Fearless Friday, Home Sweet Home

When I saw this photo, my pen and paint brush started itching…
Doesn’t it look like a storybook cottage,
such a cozy and welcoming home?
{Pinterest source}

I started by drawing the complicated roof line

Then I sketched in the other parts of the house

Then I inked over the pencil



You can download a free printable here if you want to paint along
After you get the printable,
trace it onto a piece of watercolor paper
or mixed media paper for best results
if you are going to use wet media

I used watercolor for this house and garden
so I could keep the garden elements abstract,
suggesting the various plantings with shapes and color

I began the foliage using light green and yellow tones,
then added more colors and darker tones

I painted the door and trim with a pale blue

Roof tiles were indicated with shades of Payne’s Gray

Yellow orchre for the walls, and brownish red for the brick chimney

A little more greenery…

A stone path with brown washes and ink and it’s done

“Home Sweet Home” 9″ x 12″ watercolor and ink on mixed media paper


Happy Painting
Be Fearless!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Love Your Creativity
What’s for Dinner/ Between Naps on the Porch
All About Home/ Common Ground & Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Oh My Heartsie Girl / Turn About Tuesday
Centerpiece Wednesday / Creative Crafts / Crafty Creators
Full Plate Thursday/ Creatively Crafty/ Thursday Favorite Things
Happiness is Homemade/ Friday with Friends / Share the Wealth
I love this, Jenna! The lines of the cottage remind me of ours. I can’t wait for all my summer annuals. 😊 Happy Friday!
Thank you Rita, I know you are happy to have a garden again!
Lovely rendering of this photo. Did you ever do house portraits?
Thanks Bernadette, I used to draw blueprints for builders and would have to draw renditions of the finished buildings 🙂
Once again, your talent is amazing.
Thanks so much Carole!
Jenna, I am smitten by the storybook cottage! Love it! I have the same question as Bernadette, do you do house portraits?
Happy Friday!
Thank you Pam, I have done some here and there for fun, and used to work as an architectural draftsman and drew blueprints and building renditions…that was a long time ago!
You have such a varied artistic background and super talented!
Both your painting and the cottage look so beautiful, Jenna.
Thank you Angie!
Absolutely love this!!!
Hi Rosie! Thanks so much, it does look like a sweet place to visit!
I Love it. The cottage is darling and your painting is beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend, Jenna.
Thank you Katie! I’m sure you’re up to something fun this weekend!
Exquisite. You are so talented and love how you take us step by step! You make it look so easy, but I wouldn’t have a clue
Thank you so much!
This cottage is perfect for a watercolor. I want to go there now! Thanks for visually transporting me.
Thank you Linda, art is a great way to visually get away!
Catching up with you. I’ve been out sick for a while. This is the perfect pick-me-up! So happy and beautiful. Wish I could live there!
Thank you Leslie Anne, so sorry you’ve been sick, please take care!
That place is so charming! I love how you do the foliage and put it in first! I’d love to vacation here!
Thank you Jeanie, happy painting!
Love this! What a sweet cottage!
Thank you Patti 🙂
Love to see your creations come to life Jenna! Such a pretty cottage and you’re so sweet to offer free printables to color and paint along with. ♥
Thank you Mary, watercolor is my favorite way to “garden” 🙂
Oh, Jenna. You always have a fresh take on a subject….LOVE this. I have vintage print and needlepoint cottages all over my extra bedroom. So love the lines of these homes and the gardens. Such a great idea, hugs, Sandi
Thanks so much Sandi! I bet your guest room is so pretty and cozy with all those cottages!
Looks like a cozy cottage! Your are turned out awesome! 😍
Thank you! 🙂
Oh Jenna, I’m crazy about this little cottage! I would like to try this. It is just darling.
Thank you Kitty, have fun!
How lovely Jenna! You’ve captured the charm of the home in the photo. I really appreciate the tutorial. The way painters approach a project is interesting to me, not being one myself. Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty!
Thanks so much Lydia!
I love this house and garden! So charming! I also enjoy your tutorials. I like seeing the step-by-step process, but somehow, when I try to follow it, mine doesn’t look nearly as nice as yours.
Thank you Pattie, sometimes if you put a painting out of sight for a few days, and then look at it with fresh eyes, you might find it’s better than you thought it was!