The Process — Creating Your Custom House Portrait

From Photograph to Hand-Finished Artwork

Every rendering by Creations by DS begins with a photograph and ends as a personally finished piece of mixed-media artwork.

I use the photograph as the starting point for a digital rendering.

This allows me to interpret the photograph artistically while preserving the recognizable character and important architectural details of the home. The goal isn't simply to reproduce the photograph—it is to create an image that can become a piece of artwork. 

Step 1

The first step is getting in touch with me via the contact form. If the home is local, I photograph the house myself so I can choose an angle that best showcases its architecture and personality. For homes farther away, customers can provide photographs for me to work from.

The photograph gives me the information I need to study the structure of the house, windows, doors, rooflines, stonework, landscaping, trees, flowers, and other details.

Step 2

Once I have my photographs, I can discuss with you which angle you prefer and any other particulars. I begin the custom house illustration using digital painting. The pixels are treated like wet paint on paper, by using digital brush techniques. The digitally rendered image is printed on quality fine-art paper. The printed image becomes the foundation for the traditional artwork that follows.

Hand-Painting

This is where the artwork begins to take on another dimension.

I use actual paint to add color, depth, atmosphere, and artistic interpretation to the printed rendering. I look at the home and its surroundings as an artist rather than simply as a photographer.

Landscaping, flowers, trees, stone, and architecture are added or removed when needed.

Pen & Ink Details

The final stage brings in one of my favorite artistic techniques: pen and ink.

I carefully draw details that help define the architecture and surroundings of the home. Pen and ink can bring out texture and character in elements such as stone, windows, trees, branches, siding, and other architectural details.

This hand-drawn work gives each portrait an individual quality that cannot be duplicated by simply applying a digital filter to a photograph.

Black & White Illustrations. Pen & Ink

Step 3

Framing the art is of course the last step. You may also have a preference here for what color and style frame you would like. I can email images with the art in the frames so you can make a final choice.