Gift Giving Guy

Home owners: Is the weather outside wonderful? Front-yard flowers in bloom? Maple trees looking majestic? It’s time to capture your home in all its Norman Rockwell glory with a custom portrait. Snap a few digital photos of your house and close-up shots of your front door and any unique architectural details. Then visit JoAnn Kenny’s Next Generation Gifts web site.

I worked with JoAnn to create a custom illustration of our home. First, I sent her a few photos just after the house was freshly painted. I even gave her the Benjamin Moore paint sample strips. JoAnn sent back a beautiful color illustration in pen ink, watercolor and colored pencil. Then I had Michaels, the arts-and-crafts store, frame the portrait. My wife was delighted when I gave her our home portrait as a Christmas gift. We hung the portrait in our living room, and JoAnn’s work still draws praise from our guests. (Disclosure: The image above is from JoAnn’s home portrait collection and not my own home.)

Prices range from $130 to $475 for a custom illustration. Choose black-and-white or color. After contacting JoAnn to tailor your portrait request, you mail a check or money order for half of the illustration’s cost to start work. A home portrait is ideal for a birthday, anniversary, housewarming or Christmas present.