Art Blog

06Apr 2021 by Leisa

Homes of Royal Oak, MI – House Portrait Collection

House Portrait Collection of Royal Oak, Michigan! I've painted homes from quite a number of Michigan communities and Royal Oak is right up there on my list of favorites! This east-side gem covers only about 12 square miles, but this little suburb of Detroit is bursting with history. I was pleased to see another town in this state be so passionate about preserving their historic architecture. This Royal Oak House Portrait Collection captures the tedious and preservative nature of the town's homeowners and public officials! Among the early settlers to the area (who were mostly farmers) was a man named Orson Starr. He would go on to become the township’s first manufacturer, most known for his production of cowbells. To this day, the Greek-Revival style home he built for himself…

15Mar 2021 by Leisa

Homes of Birmingham, MI – House Portrait Collection

House Portraits, News

House Portrait Collection of Birmingham, Michigan! My work has taken me to all corners of the U.S.., but this interesting collection is right here in my current state of residence; Michigan. I always find it fascinating to find out about the history of a city. It all started in 1818, when a few parcels of land were purchased that would become the beautiful suburb of Birmingham. Located just 20 miles northwest of Detroit, this quaint city was soon a hotspot for Detroit commuters once the automobile boom hit in 1933. Still filled with small town charm, Birmingham has a gorgeous array of historic and modern homes that I've taken a delight in painting. The residents of the city take great pride in the history of their architecture, as shown in…

10Mar 2021 by Leisa

Home portraits in Seattle and surrounding areas of WA

Coffee Table Book, House Portraits

My Seattle and Washington State House Portrait Collection! Much of Washington is focused on the deep waters of Puget Sound. First settled during the early nineteenth century, the state has become home to substantial Hispanic and Asian ethnic minorities. This cultural variety manifested itself in numerous architectural styles --from homes, to churches and to the Evergreen State’s public buildings. Washington’s Architectural Styles The architecture of Washington State mirrors its uniquely diverse landscape. Like its two distinct climate zones, the Evergreen State covers everything from Craftsman to Italian Renaissance Revival designs. In a state famous for its natural splendor, Washington is known for its National Park Service rustic design. From Bellingham to Mount Rainier, one can find structures made from local materials like logs and stone, allowing the public buildings to…

07Mar 2021 by Leisa

Homes of Greater Grand Rapids – Neighborhood House Portrait Collections

House Portraits, News

First Stage of my Grand Rapids Historic Home Portrait Series Now Completed! The Greater Grand Rapids Area is home to many beautiful neighborhoods filled with interesting homes full of character. After painting a wide variety of homes in many of these neighborhoods, I thought it was only fitting to showcase these home portrait paintings in a "Greater Grand Rapids Area" neighborhood series. I've added all of my house portraits from each neighborhood, which offers its own unique story and style, while the individual homes speak to the creativity of their architectural designers and homeowner caretakers. Baxter Neighborhood We'll begin our walk through Grand Rapids in the Baxter neighborhood. Wedged between Eastown and Heritage Hill, this small tight-knit community is resilient in it's efforts to create a more progressive and inclusive…

05Mar 2021 by Leisa

The Destruction of Historic Architecture

Historic Perservation, News

The sad demise of 10 Shelly Beach Road: Why did they tear it down? Every building with history has its own story and precious memories. Those of you who have witnessed the sudden disappearance of a home or building very dear to you, will understand the emotional impact and loss I felt that day. It was a defining moment I will always remember. It was the moment when I realized I had to tell the stories of beautiful historic structures through my art …. before it was too late. The day started out well. I had traveled back home to New Zealand to see family and also take a nostalgic journey, re-tracing my artistic roots in Auckland, the city I grew up in and where I created my very first…

03Mar 2021 by Leisa

House Portraits in Vibrant Tampa FL neighborhoods

House Portraits, News

Updating my Tampa House Portrait Series Craftsman, Bungalow, Tudors, Ranches and tasteful new builds... Tampa has it all! What a diverse architectural experience Tampa has proven to be! I had no idea of the number of interesting architectural gems that were hidden in the city;s leafy tree-lined streets and historic urban avenues. I started my Tampa house portrait series two years ago and feel I now have a eclectic and interesting mix of architectural styles in my collection. I will be including my favorites in the Tampa section of my coffee table book that will be released later this year. In the meantime I wanted to show off this lovely array of homes that depict the best of Tampa and show the pride and care that Tampa residents, and now…

03Mar 2021 by Leisa

New Project to Help Artists Flourish

News, The Flourishing Artist

Why not make your living from your art? While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in unprecedented ways, one of the hardest hit sectors is the global arts community. Museums had to close their doors. Concerts, art festivals and individual shows which so many artists rely on, were suddenly cancelled. Regrettably the end is not in sight. Not only am I fortunate to work mainly from home, but by increasing my marketing efforts I continued to receive commission requests for my architectural art from around the country. After achieved my goal of creating paintings of homes and historic buildings in all 50 states, I used the lockdown period to compile a coffee table book which documents that journey. However, my heart aches for fellow artists who have not fared…

13Feb 2021 by Leisa

Marin County House Portraits Blending with Nature

Coffee Table Book, House Portraits

The Beginnings of Marin County Home Portrait Collection Marin County is a magical place that reminds me of my homeland of New Zealand, especially the hillside city of Auckland, where I grew up and first became interested in historic homes and architecture. [caption id="attachment_24726" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Hillside homes in Greenbrae, Marin Country, CA[/caption] Located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it sits across from the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Founded in 1850, Marin County is one of the original 27 counties of California. Its founding followed shortly after the adoption of the California Constitution of 1849 and just months before the state was admitted to the Union. Marin County is the smallest of the San Francisco Bay Area counties, both in size and population. It's natural…

13Feb 2021 by Leisa

East Grand Rapids House Portrait Collection now Grown to Forty Original Paintings!

House Portraits, News

Craftsmen, Tudors, Colonials, Cape Cods and more architectural styles captured in East Grand Rapids Collection. Grand Rapids, known as the City of Churches, has always had a soft spot for eye-catching architecture. Nestled just 20 miles east of Lake Michigan, the second largest city in Michigan is home to a diverse selection of beautiful neighborhoods and suburbs, both historic and eclectic but still growing with modern styles; seemingly paying homage to the designers who paved the way. One of these communities is East Grand Rapids. one of the oldest suburbs in Kent County. It sits on Reeds Lake, named after the Reed family who founded the city back in the 1830’s. It boasts a variety of home styles and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed creating each of the forty original house portrait…

24Sep 2020 by Leisa

Pen and watercolor barn in Tennessee … its in my upcoming book!

Coffee Table Book

No, I don't just paint houses.... anything that is in any way architectural and crosses my path is liable to be captured. These days I am blessed to get a constant flow of commissioned custom portrait work, such as this gorgeous barn in rural Tennessee. It is still an operating farm and has been in the same family for over a hundred years. And of course it will be featured in my coffee table book that will be released later this year so be on the lookout!