Art Blog

05Dec 2018 by Leisa

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…

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…

06Nov 2018 by Leisa

My next award goes to the first New Zealand recipient!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

To be presented to Historic Preservation Hero James Blackburne 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 projects such as the Acton Estate, St Mary’s and Toko Toru Tapa Churches. He is currently working on restoring, the former Plunket Building in Gisborne, as well as the historic Potatu, which is a family heritage project. The award is an original painting of one of the restored projects which will…

27Sep 2018 by Leisa

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…

23Aug 2018 by Leisa

A Peak inside my House Portrait Art Journal

House Portraits, Journals and Diaries

Once upon a time the only way to create a portrait of one’s home was to craft an original drawing in pen or pencil and use paint to capture the color and personality of the home. While I appreciate the modern amenities we all enjoy today, I believe that those handmade arts and drawing skills should not be lost and forgotten in this age of digital expediency. I believe that the human hand, mind and spirit adds life and vibrance to any artistic creation. In my travels across the USA, I have spent thousands of miles getting to know its wonderful homes and architecture in unique neighborhoods, towns and cities. Architecture is about people and their expression of artistic style and practicality. That’s why I find it so fascinating. When…

22Jul 2018 by Leisa

Finding a Niche Market for your Art

The Flourishing Artist

Finding that perfect niche market to sell you art is not difficult as long as you are willing to do some soul searching along with thorough research. Following that you have to be willing to actually implement actions and there is always a certain amount of trial and error involved with this. For best results, approach finding your niche market in a professional and methodical manner and most importantly, record in writing the answers to the questions below. You can then use this information to formulate an overall plan per step 6. 1. What is your purpose? Think about what is the purpose of your artwork. Most people need and want to make money -- obviously. But beyond that, what do you want to achieve with your art? Do you want…

08Jul 2018 by Leisa

Re-implementing my Flourishing Artist Workshops in Florida!

The Flourishing Artist

Invitation to artists wanting to make their living from their art! Now that I am established in my new studio here in Clearwater, FL, I am re-implementing my monthly Flourishing Artist Workshops to help other artists to find success and make their living from their art. I personally don’t believe in the starving artist theory and while it is not always easy, there are solutions. I am joining forces with Jennie Peart, another professional artist in the Tampa Bay area, to offer tips, guidance and artist community networking. There will be other professional artists speaking in the coming months who have expertise in different artistic fields. The workshops are interactive and relaxed. The artists who organize and speak at these workshops will give their time freely, with the sole purpose…

25May 2018 by Leisa

House Portrait Historic Tour of Pinellas County, Florida

House Portraits

Pinellas County's eclectic array of architecture. . . Now that I live in Pinellas county, with the help of Wikipedia, I decided to find out more about its interesting history. I have enjoyed selecting and painting a number of original portraits that depict this region and have also completed some commissioned house portraits. Most of the following pen and watercolor paintings are of historic homes but I have included a few mid-century or newer ones in order to show the interesting and eclectic mix of architectural styles that can be found here. The Pinellas peninsula, like all of Tampa Bay, was inhabited by the Tocobaga Indians, prior to European exploration and settlement. They created their own town as well as a temple mound that overlooked the bay in an area which is now known as Safety…

28Apr 2018 by Leisa

Home Portraits: Inside and Outside the USA. . .

House Portraits

There is no limit to the new and interesting requests I receive for special commissioned paintings these days. They nearly all start with clients in the USA -- usually after I have completed a painting of their own home. This seems to liven up their creative juices and that's when the fun begins. Usually they are for special gifts. In my last email, I released a newsflash that I have now completed paintings of homes and historic buildings in every state across America, however I wanted you to know that I don't just limit myself to the the USA. I thought you might like to take a peak at some commissioned paintings that I have created of scenes that are inside of homes as well as house portraits that go beyond our US…

28Apr 2018 by Leisa

House Portraits Now in Every State!

House Portraits

Moving forward on my coffee table book. When I first relaunched my art career some years ago and decided to focus on my true passion -- architectural art -- I had what seemed like a very far-fetched and impossible goal: to create paintings of homes and historic buildings in every single state across the USA. Well I recently achieved this target when I completed a painting of a beautiful old theater in Wyoming, the last remaining bastion. Now I can move onto the next steps in putting my coffee table book together. This book is also a long time dream of mine. It will include my paintings in every state and document my architectural journey across America -- from the eyes of an artist. I will do my best to reveal…

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