Johnny Mills
Johnny MillsIndianapolis
Holiday gift certificatesA painting of their home, under the tree

Every home
has a story.

Original watercolor portraits of the homes people love, drawn and painted by hand from your photographs.

November and December commissions are fully booked. Now booking January and February 2027.

Gift certificates Request a Painting
Original watercolor painting of a white house framed by mature trees, with a driveway, garage, and stone garden wall
Original watercolor16 × 20 in

White house among the trees

No digital prints. No watercolor filters. No AI generated artwork.

Holiday giving

Tuck a portrait of their home under the tree.

Two ways to give a painting. Buy a gift certificate and let them choose their house photos later, or commission a finished painting as a gift and send me the photos yourself. Christmas painting slots are full: certificates are available for holiday giving, and new painting requests are booking January and February 2027.

Choose a gift certificate Commission a gift painting

Originals on paper

Recent House Paintings

Each painting is created individually by hand, so architecture, landscaping, color, linework, and level of detail will naturally vary from house to house.

White house among the trees16 × 20 in
Craftsman bungalow11 × 15 in
Mid-century glass houseSketchbook rendering

Studio journal

Stories Behind the Paintings

All stories

Meridian-Kessler

About the Artist

Johnny Mills, the artist, smiling in a black and white portrait
Johnny Mills — Meridian-Kessler, Indianapolis

I studied painting at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, then barely touched a brush again for three decades — aside from the occasional doodle — until recently. My paintings combine pen line with watercolor wash, all done by hand. I simplify where it helps the composition, while keeping the character of each house recognizable. I picked the brush back up because I love the charm of these homes and the special meaning they hold for their families. Each one has its own character, much like the people who live there.

Outside the studio, I work in tech as an experience designer and I am a Master of Social Work student. I serve as a suicide prevention counselor with The Trevor Project, and I currently support Udruga IKS, an international NGO, contributing research, grant writing, and impact analysis.

This started as a Meridian-Kessler project. I moved to the neighborhood a year ago and fell in love with it — the tree-lined streets, the old houses, and the warm, fun people here. Offering house paintings as commissions is a recent idea, so this is still a bit experimental — but the interest has been far greater than I expected, thanks in no small part to the neighbors who encouraged me to share this work.

Johnny's home studio: a watercolor house painting in progress on a wooden easel, surrounded by brushes, paints, and palettes by a sunny window
The studio — where every painting is drawn and painted by hand

Four steps

How It Works

01

Send Your Photos

Submit a few clear photographs of the house and tell me about any details that are especially important to you.

02

I Review Your Request

I review every request and aim to respond within 2 to 3 business days. I’ll confirm the scope, price, and timing before you decide to proceed.

03

Confirm the Commission

If you decide to proceed, payment in full reserves your place on my easel. You then approve the pencil drawing before any paint goes down, and you're fully refunded if it isn't right.

04

I Paint Your House

I draw and paint your house by hand and let you know when the original is complete. Optional cards and prints can follow — more on that below.

Original artwork

Commission Pricing

Each commission is an original physical watercolor, and I accept a limited number at a time.

Shipping and applicable sales tax are extra and confirmed before payment.

5 × 7 inches

Mini commission — perfect for a desk or shelf

$150

9 × 12 inches

Standard commission

$265

11 × 15 inches

Standard commission

$375

16 × 20 inches

Large format — limited easel space

$650

Request a House Painting

Every commission includes

  • Original hand painted watercolor
  • Physical artwork on watercolor paper
  • One house per painting
  • Created individually from submitted photographs
  • Minor visual cleanup when appropriate
  • Unframed
  • Full refund until you approve the drawing
  • Indianapolis delivery or pickup included
  • Insured shipping available at cost

Payment and my guarantee

Payment in full reserves your place on my easel. Before any watercolor touches paper, you receive a private link with the pencil drawing of your house to look over and approve. If at that point it doesn’t feel right to you, or if for any reason I can’t complete your painting as promised, you receive a full refund, promptly and without fuss.

Have something else in mind?

Choose “Something else — let’s discuss” in the form for a different size or another special request. Unusually complex houses or special requests may need an adjusted quote. If that applies, I’ll discuss it with you before you decide to proceed.

Questions

Frequently Asked

After your painting

Turn Your Painting Into More

Once your painting is complete, it can also become personalized cards, stationery, and small art prints to keep, share, or give. You don’t need to decide now. Add-ons can be ordered after your painting is finished or anytime later.

Optional cards and prints are reproductions of your finished painting, created only when you request them.

Shipping and applicable sales tax are extra and confirmed before payment.

Folded Greeting Cards

5 cards $20 · 10 cards $35 · 20 cards $60

5 × 7 folded cards featuring your artwork on the front. Blank inside. Envelopes included.

Flat Art Cards

5 cards $15 · 10 cards $25 · 20 cards $45

5 × 7 heavyweight flat cards featuring the artwork on the front. Envelopes included.

Deckled Mini Prints

1 print $10 · 3 prints $25 · 5 prints $40

Small reprints of your painting on textured paper with a softly torn edge — called a deckled edge — for a warm, handcrafted feel.

Keepsake Collection

Collection $35

Five folded greeting cards, five flat art cards, and two deckled mini prints, hand-tied with baker’s twine.

All three pieces, together in one collection.

Order From an Existing Painting

Already have a Johnny Mills painting? Your digitized artwork can be used to create cards and prints anytime.

Request cards or prints

No obligation

Request a House Painting

Share your photos and preferences, and I’ll review your request. I’ll confirm the scope, price, and timing before you decide to proceed. There’s no obligation to purchase, and no payment is collected with this request.

Now booking January and February 2027. November and December are fully booked. Requests are welcome for the new year.

Gift certificates for holiday giving

I aim to respond within 2 to 3 business days.

Optional, and it can be anywhere. An address helps me find extra reference views. I never share it publicly. If your subject is a pet or something else, leave this blank.
How would you like to receive the painting? *

If you're in or around Indianapolis, I hand deliver or you can pick up from the studio at no charge — we'll coordinate a time when your painting is ready. Anywhere else, I pack the painting flat between rigid boards and ship insured at actual cost (usually $15–$20), added to your final balance.

Billing address *

This is the address on your card or bank account. I only use it so your invoice is correct — sales tax is worked out from it automatically.

Enter the code from your certificate. Your painting is already paid for, so there is nothing to pay. Pick the size on your certificate below, or choose a larger size and you'll only pay the difference.

Which size are you interested in? *

Choose a standard size or tell me if you have a different idea. I’ll confirm the scope and price with you before either of us commits.

Orientation preference

I’ll confirm the orientation that best suits the house and composition before painting begins.

Text beneath the painting? *

I paint any lettering by hand as part of the piece, so I need to know before I begin. Cards and prints can be personalized later, when you order them.

Please upload at least one clear photograph showing the full front of the house. Additional photos of details, landscaping, colors, or different angles are helpful. Limits: 1–5 photos, up to 10 MB each. JPG, PNG, HEIC, and other standard photo formats work; videos and PDFs don’t.

You'll also get an occasional Studio Note when a new painting goes up. Reply anytime to stop.

Please check your spam or promotions folder for emails from johnny@johnnymillspaints.com. Timely replies to questions and approval requests help keep your painting moving. While waiting for a reply, I may move another commission ahead, so your completion date may shift.

Studio Notes

Get each new story by email

Occasional notes when a new painting and story are posted, plus the rare announcement when commission books open or new prints are released. Unhurried, and easy to leave anytime.