Meet the Artist Behind Lakehouse Portrait Co.
I’m Rachel. I’m in southeastern Kentucky, in the Kentucky Wildlands, Daniel Boone National Forest, and my home lake is Laurel River Lake.
Most days you’ll find me back in a cove fishing just to catch little ones and throw them back. But I’m always watching, observing. I love nature, and lakes are my favorite. I do go out on the water regularly, and the reason why is because it’s just plain soothing to my nervous system. I’m able to get out away from the hustle and bustle and go out, thanks to Daniel Boone National Forest, to some very private, natural areas—sometimes even places with old growth, cool, damp creeks with lots of moss and ferns.
Discovery is part of who I am. And in the same way that I like to go discover wildlife and new landscapes, I also like to bring a painting into fruition and sort of feel like I’m discovering it in a new way.
I am a trained painter. I was trained pretty traditionally, which means I spent a lot of time learning how to see light and color and form. I started with a strong academic drawing and oil painting background at Centre College, which had an intense critique culture. My professor and the experience of going to so many galleries and museums really helped me learn how to see. I then transferred to the University of Kentucky to do more experimental work, where I brought in a lot more bold color and moved beyond human portraiture.
I think I see things differently—or maybe just more—because of that training. I see more colors and more variation in shadows, whereas I think most people just see “a shadow.” I notice how light hits things, how it illuminates a structure, how colors sit with each other, and how everything shifts through the seasons.
I’m also a certified master framer. I was trained by a wonderful mentor and spent many years working in and managing frame shops, producing high-quality, lifetime pieces. That experience really shaped how I think about artwork—not just how it looks, but how it lives in a home. I’m not framing to my own taste. I’m framing to match the space it’s going into. I understand materials, scale, and longevity, and I care deeply that each piece will last through the years.
Art has always been part of my life, and at this point, it feels important to build something that’s fully aligned with who I am.
But why lakehouses?
There’s just something about them. Lakehouses—especially when they’re seen from the water—always excite me. I honestly get a little giddy thinking about what they represent. It usually means you’re off work. It means you have time to relax, to be with your family, to slow down. You’re in a beautiful environment, and I really do think that impacts people’s mental health in a meaningful way. Family is very important to me, and so is that feeling of togetherness that lake places naturally create.
So what do I actually do for people?
I take their photo—their snapshot—and turn it into something they can live with. I simplify it, enhance it, and honor the place. I keep the architecture true, but I loosen the landscape and bring everything into a cohesive color language. I want the work to feel calm, familiar, and meaningful in their home.
They’re going to see it every day. And I want it to give them a sense of calm when they walk by it—a kind of quiet, steady feeling. Something that reminds them of a place that matters.
If you have a lake house or a lake view that means something to you, I’d be honored to help turn it into a lasting, beautiful heirloom piece. You can learn more about the process here.
—Rachel
