Art Blog

16Apr 2015 by Leisa
Presentation to the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group

Presentation to the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award
Giving a talk about my Historic Preservation Award  Last weekend I was asked by the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group (MOHPG)  to give a presentation to their members about the Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award.  And here I am in action!           Monrovia is a quaint mountain city on the north-east outskirts of Los Angeles that by in large has held to their integrity and refuses to allow their rich architectural history to be destroyed and replaced by enlarged and unattractive structures that give the impression that the "mother ship" has landed! Much of the thanks for this trend goes to MOHPG which is a very organized and on-the-ball historic society. In June I am giving my Historic Preservation Award to a Monrovia resident, Tracey Tempel, who…
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16Apr 2015 by Leisa
Invitation to the next Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award Presentation!

Invitation to the next Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award Presentation!

News
   Community Invitation to an Award Ceremony Please join San Marino Heritage and artist Leisa Collins in honoring San Marino residents Joelle and Ben Grossi for the stellar restoration of their 1928 Spanish home on Lorain Road Saturday May 9th, 2015   11:00 am at 1862 Lorain Road, San Marino The exterior, interior and gardens have been lovingly preserved and celebrate the original architectural aesthetic of the home  The Grossi family will be presented with an original pen and watercolor painting of their restored home by the artist Leisa Collins  Joelle and Ben are graciously opening their home for your viewing and enjoyment Light refreshments will be served under the oaks For further info contact Shirley Jagels of San Marino Heritage  --  shirleyjagels@earthlink.net  #626-926-3126
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16Apr 2015 by Leisa
Children’s Art Exhibit – Do Art Not Drugs!

Children’s Art Exhibit – Do Art Not Drugs!

Do Art Not Drugs
Educate our kids -- don't let them get into drugs! I recently started the Do Art Not Drugs initiative to help teach kids to steer away from drugs when first confronted with them and realize that creative pursuits are a lot more fun and far more rewarding. Last month I held an art session with a group of very creative kids from the Renaissance Academy in Altadena, CA. Look at their messages through their art. They have got it RIGHT! Last week  I put their work on display at a public forum entitled Teens on Drugs: Are We Doing Enough?  which was held April 7 at the Church of Scientology of Pasadena.   My art events with children also include the distribution of drug education materials supplied by the  Foundation for…
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16Apr 2015 by Leisa
Celebrating Spring House Portrait Sale!

Celebrating Spring House Portrait Sale!

House Portraits
To celebrate spring I am hereby announcing my Spring Sale!  That's 20% off any commissioned house portrait.   You may want to capture your gorgeous spring blooms in a second "spring portrait" of your home that can hang alongside your current painting or perhaps you have a house portrait gift idea for a friend or family member. Now is the time! Meanwhile, please enjoy some of my favorite spring homes! Forest St, Rockville MD   Del Ray, Alexandria, VA Kensington, MD   Here's to a lovely spring!  Leisa
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09Apr 2015 by Leisa
What are the stages in creating a Pen & Watercolor House Portrait?

What are the stages in creating a Pen & Watercolor House Portrait?

News
Here's how I do it... I am often asked what are the stages a house portrait painting goes through.Here's an example of a home in Annapolis Maryland. My technique is pen and watercolor as you can see here, starting with the main photo of the house to the finished house portrait! [caption id="attachment_5751" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The main photo I am working from[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5752" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The pen work is now complete[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5753" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Adding the watercolor to the pen drawing[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5754" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The final pen and watercolor house portrait![/caption]  
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05Apr 2015 by Leisa
Watercolor Portraits of Modern Homes and Buildings

Watercolor Portraits of Modern Homes and Buildings

House Portraits
Modern homes are fun and artistic too! I don't get too many requests for commissions of more modern homes and buildings so I always enjoy them when they come my way. From time to time folks ask me for examples of some of my modern homes so I have collected up a few to put into this post. Lets start with a REALLY modern building that I was recently commissioned to do in Burbank, CA.  Rather than giving the existing building a face lift (excuse the pun)  this one was a newly constructed.   It is the home of the Plastic Surgery Center of Burbank. [caption id="attachment_5729" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Home to the Plastic Surgery Center in Burbank[/caption] Still in Burbank but at the other end of the spectrum, with this…
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05Apr 2015 by Leisa
Beautiful Watercolor Gardens

Beautiful Watercolor Gardens

House Portraits
Gardens that bring life and color to the home I love nature, trees and of course gardens. I love wild out of control English gardens, cultivated French gardens,  sunny Italian courtyard gardens and creative art and sculpture gardens.  Anything that grows, with color and form and texture is fascinating to me. So this post is to celebrate all of the people who create beautiful gardens, and all of my clients who have commissioned me to capture their garden life in a pen and watercolor painting. [caption id="attachment_5741" align="aligncenter" width="500"] I love gardens...[/caption] Additionally you will note that when I select a home to do a portrait of, or am commissioned to create one, I never solely focus on the home but equally on its garden and natural surroundings.  This way…
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05Apr 2015 by Leisa
House Portraits of the Week

House Portraits of the Week

House Portraits
Homes in watercolor and the arrival of Spring! After a brutal winter on the east coast area this year, there is finally a first glimpse of Spring!  Daffodils are starting to pop up out of forlorn brown gardens that have been suffocated in snow for the last few months.   Here is some evidence of this (OK I helped things along a bit in the garden below based on notes from last year...) with this gorgeous historic Tudor on Hillbrook Lane in the DC area. Note the flowering Dogwood Tree and the pink and white Azaleas. Following this is another home in North West DC, this time a fabulously maintained Craftsman on Macomb Street. [caption id="attachment_5706" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Beautiful Tudor on Hillbrook Lane NW DC[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_5710" align="aligncenter" width="500"]…
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31Mar 2015 by Leisa
Fun Re-purposed Art Project for our Bedroom

Fun Re-purposed Art Project for our Bedroom

Repurposed Homes
Livening up our loft bedroom  I decided I needed to fill the big gaping space above our bed. It's been calling me for a while.  I definitely didn't want to put up my own art. Something historic, something re-purposed, something inexpensive. I was wandering through the Pasadena Architectural Salvage store for inspiration.  It's a great place by the way.  I found this old ceiling from a Victorian home.  The painted white front was pretty boring... But then you look at the back of this tile panel.   Its got a natural tarnished, oxidized rusty look. Lovely!   I then used some of my acrylic paints, ultra marine blue and green  and purple to deepen the color in the panel. The next step was fun. I used some gold paint (Liquitex…
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