Cartoon-style drawings are my thing!

Growing up on a steady diet of Garfield and Snoopy cartoons, I always saw everyday objects outlined in black. So imagine my surprise when my high school art teacher pointed out that real life has no black outlines - what the…?! That can’t be right! To me, things just look more fun and joyous with bold, playful lines.

That love of illustration never left me. Years later, I published my own cartoon dog books (yes, I’m a crazy dog lady), and now I’m a house portrait artist. I draw cheerful, doodle-style house sketches in ink, capturing the charm and personality of every home. 🏡

I couldn’t draw a straight line if I tried - and I definitely don’t want to! I have dyspraxia, which affects my fine motor skills and spatial awareness, so I’ve developed my own way of working as a house drawing artist. The result? Homes that are full of character and perfectly imperfect, just like the lives lived inside them.

Home has always been my anchor

My world changed when I was 20: my mum passed away from a brain tumour. My dad, understandably, couldn’t bear to stay in our family home as it held too many memories and sold it soon after. But for me, it felt like my entire foundation had disappeared. Home wasn’t just a place - it was memories, comfort, and stability.

Needing to rebuild that sense of stability, I bought my first home while still at university. I used my inheritance from my mum for the deposit and rented out two bedrooms to friends to cover the mortgage. That house (the best student house ever!) became my anchor: a place where I could feel safe, even when everything else was changing.

Homes are more than just four walls

That deep appreciation for home as more than just four walls has stayed with me ever since. As much as I love travelling, I’m not nomadic at heart - I need a home base. It’s where I feel settled, where I work, and where my dogs curl up beside me. I’ve worked from home as a copywriter for 19 years, and as an introverted neurodiverse person, having control over my environment makes all the difference.

Homes tell a story

They hold our family, our history, our pets, our laughter, our favourite things, and our quiet moments. And that’s why I started Home Sketch Home - to capture those stories on paper, while giving myself the creative outlet that I crave. A house sketch is more than just a drawing: it’s a memory, a keepsake, a way to honour the places that shape us.

I’d love to help you preserve a piece of your story.

💛 Cornelia Luethi

- House portrait artist in sunny Kerikeri, Northland, New Zealand 🏡☀️

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