Art Blog

Spring Vibrance and Recent House Portraits

Spring Vibrance and Recent House Portraits

House Portraits
Spring has truly arrived! Look at these gorgeous colorful watercolor home paintings.  Spring has to be my favorite season. Lots of new life and growth.  Here are two examples in Kensington, Maryland. [caption id="attachment_5995" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Elegant home in Kensington MD[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5996" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Another Kensington Beauty. This time a Victorian[/caption] Another home in Maryland, tucked away in lush tree-filled Bethesda. [caption id="attachment_5997" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Bethesda Maryland home[/caption] In the residential areas in DC I have found some true treasures. This is one of them.  A English style cottage that I estimate was built in the 1930's.  Look for the bird in this one. [caption id="attachment_5998" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Cute Cottage in Washington DC[/caption] Moving over to the west coast, there is a different kind of Spring growth. A California…
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Most Art Inspiring House Portrait Contest – We have a WINNER!!!!!!

Most Art Inspiring House Portrait Contest – We have a WINNER!!!!!!

House Portraits
My first Most Art Inspiring House Portrait Contest and there will be more! It is my way of giving back to home owners who put so much time, money and love into making theirs homes beautiful.  They make my job so enjoyable!  The joy of doing original art is that every home is totally unique and therefore every final Leisa Collins Art portrait is also one of its kind. And the winner of the May 2015 Most Art Inspiring House Portrait Contest is . . . Jorie and Charley Vandenberg and their beautiful home in Ada, Michigan! [caption id="attachment_5945" align="aligncenter" width="700"] The winning home in Ada, Michigan![/caption] Thank you to the contestants. here are some of them below. The final voting results were very close See the other entries on…
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House Portraits: Is a house a home without a porch?

House Portraits: Is a house a home without a porch?

House Portraits
The art of  the porch and outdoor patio ... One thing I love about living in South Pasadena is the interesting array of Craftsman and bungalow homes with their notably distinctive front porch design features. My love for porches further increased when my husband Bruce and I became familiar with a website called  Front Porch Ideas and More.  We also quickly became friends with its creators, Mary and Dave Morris, who we met for the first time last week when they came out to Los Angeles from their home in Nashville TN  to see family. [caption id="attachment_5925" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Dave and Mary with me and Bruce[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5926" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Mary and me[/caption] We had a really enjoyable time, chatting over lunch, and hanging out on our patio. Bruce and…
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An Invitation to my greater Los Angeles Friends. . .

An Invitation to my greater Los Angeles Friends. . .

News
YOU'RE INVITED! To my Open Studio and "Annual Make Room for More  ART Sale!" 50% OFF THIS SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015  5 - 9 PM  Coinciding with the South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival & Art Walk  Studio: 812 Fremont Ave, Loft 101. So. Pasadena CA 91030      Hope you can make it.  It's always great to see you!       Cheers,      Leisa
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Historic Row House becomes a Georgetown DC Street Scene!

Historic Row House becomes a Georgetown DC Street Scene!

House Portraits
The story of the Commissioned Architectural Painting  A young couple in Georgetown DC decided that wanted me to create a large and vibrant painting of their house and street to hang on a brick feature wall in their home. The first step was the planning stage to work out the best angle and composition. [caption id="attachment_5814" align="aligncenter" width="500"] A rough sketch of the general lay out is the first step[/caption] Here is the main photo that was used, minus the cars of course! Love the colors of these homes. Georgetown, besides being one of the most historic neighborhoods in DC, it is also extremely popular as a tourist site and hang-out for just about anyone.  It's hard to believe that after WWI Georgetown became one of the worst slums in…
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House Portraits of the Week

House Portraits of the Week

House Portraits
Watercolor home portraits for your enjoyment... Another fun and interesting week in the land of architectural art and unique homes. We'll start with the west coast. This is stately Spanish home is one of the first in my Valley Village house Portrait series.  Valley Village is a lovely neighborhood in the North Hollywood area. [caption id="attachment_5805" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Interesting Spanish home in Valley Village N. Hollywood[/caption] Now take a look at this magical home in Glendale. I chose this one as it reminds me of a fairy tail home with some wild English garden influences. And you should see the back of home.  There is more beautiful garden along with a fully outfitted "English Pub" called "The Edison.  I plan to go and take photos soon and will do a…
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My Art Inspiring House Portrait Contest!

My Art Inspiring House Portrait Contest!

House Portraits
Win a house portrait of your home -- worth $500! As a homeowner myself, I know that there are a lot of expenses involved in keeping your home looking beautiful and sometimes purchasing a portrait of your house is not on the top of your priorities! I have decided to start a tradition to give back to homeowners of art inspiring homes. Every 6 months I will run a contest where the winner will receive a FREE pen and watercolor painting of their home as a thank you for having an art inspiring home!  The value of this painting is $500! Here's what you have to do to enter. 1. Select an existing photo of your home.  Or alternately walk outside and take a photo of it.  2. Go to…
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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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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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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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