Florence Baptist Church in Watercolor

I recently had the opportunity to paint this commission for a dear friend.

Florence Baptist Church watercolor painting | 9×12”

Florence Baptist Church is a hidden gem tucked away in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Reference photo

Although I have never visited the church, I have heard stories about the warm community and sense of family that people feel when they walk through the doors. I wanted to make the double doors the focal point to emphasize a sense of welcoming and home.

Getting started

I did this painting in stages and began outside. A ruler came in handy for the one-point perspective sketch.

Finished tight sketch

To contrast the detail and realism of the building, I decided to juxtapose a loose, impressionistic background.

I used Arches 140 lb cold pressed paper and a Daler Rowney half travel pan for the color.

For brushes, I used #3 and #5 rounds for everything except the details. I also used aqua brushes while I worked outside.

Finished and framed

Saying goodbye to a painting is hard sometimes. But thinking about the joy my work could bring others is more than worth it. In fact, that’s the reason I paint.