Art Blog

05Mar 2026 by Leisa

More Than a House Portrait — A Personal Handwritten Touch

News

Make someone’s mailbox the best part of their day. We live in a crazy, uncertain world, but despite everything, one thing we can agree on is that our home is our safe place. I hope you are continuing to enjoy the house portrait I created of your lovely home. After all, your home is a place filled with memories, milestones, and meaning. What if you could share it? In a digital world, a handwritten card stands out. It’s tangible. It’s intentional. It’s unforgettable. I truly believe in the value of handwritten notes. In fact I love receiving things in the mail -- besides bills and junk mail that is! [caption id="attachment_55369" align="alignleft" width="350"] I love to write notes to friends on my personal notecards that have my own house…

31Jan 2026 by Leisa

Hand-Painted House Portrait – Oldest B&B in California!

Historic Perservation, News

Living History: Pen and watercolor painting of 1852 Gothic style home Hello my art-loving friends! For those of us currently housebound by snow, ice, and bitter cold, I wanted to share something a little uplifting: architectural images and hand crafted house art that radiates warmth and reminds us that spring is not as far away as it seems. Recently, I was honored to be asked by the new owners the Shaw House Inn to create a house painting of this charming beauty. Nestled in the heart of Ferndale, California, the Shaw House Inn isn’t just a place to stay — as the oldest Bed & Breakfast in California, it’s a living piece of history. Ferndale itself is a beautifully preserved Victorian village, and the Shaw House stands as its oldest…

21Oct 2025 by Leisa

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award in the Island of Aruba!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News

Acknowledging a hidden treasure in Oranjestad, Aruba I was honored to presented my latest Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award on August 28, 2025, to Pancho Geerman, the Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Aruba, for the museum’s “outstanding contribution to historic and cultural preservation in Aruba, and for the rich educational service they provide both in Aruba and for all international visitors.” Here is the award, an original pen and watercolor painting. My portrait features the entire museum venue as well as the restored historic dwellings. These include the original 1867 cunucu (native) homes and the 1929 colonial mansion, in addition to an integrated modern structure. [caption id="attachment_53216" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award which was presented to the Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Aruba[/caption] As…

20Oct 2025 by Leisa

House portraits of treasured childhood homes throughout the USA

House Portraits, News

The Timeless Value of a House Portrait: I Love to Honor the Heart of Your Family's Story In every family's journey, there is one constant—the place where memories are made, milestones are celebrated, and life quietly unfolds. Whether it's the creaky-floored farmhouse you grew up in, the city townhouse where your children took their first steps, or the cozy cottage that welcomed years of holiday gatherings, your family home holds stories that no photograph or written memory can fully capture. [caption id="attachment_53205" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Des Plaines, IL, Craftsman house portrait of family home with their old vintage car[/caption] In essence, home is where life happens. It’s where your children took their first steps, where holidays came to life, and where everyday moments quietly turned into treasured memories. But homes change,…

26Aug 2025 by Leisa

Watercolor Portraits of Porches, Patios and Garden Scantuaries

News

Bringing the outdoor in. . . There’s a quiet magic in the spaces that lie just beyond our doors—places where the indoors meet the open air, and life slows to a gentler pace. Porches, patios, and outdoor gardens may be simple in design, but their impact on our well-being and happiness runs deep. They’re not just architectural features or landscaping choices—they’re invitations to reconnect with nature, with others, and with ourselves. [caption id="attachment_52863" align="aligncenter" width="1293"] Pen and watercolor portrait of Craftsman porch with wicker furniture.[/caption] Porch Portraits to die for . . . The front porch has long been a symbol of welcome and connection. It’s where neighbors wave hello, where the morning paper is retrieved with a cup of coffee in hand, and where rocking chairs creak to the…

29Jul 2025 by Leisa

Altadena House Portrait of Home Lost to Eaton Fires

News

Original portrait of home to capture special family memories. . . A home isn't just a structure—it's where memories, routines, and identity are formed. Losing it can feel like the death of a loved one. It is one of the most traumatic and destabilizing experiences a person or family can go through. The impact ripples across multiple dimensions of life. When the deadly Eaton Fires swept through Altadena CA last January, it's impact was profound. Over 9,000 structures were destroyed, including homes, beloved businesses, and historic landmarks. This mangled fire-charred Altadena home was one of the sad casualties. My client, Trafton, contacted me recently saying that this was the home he and his siblings grew up in and that he would like me to create a house portrait of the…

07Jul 2025 by Leisa

Working on my Dunedin House Portrait Collection

Coffee Table Book, Historic Preservation, House Portraits, News

My Dunedin Connection. . . Growing up in New Zealand, I always longed to visit Dunedin Scotland. Although I have since travelled all over England, I still haven't made it there. But ironically, Dunedin, New Zealand, was one of the first cities I explored on my travelling artistic adventure throughout NZ in the late 70's. [caption id="attachment_52345" align="alignleft" width="400"] Dunedin, New Zealand has same coastal vibe as Dunedin FL[/caption] Since then I have to come to realize that Dunedin Florida has some stark similiarites. They are both situated on the coast, and both have very interesting architecture, which for me is always a main draw. Dunedin NZ, the oldest city in the country, was founded by Scottish settlers and its name also derives from the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh,…

03Jul 2025 by Leisa

Custom Wedding Gift Painting: A Lasting and Timeless gift

News

When my neice Katie married Jon, the special ocassion was celebrated with a beautiful destination wedding at the historic Chateau Grimaldi in France. My husband and I grappled with what meanful gift we could give them. I really wanted to create a unique custom painting to capture the moment. One that would memorialize the event and last a lifetime. So I put together this gift certificate as a promise of the gift to come. [caption id="attachment_52300" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Wedding gift certificate for pen and watercolor painting for Kaite and Jon[/caption] The wedding was of course magical, and union made offical and Katie and Jon started building thier married life together. A little while later, Katie sent me a photo that she particularly loved and asked me tu use this to…

12Jun 2025 by Leisa

House Portrait gift for Father’s Day

House Portraits, News

It's not too late . . . the perfect gift for Dad As you know, every house has a story. . . Meet Jimmy, a family man who recently lost his wife of 41 years. The final blow was having to move out of their beloved home and into independent living. I was asked to create this portrait of the family home to capture all the special memories and it now hangs on the wall for Jimmy to enjoy every daFor the wonderful father in your life, give the gift of a custom Father’s Day House Portrait Certificate. (See sample below.) [caption id="attachment_52218" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Meet Jimmy, a family man and husband, who was gifted this house portriat of the family home[/caption] 15% OFF YOUR FATHER’S DAY HOUSE PORTRAIT GIFT CERTIFICATE I…

12Jun 2025 by Leisa

Artist Spotlight: Martin Tran Photography

News

Over the years, I’ve gotten to know some very talented artists on social media. I greatly admire their work and they seem like marvelous people even though I’ve never met them in person! They’ve been so supportive of my work, and I thought it would be nice to shine a spotlight on them on my blog and social media. The first artist I will focus on is Martin Tran of Martin Tran Photography. I’m sure you’ll find his photographs as beautiful as I do. His nature photography is absolutely stunning. He’s able to capture places I’ve been before and make me see them with new eyes. In addition to being a wonderful photographer, he’s also very generous with his support of other artists. I was able to ask Martin some…

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