64 — North Shore News ~ Friday. January 21, 2000 Recreating the Deana Lancaster News Reporter dlancaster@nsnews.com a lifetim eS A home holds not only possessions, but memories — of children growing up, treasured pets and special events. So it’s not such a strange wish to have a family home immortalized, With all its special memories, as a parnting. Crystal Deshaies is an artist who specializes in creating portraits of homes. She estimates that in the past decade or so that she's been paint: ing them, she’s recreated almost 100 homes in brilliant colours, some complete with gardens, pets, children and special belongings, depending on what the homeowner asks for. “They really become an illustration — a celebration —- of your lite.” says Deshaies. With a background in architectural illustration, it wasn’e a big leap to begin painting the home portraits, which allow her a lithe more creative licence to include the homeowner's memories. “{ started doing them in 1986 for friends who were architects, and in the past six years it’s become more or less full-time for me,” says Deshaies, who is also an art instructor at Capilano College. A flip through her porttolio shows a selection of works, including eversthing, trom traditional, soft-coloured portraits to bright and whim- sical recreations, some with altered perspectives to show a favourite out look, others with pets — both fiving and “ghosts,” tools of the homeowners” trades; childrens* tavounte toys; and in almost all of them adush, blooming gar- den. “For some people [actually hely them design their garden, they tell me what they like and [ help them by painting it in.” She added that it’s not difficult for her to paint a garden in the winter, since she can recreate it with the client’s description and photos. The work has allowed her to get. ose to a mul- titude of peuple. “People tell me their life story. I's very personal because each portrait is a reflection of the fanily.” And it’s uplifting, she adds, because the clients who commission her to paint their homes are always content, cheerful people. “They are enjoying their lives — they want to celebrate their family, their garden, the community where chey live.” Recently, Deshaies started painting flowers for clients as well. “IT have so much fun with them ... the colours are unbelievable. And I don’t have to be so exact with the details as I do with the houses.” For more information, cal] Deshaies at 732- 9523. 6 BEDROOMS -— LYNN VALLEY Very spacious 4 tevel split home with open layout, Bright with cove ceiling in living room, 3 full baths, fam- B ity rm off kitchan, rec cm, child safe backyard, new roof, near school, rac centre. Call me now. 2046 KIRKSTONE RAD. RENT NO MORE - TRY $4400 DP, $6200 Better than renting - own your spacious one bedroom unit with city view, well run building, or invest in it and rent it out. Steps to bus, near school, Call now to view. #207-270 WEST 3AD ST. Be are CENTRAL LOCATION ‘very wall priced 3 bdrm townhome, 2 full baths ~ quiet part of complex backing onto Emeraid Park - only 5 units - low maintenance fee. 335 EAST 3AD ST. é bathroom, the 2nd level has a targe living 8 room with a south facing balcony and the 3rd J oe Fite a eo dba WHY RENT? TRY $5800 DP, S8G0/MO End unit, quiet side, 2 bdrms, huge patio, geat tor kids and pets. Well maintained bidg. Steps to bus, near 2 school. Cail me now for private showing. . #107-340 WEST 3AD ST. # 2 bedroom corner unit with large private WESTERLY VIEWS OF MOUNTAINS & a Bright & immaculate 2 bedroam tae level townhame m with unobstructed westerly mountain views, newer m insuite iaundry, Complex boasts pool, sauna & fj § play yard too! $157,000 NEWS photo Terry Peters CRYSTAL Deshaies' home portraits — with gardens, pets and children — “become an illustration” of her clients’ tives. 623-5779 | Bob Kessel . REALTY Kessel Realtn Ltd. EXECUTIVES 240-2800 986-1469 rf Ny UNBELIEVABLE PRICE $199,900! ° 2 bedrooms, 2 baths ° Oceanview — e 3 Pools e Low maintenance Must be sold!! Reduced $20,000 for quick sale Hurry to the open home Sunday 2-4 1425 Esquimalt West Vancouver _ $152,900 ¢ Large one bedroom Easterly view ¢ Bright mornings & oak kitchen INVESTORS/1ST TIME BUYERS $126,900 patio, close to Lonsdale Quay & Seabus. #109-225 W. 3RD ST. pa carpet, newer kitchen & bathroom flooring and 2046 PURCELL WAY 14 BEDROOM LIVE/WORK STUDIO | REDUCED $10,000 TO $99,000 This unique artist live/work studio is a 3 level style apartment and is only 3 years old. The § ist level has the kitchen, eating area and Jevei has a large bedroom, bathroom and the § insuite laundry. S minutes to Downtown Vancouver U3 -238 E. 10TH AVENUE, VANCOUVER INVESTORS/FIRST TIME BUYERS VANCOUVER EAST - $62,000 Greai bachelor suite, 468 sq.ft, currently rented for $425 per month with 3100 down, mortgage payments would be about $450 per month. Great for investors or first time buyers. FOR SALE DELBROOK CALL FOR DETAILS nected. 500-Oftices.- 8s oa Salespers he United States.