Wonders of Home – A Painted Story Across the World

Hello Friends and Colorful Humans,

Welcome to my first look at Home-across the World

It’s no secret that I adore architecture. My family knows this well—they always snap pictures of charming buildings whenever they travel, whether it’s across the globe or just down the road. From cozy beach cottages to stately Tudors, French country châteaux to breezy Mediterranean villas—I love them all. Each one is a small wonder, full of detail, soul, and story.

Charming watercolor illustration depicting a variety of houses from around the world, showcasing unique architectural styles and cultural diversity.

A Sketcher at Heart (Just Not in Public)

At one point, I dreamed of being an urban sketcher—perched at a café, sketchbook in hand, capturing the hustle of a city street. But the truth is, I’m more in love with the idea of home than I am with buildings in a city. Homes are personal, layered with memory and life. Also, sitting outside someone’s house with a sketchbook might make me the subject of neighborhood watch chatter (and I’d rather not be chased off by a curtain-peeking grandma). So, instead, I collect photos and draw from the quiet comfort of my own home—no raised eyebrows, no police reports.

Besides, I’ve never been a particularly sketchy person—both morally and stylistically. My art tends toward the whimsical and detailed rather than loose and gestural.

⸻

A sketchbook page filled with detailed drawings of various house styles, ranging from Gothic Revival to Queen Anne, showcasing a diverse exploration of architectural designs.

I believe that the place where you carve out space in the world becomes a part of who you are

Drawing the World, One House at a Time

I’ve been drawing since I was five, teaching myself as I went, and even after studying fancy books, I never quite followed the rules. I draw how I see and feel: squinting, erasing, adjusting, adapting—fiddling my way to something that feels right. Wonky lines,  It’s part magic, part muscle memory, and fully mine. I call it art.

Over the years, I’ve collected lots of photographs of houses from all over the world—each one with its own story told through shutters, tiles, porches, and eaves. Though I admire the precision of architects, I could never be one myself. Straight lines bore me. I prefer the slight curve of a handmade line.

"An enchanting illustration depicting a whimsical journey of houses transitioning from day to night across diverse landscapes, capturing the essence of global architecture from A to Z."

⸻

The A–Z Project and What Came Next

A few years ago, I started a sketchbook series: an A–Z Home- Across the World. It became a deep dive into architecture, culture, and history. Some letters were overflowing with possibilities, while others made me dig a little deeper. Either way, I knew I was only scratching the surface.

When I finally felt ready to create a finished piece, I had a different vision: three illustrated panels moving from sunrise to midday to nightfall. Homes from across continents and time zones, woven together in one poetic day. This wasn’t just about showing off different styles—it was about telling the quiet, powerful story of home. My favorite subject matter🏠

Home is more Than a Place—It’s A Feeling

These are not vacation getaways or postcard scenes. They are homes—places where people live and work, gather and grieve, celebrate and rest. Whether it’s Paris, San Francisco, or a beachtown in Hawaii, the essence of home remains the same: a place to feel safe, loved, and truly yourself.

That’s the heart of my work. It’s about the wonder of home—not just the rooflines and windows, but the lives lived inside.

Whimsical sketches of tiny Hawaiian Islands, featuring detailed butterflies, lush foliage, and charming cottages, capturing the enchanting essence of island life.

In nearly all of my illustrations, the theme of home runs like an invisible thread. Home—or the idea of it—is something we carry within us: the moments, the memories, and the love. Shelter is a universal need, and I believe that the place where you carve out space in the world becomes a part of who you are. It’s in the coziness and familiarity of neighborhoods where people live, work, and play. It’s in the gardens that grow on windowsills, in backyards and front yards. It lives in the small details—the colors, the objects, the everyday scenes that surround us. Through my work, I try to capture the soul of that feeling: what it means to truly feel at home. I believe with all my heart that everyone deserves a safe place to call home—a space to laugh, love, sleep, eat, gather, create, study, nourish, breathe, venture out into the world, and return to, again and again.

With warmth and watercolor wishes

Marissa

To The Art