There’s something so satisfying about painting old houses. They have so much character, and by taking the painting one step at a time, they don’t feel nearly as complicated as they first appear.
This little brick house came together slowly, with each layer adding a bit more life. I thought I’d share the process in case you’d like to paint along.
Take your time with the sketch. I like to keep the lines light but accurate because they become my roadmap throughout the painting. The more careful the drawing, the easier the painting becomes. Yup! I printed the picture, used copy paper to transfer the drawing into my journal, and then traced each line with a waterproof marker.
I began by painting the teal window frames, porch, and decorative trim. Working on these smaller details first helps me avoid accidentally painting over them later with the larger brick wash.
Let this layer dry completely.
Next, I painted the windows and the door using Buff Titanium and browns, keeping the colours fairly light. At this stage, I wasn’t worried about deep shadows yet.
The brick is simply several transparent washes layered on top of each other.
I mixed warm quin. deep gold wth moonglow with a touch of quin. burnt orange, letting each wash dry before adding the next. This gradual layering creates richness without making the walls look flat.
Try not to make the colour perfectly even. A little variation gives the brick much more character.
Once everything was dry, I added darker values beneath the porch roof, around the windows, under the trim, and inside the doorway. These darker areas instantly give the house depth. For the shadows, I added moonglow to the mixes that were already used for the painting.
The final touch was adding loose shrubs and a suggestion of grass across the front. I kept these soft and impressionistic so they wouldn’t compete with the house. I also love adding some splashes of colour here and there.
I always enjoy watching a painting slowly come to life. Looking back through the progress photos reminds me that even detailed subjects are simply a series of small, manageable steps.
Have you ever painted a house before? If so, what part do you find the most enjoyable—or the most challenging?
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