I had just finished my big 3 day show of the year, Christmas at the Cabin, which is usually the last thing I do for my art biz for the year. However, this year I managed to squeeze in a Christmas Commission a Kentucky Home Portrait Painting. I was honored to paint this beautiful old Kentucky home on top of a hill.

A brick home in Kentucky that is a reference photo for a commissioned house portrait painting.

My husband and I lived in Kentucky for some years. He was raised in Kentucky and still lived there when we met. We bought our first home in Marion Kentucky, so it has a special place in my heart. While this home is a little further east from where we lived, the style and feel of the home was something I was very familiar with.

Painting in the sky and grass of a house portrait painting in progress by New Harmony artist Jaime Haney.

This was to be the husband’s Christmas gift from my client and I’m so glad I was able to pull it off. I delivered it just in time – December 23rd! My client was thrilled and I was told the husband was too. That makes me so happy!

Painting in the tree limbs and leaves of a house portrait commission.

The house was his grandparents and held sweet memories for him as a child and into adulthood. Sadly, his grandparents have passed but now the memory of all the good times will continue a little bit clearer with this painting. That’s my hope at least.

A house portrait painting in progress by New Harmony artist Jaime Haney.

I was told that the house was very old, (1890!) and had recently come back on the market. Someone had “flipped” it and they had removed much of the original charm the home had in order to “modernize” it. So sad. I see this so often.

Continued painting on a house portrait commission.

Also, his grandmother was an artist. Wow! Was I thrilled to learn this and the couple had found old paintings of hers and had them framed for display. I just love that. Humbly, I like to think that Grandma would approve of my version of her beloved home.

Not quite finished painting a house portrait commission.

In addition to great memories, I’m told the old Kentucky home had a resident ghost – right up my alley! He remembers little footsteps running up and down the stairs. I wondered if the renovation ramped up the ghostly activity?

The window panes are painted in finally on this Kentucky Home Portrait Painting.

There used to be a grand old barn to accompany this beautiful old home, but it had slipped from the foundation. Long ago, it also had a working outside kitchen. I lived in an old farmhouse that had an outside kitchen – it was so cool I’d love to have that old home now, but it’s been torn down. You can see it here along with my personal ghostly encounters while living there ages ago.

The finished house portrait painting commission by New Harmony Artist Jaime Haney.

When I look at old homes, and especially when I am in them I wonder about the lives that went on in them. The history the floors had seen and the many steps they accepted with their squeaks and grunts. Banisters and railings… how many hands had held on the sturdiness of them to climb the stairs. The doors that welcomed family and friends for years and years day in and day out.

Artist Jaime Haney painting in her New Harmony Indiana studio.

Our lives pass so quickly. My dad and I have often talked about his long art career at ad agencies. All of the work we do, after you’re gone… it’s gone and mostly isn’t relevant in today’s world. People are many times forgotten or not thought of within just two generations.

These are some of the things I think about as I age. Kinda weird to say it out loud, but it’s true. I sometimes wonder have I done anything that I’ll be remembered for? Good things I hope. My paintings will long outlive me, but will anyone know who I was? Does it matter? Probably not.

The best thing we can do is to live for today and enjoy our friends and family now while we can… while we’re still here. Be in the moment. I have made a conscious effort to really be present in whatever it is I’m doing. That means stop trying to multitask. Pay attention while talking with someone, etc. It’s not always easy, but I keep trying.

New Harmony Indiana artist Jaime Haney with a finished house portrait commission.

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paintings by New Harmony, Indiana artist Jaime Haney

some of my paintings

Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page under the additional links menu. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery and telling mystical stories.

If you would like to keep up with what I’m doing, I have a newsletter e-mailed about once a month that gives you special status for invitations, birthday greeting and more. I’d love for you to add your email to my Friends and Collectors list!

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