A Harlem Brownstone

I was contacted recently by a client who had seen my work on Pinterest. That was a first for me! I was thrilled to get the call and to discuss working with her on a portrait of her classic New York brownstone.

What a great opportunity to work with rich terra-cotta colors and classical elements!

This Harlem brownstone is so grand that I knew if we didn't focus on just a section of the structure we'd risk losing much of the detail. - especially since the artwork was being printed at 11"x14". 

In this case we chose to showcase the classic brownstone entry, stairwell and surrounding elements. Doing this allowed me to capture some of the amazing detail, yet still give a sense of what makes this home such a work of art.

I'm including a photo of the whole structure to give an overall feel for just how magnificent and beautifully cared-for this home is.

-the finished illustration.

The brownstone in all it's Fall glory! You can see why we didn't try to show all this in 11"x14".

Simplification of elements is determined by the print size -which is an important consideration when working on these portraits.

You gotta' love that oversized acanthus leaf keystone.

Although the whole building wasn't included in the illustration, I can't help showing this metal cornice and window trim on the 3rd floor. What a beautiful structure! ...and what a fun commission.