How does a self-taught watercolor artist ensure her intricate historic home portraits maintain their colorful detail?

DISCOVER THE RED RIVER PAPER PRODUCTS THAT TRANSLATE ORIGINAL ARTWORK INTO BEAUTIFUL ART PRINTS.

Of Dogs and Dwellings

Meet Andrea Snyder, a self-taught artist who's turning her passion for historic architecture into stunning commissioned artwork — with a little help from her white labradoodle muse.

What started as a personal creative exploration in 2019 quickly blossomed into a business: White Dog Art and Design. Combining her background in interior design and architecture with a lifelong fascination with historic buildings, Andrea specializes in house portraits that capture the soul of cherished places. Her self-taught approach is evident in every vibrant, meticulously detailed portrait.

Enter Red River Paper

Quality paper makes all the difference when reproducing Andrea's intricate artwork. She relies on Red River Paper's 60lb. Pecos River Gloss for art prints and our 60lb. Pecos River Gloss Greeting Cards for her stationery collection.

The upgrade from hobby store cardstock was a game-changer for Andrea.

"I have been so impressed with RRP!" says the San Antonio artist. "There is such a difference in my print quality, both with art prints and greeting cards." Exclusive to Red River Paper, Pecos River Gloss is the only "cast-coated gloss" paper compatible with both pigment and dye inks. The plain paper backing lets Andrea print text and subtle graphics on the reverse side, and the brilliant white base makes colors pop while ensuring deep, rich black tones. The result? Every nuanced detail translates seamlessly from original artwork to finished print.

See More of Andrea's Work

You've got three great spots to explore Andrea's artistry. Order a custom house portrait, note cards, ornaments, aprons, and more on her website. See a similar array at her Etsy shop. Visit Andrea's Instagram feed for her latest creations, tutorials, “peel-and-reveal” videos, and the cuddly antics of her company's namesake pup. Wonder which historic home has been among her favorites to paint? Check out our Q&A with Andrea below.

Enjoy our Q&A with Andrea Snyder...

What year was your business founded and how did you get started?
In 2019, I left my office job for personal reasons and decided to learn how to use watercolors. I have a background in interior design and architecture and have always loved historic homes and buildings. Eventually, I began offering house portrait commissions and have been creating watercolor house portraits ever since.

Tell us a little about what product or service your business offers.
I offer house portrait commissions and other location commissions, such as wedding venues, offices, and party venues. I also create custom personalized Christmas ornaments and Christmas cards/note cards as commissions. I sell original artwork and prints of my art, along with greeting cards, postcards, and some household items.

In what ways does the business reflect your own personality?
I pour my heart and soul into every painting and commission! Each piece I create contains a little bit of my personality. I pride myself on great customer service because this is very important to me as a business owner and a customer.

Who are your typical customers?
My customers are anyone who enjoys historic places and likes personalized art that has special meaning to them.

What is the most interesting project you've encountered in the course of your work?
As an artist, I create many of my own projects. Some of my favorite pieces have been my paintings of Monticello. I've had the honor of painting some really special historic homes for customers.

What has Red River Paper done for your business? Is there a particular challenge Red River Paper helped you overcome or a goal they helped you meet?
I have been so impressed with RRP! There is such a difference in my print quality, both with art prints and greeting cards. 

Which Red River Paper products do you use, and what do you appreciate most about them?
The RRP papers I use are the 60lb. Pecos River Gloss for my art prints and the 60lb. Pecos River Gloss Greeting Cards for my greeting cards. I have been so impressed with the printing quality of these papers. There is no comparison between RRP and the hobby-store card stock I used to use, and I have no plans to go back.

Original Publication Date: July 20, 2025

Article Last updated: July 20, 2025

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