION
CUSTOM WORK • My work is custom, so the first step is a consultation, almost always in-person. NOTE • In some special cases, this can be one-on-FaceTime. It's usually best when I actually visit a site or meet a client, as I may need to take some photos, but that's not always possible. I'll share samples of my work, discuss your wishes, and see what images you may already have. Sometmes depending on quality, I can work from personal photos if you live in another part of the country. I'll need long shots as well as close-ups, especially it's a home portrait. Once again, with my Americana style, its all in the details. We want personalities to shine through.
COPYRIGHT • ALL my work is copyrighted (©). You will notice the (©) icon on all my fine art and products. Please respect it. Also, after I create your art, I reserve the right to use it to promote my business on my webite and products i.e. calendars, jigsaw puzzles, etc. Copyrighting means you may NOT reproduce it in ANY manner without my written permission.
STEP 2 • PLANNING YOUR PROJECT
CREATING A "THUMBNAIL" SKETCH USING THE FOLLOWING:
STEP 3 • DETERMINING THE FEE • AND DELIVERY OF YOUR PORTRAIT
Fees are always estimated, but I do my best to bring your project in on time and as close to budget as possible. Typically, I receive a 50% deposit before I start work on your project. NOTE • The more specific you are about the details above and what you want at the beginnIng, the less need for costly revisions later. When we meet to hand off your "masterpiece," I receive the balance of what you owe plus sales tax where applicable. In addition to your handsomely framed (framing is complimentary) fine art, I always include a packet of art cards as my gift to you.
Once again, a gentle reminder that ALL of my work is copyrighted (©). You may NOT reproduce it in ANY manner without my written permission.
DOZENS OF SAMPLES • I have dozen of home portrait samples in every architectural style imaginable. Problem solving can be tricky, but always rewarding. Nearly every commission piece presents one difficulty or another, so I've shared a few challenges with their solutions below.
"CANNON HILL COZY"
CHALLENGE • EXPEDITING THE PROJECT • This pretty blond brick bungalow with green and cream trim overlooked Cannon Hill Pond near Saint Augustine's Parish. It served Pat and Janie Shelledy's family home for decades. They loved life there! When I began this portrait, sadly Janie had already pass away, and her husband Pat was in rapidly declining health, spending his last days in a hospital room at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. His adult children Dave and Patty were wth him much of the time, sharing stories and memories about family reunions, Christmases past, misadventures growing up on "The Hill," and more. These conversations inspired Dave's request for this artwork.
The obvious challenge here was to be able to finish the portrait of their home as quickly as possible so it could be hung in Pat's hospital room where he could see and enjoy it during the last few weeks of this remaining life. Highlight • Pat and my dad were at Gonzaga Law School together in the 1950s after World War II.
CREATIVE SOLUTION • PREPARATION, PLANNING & RESEACH • With some direction from me, Dave and Patty went to work digging through old snapshot albums and boxes of photos. Remarkably, the two not only found great pictures, they put their heads together and collaborated on an overview of the history that encompassed three generations of family. All this work in such a short amount of time made all the difference in creating this memory-filled scene.
These two gave me everything I needed, so guess-work was taken out of the equation. At times, the portrait felt as though it was painting itself. As you can see by the image here, I was able to include all three generations of Shelledys • the grandparents on the steps, parents in the driveway, and youngsters Patty and David playing in a huge pile of Autumn leaves in front.
Pat was moved to tears at his life story on canvas. In 2013, the original held such beloved memories for him.
"BOWERS OF FLOWERS AT BUIOCCH'S"
CHALLENGE • CREATING "TRUE" COLOR FOR A HOUSE ON A STEEP HILLSIDE • There were actually inter-related issues here. This sprawling two-story was perched on a very steep wooded hillside overlooking a lush greenbelt above Lake Washington's Yarrow Bay.
Other than using a drone (was there any such thing in 1999?) or hiring a helicopter pilot to fly me over the property so I could get the photographs necessary for this, I was in a quandry as to how the finish the portrait while keeping the property's integrity.
And, not only was the home nearly impossible to photograph, heavy dappled shadows created by the tall trees in full leaf made the color of its exterior change substantially at the different times of the day. There were many shades of green. Which one to use?
CREATIVE SOLUTION • MAGICAL PHOTOSHOP • This property was wrapped around a Kirkland hillside overlooking Lake Washington's Yarrow Bay. Adobe's PhotoShop allows designers to do practically anything. I've used this favorite software because of its flexibility and myriad of creative options. I took lots of digitals from every angle, created contact sheets, and pieced together some of the images enough to achieve a composite showing the "bones" of the structure. This "collage" gave me the diving board essential to begin the project.
GETTING IT RIGHT • I nearly always work from a collection of 30+ gathered photos, as each detailed piece of fine art takes many hours to complete, some in excess of 70 hours. Also as mentioned, the color of the house was a huge challenge. After several false starts, the owners and I sat on their rock wall and mixed paint on my palette until we agreed on the best shade of green, thus the final portrait shown shared on this page.
"THE BEAUTIFUL DAY"
CHALLENGE • TRYING FOR SLEEK AND HANDSOME, A PORTRAIT THAT WAS NOT TOO CUTE• This handsome stucco contemporary home was owned by a successful local attorney and his fiance when they asked me to create this fine art for them. Their property was at the top of on the same wooded hillside overlooking Lake Washington as the Buiocchi's, but their lot was flat where it needed to be and lit with direct sunlight most of the day.
The owners appreciated my charming Americana style, but were worried the finished product might look too cute for the home's modern sleek feeling. They also wanted the painting to be appropriate for their upscale neighborhood, its carefully planned landscaping to achieve a natural feeling.
CREATIVE SOLUTION • PERSPECTIVE AND MORE • The first thing I did was to add much more perspective into the artwork than I'd been using in most of my other paintings at the time. I took a lot of photographs of the property from many angles which was a huge help in achieving the proper perspective they wanted.
Although I focused on the important architectural details, I also did my best to make this painting have a more realistic, authentically natural feel. I kept my portrait of the perperty a bit simpler than in many of my previous home portraits. The wooded forest and thick foliage around the house was varied and lush, so I spent a lot of time and care on these The greenbelt was full of birds and other wildlife, including families of eagles, hawks and seagulls, so some of those stunning created made their way into this painting.
When I delivered this to the couple, they were so delighted with the finished artwork, they requested a wedding-themed alteration of a print for covers on their wedding invitations. Visit my BRIDAL page to see that New Year's Eve marriage portrait dusted with snow!
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