Art Blog

27Jul 2019 by Leisa

Newsflash! New York Times Article

News

I hope you are enjoying some lovely summer weather. I wanted to pass on some good news in the form of this article which recently ran in the Real Estate Section of the New York Times, entitled, Why Take a Picture of Your Home When You Can Paint it Instead I am featured with a couple of other architectural artists in different parts of the country. I was really happy that my painting below of the famous New York Times Plaza Hotel was included in the article as there is such a great story behind it. I was commissioned to paint this by a client as a gift for her husband for their 50th wedding anniversary. This is where they honeymooned all those years ago after their spring wedding. Now isn't that…

31May 2019 by Leisa

Father’s Day House Portrait Special!

House Portraits, News

In celebration of all Dads everywhere, I am offering a 15% discount for any original house portrait commission this Father's Day! This is a big thank you to the man of the house and to all my friends and clients who have renovated, painted and maintained their homes over the years, keeping them beautiful and art inspiring! I also provide beautiful Father's Day Gift Certificates -- customized if desired -- which can be presented on this special day. Here are but a few paintings of homes of fathers and clients who I happen to know have put a lot of time and creativity to make their homes both practical and enjoyable for their families. Ranch home in Arcadia, California Cottage in Rockville, Maryland Italianate home in Alameda, California Tudor in Burbank, California…

18May 2019 by Leisa

Spring House Portrait Tour Across the USA!

House Portraits, News

Spring may look different is various parts of the country . . . but it always warm one's heart There's something special about spring! After those long cold dreary days, the sun bursts forth, new buds grow and vibrant colors come to view. It's finally safe to go outside, have a picnic and revel in this wonderful time of the year. Being that I have lived all over the USA and travelled to every corner, I can appreciate the different forms of spring in every region. I often hear people say that Florida, Southern California, New Mexico and even parts of Texas don't really experience spring. Not so. It is just a matter of looking... Allow me to take you on a meandering spring house portrait tour across the USA…

07May 2019 by Leisa

Meet my Latest Historic Preservation Hero!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News

My latest recipient of the Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award is . . . Mary Beth Grey of Grand Rapids MI for her historic renovation of 268 Paris Ave SE, Heritage Hill, Grand Rapids, MI Awarded on a beautiful spring day on this now open and welcoming porch, friends, neighbors and preservation supporters gathered to honor Mary Beth and her latest restoration project. 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…

28Apr 2019 by Leisa

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…

16Apr 2019 by Leisa

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…

06Mar 2019 by Leisa

New work! Architectural Collage Art

House Portraits, New Art

My new series featuring Victorian paintings, English Tudor art and Craftsman style art. Over the years I have created hundreds of portraits of homes and historic buildings, so you can imagine that I have lots of favorites and in many different architectural styles, But three styles really stand out. They are each very distinctive and have stood the test of time. They are the Victorian style, Tudor style and Craftsman style. I decided to select some all time favorites within these styles and share their beauty but in a different way. I mixed these architectural art forms with other very different art forms, namely some of my favorite fabric patterns and items that I have collected over time. Many can be found in my home. Some are from overseas travels,…

06Jan 2019 by Leisa

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…

30Dec 2018 by Leisa

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…

12Dec 2018 by Leisa

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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