Family Portrait On The Cottage Dock
Commission an original watercolor, oil or acrylic painting, ink or pencil drawing from your photo by portrait artist Hanne Lore Koehler direct from artist's studio online or in person. Order a family portrait, wedding portrait, head of state portrait, congressional portrait, CEO portrait, professor alumni portrait, posthumus portrait, celebrity or sports star portrait, special occasion portrait.
My basic PRICE LIST will give you a general idea of my fees; however, for a definite quote, please email your photo and specifications (size, watercolor, oil, acrylic, pencil) along with details you would like added, omitted, changed or combined with another photo and request a FREE quotation for the commission of your work of art.
I would be delighted to examine your photographs and offer suggestions. I specialize in painting composition. If you have a photo in which facial expression is great but you are not happy with the pose, the background, etc., I will compose the painting extracting elements from a number of different photos to your satisfaction. At Koehler Art Studio, everyone is a star. All portraits are original paintings - NOT mechanically reproduced - all personally hand-painted with sensitivity by artist Hanne Lore Koehler. Satisfaction guaranteed. We deliver worldwide. International clients welcome!
Original image size: 22" x 30"
Framed to size: 32" x 40"
Original commissioned painting is sold.
hand-painted by
I composed this painting of a family enjoying a summer vacation on the dock of their cottage in Muskoka using several photographs of different sizes: the cottage, the dock, the Muskoka chairs and individual photos for each family member. It was quite the challenge to get the sizes of each item in the right proportion, perspective and lighting to unify the different elements of this painting and make the scene look natural.
It would have been much easier to paint this scene using a single photograph with a single light source and proportionate elements as reference; however, this was just not available. The family did not take many photographs and, at the time that I was entrusted to paint this family heirloom, sadly, one of the parents was deceased and the boy had grown up. By scanning at least eight different photos of various sizes into the computer, I was able to arrange and rearrange and resize each element until I was satisfied with the composition. I could then use this "image combo" as a basic reference with proportionate sizes of each element for my detailed pencil drawing on canvas. When it came time to do the actual painting, I had to choose a single light source so that all the shadows would be consistent in order to create a unified natural looking scene.
To add to the degree of difficulty of the project was that the medium chosen was watercolor which meant that once the paint was on the watercolor canvas, it was there to stay. In addition, white paint should never be used in a watercolor painting. The white that you see is the white of the canvas so that, if you want to keep certain areas white or very light, this has to be planned and mapped out in advance.
Although this was a difficult and challenging project, I thoroughly enjoyed the process. I love it when a painting comes together!
The setting for this casual portrait is the family's cottage dock. When your portrait has been completed, you will be able to purchase art prints for family members, Christmas cards and other products with your image online. For prices, sizes, information about art prints, posters, art cards, canvas prints, acrylic
prints, framing, throw pillows, duvet covers, shower curtains, tote bags, phone cases and more . . .
To all the outstanding contemporary artists below who took the time to visit my website and comment on my work, I am deeply touched by your generous comments and warm welcome into the international community of artists hosted by Fine Art America! Your overwhelming support and selfless promotion are heart-warming. I am honored to get to know you through your art.
Hanne - you are so super talented!! So beautiful!! l/f
Jerry Bokowski - Vail, AZ - United States
Hanne, YOU and Steve Hanks are my favorite water color artists EVER. This is mind blowingly great. Perfection in every way. Not enough adjectives in the English language to begin to describe this!........FAVE / LOVE
Mah FineArt - Cologne, No - Germany
A Masterful work from Hanne. EXCELLENT Artwork. F/V/TW
Mary Deal - Honolulu, HI - United States
What a sweet scene. So realistic. Your ability at detail is wondrous.
Katy Mei - Poole, Do - United Kingdom
Love the way you work out this painting! I tried pick up my brush other day... I need my teacher back! Wish you can teach me. :-)
Michele Myers - Paradise, CA - United States
Loved reading your account of how you did this amazing family portrait and landscape, Hanne! You did a fantastic job of uniting the elements and fixing the light direction and such skillful draughtsmanship - L/F!
Amy Vangsgard - Los Angeles, CA - United States
The figures and details are done to perfection! L/F
Bruce Bley - Galt, Il - United States
Superb painting, Hanne!! I love looking through your galleries. It makes me want to pick up my brushes and get back to watercolor painting. Love your work!! F/L/fb/t
Mike Nahorniak - Peyton, CO - United States
Now that had to take a significant amount of time to get the details so perfect...absolutely phenomenal A+++ work!
Sennie Pierson - Blue Springs, MO - United States
such amazing detail, such talent, what a blessing!!
Linda Simon - Homer, NY - United States
Just wonderful Hanne, as always, your work is top quality!
Rosemary Colyer - Malaga, An - Spain
I am overwhelmed by the stunning quality of your work, Hanne! You truly are a master! L/F
Linda Phelps - Austin, TX - United States
F/V Very outstanding details in this paining! The people are so well done they almost look like photographs, Love the cabin, forest and steps in the background which help to tell the story of this family have a great day togehter.
Sue Smith - Sandy, UT - United States
Amazing detail!!! Your story of putting this together makes it even more fabulous, Hanne!!! Love everything about it!
Emily Maynard - Roanoke, VA - United States
WOW, Hanne, this is incredible! One of my favorites of yours!!!
Phyllis Beiser - Pass Christian, MS - United States
Absolutely phenominal work!!! V/F
Donna Kennedy - Reno, NV - United States
Excellent Summer portrait Hanne, it's so alive I feel as if I'm there!...f/v34
Len Stomski - Cheshire, MA - United States
Fantastic results for a most difficult assignment Hanne, Hats off to you my friend. v/f
Nina Fosdick - Mena, AR - United States
Absolutely beautiful creation! Well worth all the time you must have put into this excellent image. vf
David and Carol Kelly - Cedar Hill, TX - United States
Awesome work.
Nava Jo Thompson - Bentonville, AR - United States
Hanne---I love the details that you put into your paintings. I would love to walk up those steps and look out from the deck. Beautiful--and fun painting---you do wonders with trees. Your description is interesting too. fave/voted
Randy Rosenberger - Iola, WI - United States
It is a true honor to display and promote your exemplary artwork on the FEATURED ARTWORK page of the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group site. Your outstanding prowess and presentation in your works is very worthy of the highest of accolades, and I am honored to have your works of beauty on our site and to have you as an active member of our family of friends and fine artists here in the WFS group. Forever, Elvis
Gail Matthews - Orillia, On - Canada
Hanne, your art has such "Heart". Thank you for this memory from my childhood. Cheers ! f/v
Belinda Low - Singapore, SG - Singapore
Hanne - Sweet sweet memories captured in this beautiful work! Love this! f.v
Marcia Colelli - Massillon, OH - United States
Fantastic family scene. Brings back memories of being at my sister's house in Florida when our children were young.
Catalina Lira - Palma De Mallorca - Spain
Hanne, awesome work that is full of happiness! F/V!
Joe Zachariah - Pune, M - India
You are right, right from the house in the background to the reel in the boy's hand, the scale and size is different for each item. I was just gazing at the painting and wondering how and from where you started. Simply great and beautiful. F.
Jim Fitzpatrick - South San Francisco, CA - United States
Stunning work and scene! You've captured a place I'd love to go and people one who want to know! F/V
AnnaJo Vahle - Merritt Island, Fl - United States
You achieved such a wonderful painting. The family ought to have been delighted with this work of art. I understand what you mean about using different light sources and doing it with watercolor. I note that this is, also quite a large painting. Absolutely stunning! f/v
Anne Lacy - Chicago, IL - United States
beautiful watercolor and such an amazing story behind this :)..You definitely succeeded in creating a wonderful image of the family, what amazing talent you have!..I am sure they were very pleased!! v/f/t and G+ :)
Dorothy S Guinn - Savannah, Tn - United States
I love all of your work, stunning!!!
Guy Ricketts - Livonia, MI - United States
What a wonderful painting! It really looks as though they all had sat for you together. You did an amazing job here, Hanne, your hard work really paid off. f/v
William Ohanlan - Riverside, nj - United States
you did an amazing job of this, what a treasure, it all came together beautifully !
Bob Orsillo - Auburn, ME - United States
Hanne, I get inspired every time I visit your gallery. Your attention to every detail is astounding. Very fine art!
Celene Terry - Enchanted Oaks, TX - United States
I use photo references frequently in painting and have combined two but not multiple images. You have such a gift!
Julie Brugh Riffey - Salem, VA - United States
Wow- you DID do a remarkable job. I know what it is like to take multiple photos to try to combine in one piece. It is a lot of work. You did a great job. Sad that one of the parents passed away, but your work will allow them to live on in that family by being in sight every day. I know the family was pleased.
Tim Allen - Seattle, WA - United States
WOW!!! My hat is off to you, Hanne. This is outstanding. Loved the story behind it as well as the setting. You did a masterful job. I think Joy put it succinctly in comparing it to Norman Rockwell. F/V/SU
Joy DiNardo Bradley DiNardo Designs - Omaha, NE - United States
I love places like this on the lake and your Norman Rockwell approach to this painting! Yes, Watercolor...challenging and beautiful at the same time!! Nice work!
Marsha Elliott - Covington, Oh - United States
This is so phenomenal... wow!
Patricia Taylor - Jacksonville, FL - United States
Wow! Another masterpiece. F/V
Robin-lee Vieira - Rehoboth, MA - United States
Superb work!!!
For best quality highest resolution images, buy direct from Koehler Art Studio online from this website or in person. Order art prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, posters, art cards and many more fine products with this original watercolor painting of a family on their cottage dock by artist Hanne Lore Koehler called FAMILY ON THE DOCK! Commission an original painting of your own family enjoying a summer vacation fun direct from portrait artist Hanne Lore Koehler. When your original portrait is painted, you will be able to purchase prints of the image, such as art cards - what a great gift for family members! Wonderful personalized birthday cards, Mother's Day cards, Father's Day cards, Christmas cards!
