28Apr 2019 by Leisa
Announcing my Grand Rapid MI Historic Preservation Awardee!

Announcing my Grand Rapid MI Historic Preservation Awardee!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News
Meet my Grand Rapids MI Preservation Hero!  INVITATION TO THE COMMUNITY I will be presenting my next Historic Preservation Award to East Grand Rapids resident  Mary Beth Grey for her historic renovation of 268 Paris Ave SE, Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids Since starting her home renovation business 2 1/2 years ago, Mary Beth has brought eight historic homes back to life in the greater Grand Rapids area. The majority have been in the City of East Grand Rapids, however this is her first Heritage Hill home and her most recent labor of love. It's also her most extensive project to date. Mary has a very hands on approach with all her projects and it took her several months to bring this beautiful Victorian to a state that is now close to…
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16Apr 2019 by Leisa
Completion of my East Grand Rapids MI House Portrait Collection!

Completion of my East Grand Rapids MI House Portrait Collection!

House Portraits, News
Craftsman style, Victorians, Tudors and Dutch Colonial Home Portraits of East Grand Rapids. I come to Michigan often, being that my husband of 30 years hails from Lansing Michigan. The lakes and rivers and lush green countryside remind me of my homeland of New Zealand. One of our favorite Michigan cities is Grand Rapids. It has a fascinating history, starting with its Native American roots and fur trading past. Not to mention how it grew to be one of the greatest furniture making cities, and still retains that status today.  Heritage Hill is the oldest part of the city and is the largest urban historic district in the country. I love the Victorian grandeur of this area and am currently in the process of selecting my favorite homes in order…
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06Jan 2019 by Leisa
New Video – Take an architecture tour of all 50 States!

New Video – Take an architecture tour of all 50 States!

News
Moving onto the next step -- my coffee table book! At the end of 2018 I achieved my dream of creating portraits of homes and historic buildings in every state across the USA.  It took some years to do it, not to mention an estimated 20,000 miles of travel. In the process I created around 2500 portraits in 35 architectural styles.  In addition to homes, I have painted city halls, churches, old school houses, family barns, lake homes and holiday cabins. Now I am onto my next target for 2019 . . . the compilation and publishing of my coffee table book! In the mean time I have distilled those years into a short zippy video that takes you on a whistle-stop  architectural tour across the USA and shows a…
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30Dec 2018 by Leisa
My favorite house portrait homes of 2018!

My favorite house portrait homes of 2018!

House Portraits, News
Thanks to all you awesome home owners and my wonderful house portrait clients! It's hard to believe that 2018 is now coming to a close. It's been a great year. Full of creativity and new adventures. I have to say, it's a wonderful thing to make one's living doing what you are passionate about, but I couldn't do it without you and your support of original art. So thank you very much for that. I have selected some of my favorite homes, all in different categories.  Actually it's pretty well impossible to narrow it down to such a few as there is always somewhat of a love affair with every single house portrait I create!  I hope you enjoy my selection and that it gives you a sense of the…
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12Dec 2018 by Leisa
Coffee Table Book – 50 States Now Done!

Coffee Table Book – 50 States Now Done!

Coffee Table Book, News
Moving onto the next step... Over the years I’ve travelled an estimated 20,000 miles and created around 2,500 portraits of homes and historic buildings. These range from homes in 35 different architectural styles, as well as city halls, churches, old school houses, family barns, lake homes and holiday cabins. I have always been fascinated with the changes in architectural styles as I travel across the country, especially when it comes to where people live, because to me, architecture is about people, family and community. The reasons for those changes are as varied as local weather conditions, cultural diversity and available building resources such as local stone, clay, brick and timber. Examples are stucco Spanish Revivals in California, stunning log cabins in Colorado, adobe dwellings in Arizona and one can find…
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05Dec 2018 by Leisa
Historic Preservation Event and my first NZ recipient!

Historic Preservation Event and my first NZ recipient!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News
Historic Preservation Hero - James Blackburne! In additional to spending valuable time with my family, I decided to celebrate my recent visit to New Zealand with the presentation of my Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award to an extremely deserving individual. While national in scope, James Blackburne just happens to be based in the city of Gisborne where my family lives. James is an architect whose passion is to see members of the community engaged in architectural preservation on all levels. A Gisborne native, he is the President of Historic Places Aotearoa Inc. and is the Chairman of Historic Places Tairawhiti Inc. and Tairawhiti Heritage Trust.  He is a strong advocate for the protection and restoration of heritage buildings and has taken a leading role in a number of stellar preservation…
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15Nov 2018 by Leisa

Announcing my Annual Christmas Special!

House Portraits, News
10% OFF All Commissioned Original House Portraits  with a further  10% OFF For Existing Clients    Homes are like people, they have their own special memories and personality.  From a classic craftsman,   to a elegant Tudor that has stood the test of time, to a charming family cottage in the country... a hand crafted painting of any home - no matter how grand or humble - will mean the world to someone this Christmas! There is nothing as unique or personal than a painting of one's home. Especially one that captures all the detail and character of the home and garden as well as all those special watercolor memories. Surprise a loved one this Christmas with this one of a kind gift. It's not that far from Christmas! Please feel free…
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27Sep 2018 by Leisa
Announcing my next Flourishing Artist Workshop!

Announcing my next Flourishing Artist Workshop!

News, The Flourishing Artist
  Flourishing Artist Workshop Sunday October 7 at my studio in Clearwater After working professionally as an artist for many years, and knowing the struggles of other artists, I started my Flourishing Artist Workshops in Los Angeles three years ago to offer my help. Due to their success, I began holding local workshops wherever my studio was based, which is currently in Clearwater FL. Workshop Purpose:  To help visual artists to find success and take positive action to make their living from their art. “Starving artist” myths abound and while it is not always easy, it is possible and there are solutions. Focus of this workshop: The basic actions that are the foundation to making one’s living from one’s art. How to find and establish a niche market for your art. Meeting with…
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18Jun 2017 by Leisa
NEWSFLASH! Meet my latest historic preservation hero!

NEWSFLASH! Meet my latest historic preservation hero!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News
Presentation of my award in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I am currently in Florida and in travel mode, while working on new house portrait subjects for my coffee table book. I soon discovered that the most unique thing about Florida architecture is the color palette  – from soft coastal pastels to striking bursts of orange, blue and gold. [caption id="attachment_7990" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Florida Beach Cottages[/caption] I was introduced to the laid back coastal city of Tarpon Springs by a friend who lives there. Not only is it the most historic city in the state but Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US!  And being that I love Greece ... I decided to look further.  In the early 1900’s sponge diving was introduced to…
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11May 2017 by Leisa
Helping to save the historic Washington Canoe Club!

Helping to save the historic Washington Canoe Club!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News
My painting of this Potomac architectural treasure! I recently had the honor of being commissioned to do a painting of the famous Washington Canoe Club. Nestled in a wooded setting on the shores of the Potomac River, the Club is part of the Georgetown neighborhood.  I thought you might be interested in seeing this painting and in learning a little about the Club’s rich history, which I just became aware of after reading the Washington Canoe Club's website. I further learned that the Club is in the midst of a historic effort to restore their boathouse, which has twice been identified by the DC Preservation League in its annual list of “Endangered Places.”   I have decided to help this vital cause. I am selling high quality prints of this original painting…
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