Art Blog

20Aug 2015 by Leisa

My First Canadian House Portrait Commission!

House Portraits

Victorian Farm House on Prince Edward Island, Canada You can imagine my delight when one of my clients from Monrovia, California, asked if I would create a painting of the family farm situated on Prince Edward Island where she grew up. She told me that she planned to hang it alongside her own lovely Craftsman family home where in turn she and her husband raised their children. This was the one photo I had to work from but it gave me the detail I needed. And here is the final pen and watercolor painting of this lovely family home. Despite the difference in location, I would say that my client's current family home in Monrovia, has a definite warm "family feel" about it too so I thought I would share…

04Aug 2015 by Leisa

Summer Garden Tour Across the USA

House Portraits

Sizzling summer garden color to beautify your home. . . There is nothing more wonderful than summer. The heat, vacations, the plant growth and most of all the COLOR! I make a point of including all the color and warmth I see when I create my portraits of homes. I thought you might enjoy a tour of some of my summer homes across the USA. No matter the architectural style, whether the home is old or new or historic or modern, garden color adds so much life and vibrance! Take a look and see for yourself! I'm starting on the west coast and travelling east. Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am! Leisa

04Aug 2015 by Leisa

Constructing Art Inspiring Homes!

House Portraits

MCR Construction – the dream builders . . . I was lucky enough to meet Mark and Lori Rolph, the owners of this amazing and creative design and construction company through -- you guessed it – their home! Situated on a quiet residential street in Burbank, CA, I was lured by its uniqueness and charm – a mix between a French chateau and a fairyland gingerbread house that one might expect to find in the middle of the Black Forest. I immediately decided to add this to my Burbank House Portrait series. Shortly after its completion Mark and Lori came to my studio and then invited me for a tour of their home. They also shared its history and some before and after pictures and other details as you can…

29Jul 2015 by Leisa

My architectural coffee table book project

News

Announcing: Art Inspiring Homes Across the USA! Over the years I have covered thousands of miles and have accumulated a portfolio of around 1500 portraits of homes and historic buildings in 46 states. I always find it fascinating to see the changes in architectural form as one traverses the country. The reasons for those changes are as varied as local weather conditions, cultural diversity and available building resources. As the old saying goes, "one's home is one's castle". Imagine the stories if those walls could talk! In recent times I have been repeatedly asked by clients when I will be putting a book together that showcases my pen and watercolor home portraits. Finally I am taking their advise to heart and have started to work on my coffee table…

28Jul 2015 by Leisa

San Francisco House Portrait Series

House Portraits

My San Francisco architectural series debut! Over the years I have always enjoyed my time in San Francisco. What an architectural feast! For one thing it is a Sister City to my hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, so that's a big plus. Like Auckland a bridge spans across the city and harbor views, glistening water and flaming sunsets abound. Both cities are very hilly which makes for interesting architecture, with tall elegant Victorian homes jutting out from narrow sloping streets. As always, I have chosen an eclectic mix of homes, and not only historic. SF's modern architecture is also very interesting. I am in progress on many more subjects but wanted to share some of my first homes with you. I greatly admire the resilience of those early SF residents.…

14Jul 2015 by Leisa

My Historic Preservation Award goes to Buster’s Cafe in South Pasadena!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

It's a family affair. . . Friends and family gathered at the cafe for this award presentation. My awardees were the three co-owners of the popular Busters Ice-cream and Coffee in South Pasadena, Renee and Colette Richards and Monica Barry. On hand were Mayor Robert Joe and members of the extended Richards family, including matriarch Clara Richards and the son of co-owner Monica Barry, Amedee Barry, whose nick-name Buster inspired the cafe's name. This award, an original painting of Buster's corner, is my seventh award and the second that I have presented in California. I instituted the Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award two years ago in order to give back to dedicated home owners and citizens who have set a stellar example of historic preservation through their efforts, skills or craftsmanship with regard…

06Jul 2015 by Leisa

My latest Historic Preservation Award — Carriage Barn in Monrovia, CA

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

Oldest Remaining Carriage Barn Starts a New Life! The President of the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, (MOHPG) Jim Wigton, says it best in his article in the group's July newsletter The Preservation Conversation... "Old, yes. Finished, no. Monrovia's oldest remaining carriage barn, on the verge of extinction two years ago, has been given a new lease on life..." The new life for the barn came into being thanks to the efforts of Monrovia resident Tracey Tempel, the MOHPG, 29 donors who helped finance the moving of the barn and MOHPG member, Jimi Hendrix. With the help of his crew, Jimi found a new home for the barn -- thanks to Tracey Tempel -- and was responsible for dismantling and then reconstructing the building at its new location. Last Saturday, together…

19Jun 2015 by Leisa

Historic Award Presentation coming up…..

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

And the award goes to . . . BUSTER'S ICE CREAM & COFFEE STOP IN SOUTH PASADENA! YOU ARE INVITED! to an award presentation to the owners of B u s t e r ’ s C a f e for their historic preservation and restoration efforts that help keep So. Pasadena so special! They will receive an original painting of Buster’s by artist Leisa Collins DATE: Tuesday, June 23 TIME: 7:00 p.m. WHERE: BUSTERS! (Buster's address is 1006 Mission St, So Pas) Everyone Welcome - Light Refreshments Hope to see you there! Leisa

23May 2015 by Leisa

House Portraits — Front and Back!

House Portraits

We see homes from the front all the time . . . but what do they look like from the back? The owners of these house portrait subjects are clients of mine who commissioned me to create pen and waters that depict both the front and back views of their homes so they are able to represent their home as a pair rather than just one lonely painting. This first one is in Arcadia, California. It was an nondescript one story ranch home when the owners purchased it a couple of decades ago. This elegant colonial home is in Los Angeles. And now a home in the country of Jordan. The view one doesn't see. Hope you have enjoyed the slide show! Ciao for now, Leisa

17May 2015 by Leisa

My latest Historic Preservation Award – San Marino, CA!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

Historic Preservation is alive and well in San Marino . . . And the award goes to homeowners Joelle and Ben Grossi! Joined by the President of San Marino Heritage, San Marino Mayor Eugene Sun and Councilman Richard Ward, I had the honor of presenting my award of an original painting to Joelle Grossi in a ceremony held outside her home. Tucked away in a quiet tree-lined street in San Marino is a charming 1928 Spanish home that was lovingly restored back to and beyond it's original splendor. As can be seen here, this was not the case just less than 10 years ago when the Grossi's purchased the home which many characterized as a "wreck". Now compare the "after photo". And here is the pen and watercolor painting…

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