Gardening day at Silas W. Robbins House
Posted: June 23, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: architecture sketch, Connecticut, Ink and watercolour sketch, ink sketch, Silas W. Robbins House 17 CommentsHave a look at the Silas W. Robbins House. You’ll understand why I wanted to draw it. It’s an impeccably maintained Victorian home in Wethersfield, Connecticut. I won’t list all of the architectural details but if you are interested in the history of the house and how it was restored after a roof fire, you can read about it here. I drew this with my students as part of last week’s workshop with Artists Rising Retreats. Our drawing session happened to coincide with landscaping day on the property, and from what I observed, the gardens are as beautifully maintained (and colour coordinated) as the house.
In my workshop demo, I simplified a lot of the details on the house (which you will see when you look at a photo of the facade) but I tried to convey the grandeur of it as well as its position on the corner lot amongst the plants and trees. And if there are thanks to give for the beauty of this scene, it’s most definitely to the landscapers who donned their orange t-shirts for the occasion.
I love that you added the orange tee-shirted landscapers! A beautiful painting.
Thanks again, and thanks to the landscapers!
This house is just beautiful, as is your painting of it! So glad you had the opportunity to sketch there, and glad I had a chance to say “hi”!
Denise, you should go back there to sketch it too. And it was really wonderful to see you too. Thanks again for making the trip!
I plan on it, and I’ll send you a pic of what I did👍
When I first saw it I thought you must be in France! Beautiful house beautifully captured!
Tony, I’m glad it wasn’t France because we’ve been having much cooler temperatures here than in Europe. I hope you are staying cool too!
Uncomfortably hot here this week … but sure we’ll be moaning about the rain again soon!
This watercolour is as stunning as its is stately. Wow.
Lance, thank you. I appreciate that.
what a beautiful painting and i love the subject
Thanks very much, Beth!
Even somewhat simplified you captured the beauty of the architecture and the landscaping. Wow! Bravo!!
Joan, thanks for having a look.
I LOVE the way you sketched/simplified the wrought iron picket fence! I always feel “required” to put in the detail that the craftsman did, and then get overwhelmed. Oh man I hope that you don’t mind that I’ll do this the next time I sketch a lovely old house like this! Techniques like this are wonderful for my impatient self!
Oh course I don’t mind. I share my techniques in the hopes that it may give people ideas in their own sketching. So please feel free!!
Wonderfully depiction of the scene. The active gardeners are really well conveyed. A detail that adds so much.
Come to Alexandria and we can sketch an almost equally impressive Victorian house! I’ll wear an orange t-shirt and do some weeding in front. 😉