Art Blog

10May 2024 by Leisa
Historic Preservation Award given in Ste. Genevieve Missouri

Historic Preservation Award given in Ste. Genevieve Missouri

Historic Perservation, News
Pen and watercolor painting presented in Ste. Genevieve. The setting was a warm and blustery Saturday in the quaint and peaceful city of St. Genevieve MO, which is home to the oldest structure in the state, the Bolduc-LeMeilleur House. I was honored to present my Historic Preservation Award to French Colonial American (FCA) for their dedicated historic preservation efforts in St. Genevieve, and in particular to the circa 1810 Gemien Beauvais Linden House. Not only did they fully restore the home, but they made it into a living history museum for the benefit of the entire community. The award, an original framed pen and water portrait, was presented to board member Tandy Thompson of FCA. Tandy and I then presented a copy of the painting to David Orthwine, who was…
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12Apr 2024 by Leisa
Springtime St. Louis Art Show . . . and you’re invited!

Springtime St. Louis Art Show . . . and you’re invited!

New Art, News
  Color, Form and Rejuvenation -  A Springtime Art Show MEET FOUR BENTON PARK ARTISTS Please join us in welcoming Spring for our 2nd annual Art Show. We are four Benton Park artists, Scott Bean (oil painting), Leisa Collins (watercolors & ink), Phyllis Terry Friedman (assemblage), and Don Morgan (photography), with Shawn Hoven (wood art) as our 2024 guest artist. The springtime show is located at Atelier 1879, a historic building in Benton Park that is full of charm and personality. Sunday, April 21, 2024 12-7pm Atelier 1879, 2210 Pestalozzi St, St. Louis, MO 63118 We would love to see you at our wine and cheese reception and social hour at 6pm. Learn more about the artists: Scott Bean https://www.scottrbeanartist.design Phyllis Terry Friedman https://phyllisterryfriedman.art Leisa Collins https://leisacollins.com Don Morgan With…
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05Mar 2024 by Leisa
Unlocking the Artistic Gift: Commissioning a House Painting is the Ultimate Present!

Unlocking the Artistic Gift: Commissioning a House Painting is the Ultimate Present!

New Art, News
Hello friends! I’m quite often asked to help folks find the perfect artistic gift for their loved ones. Imagine this – it’s a special occasion, like a wedding anniversary, a housewarming party, or a milestone birthday. Maybe it’s Mother’s Day or Christmas and you’re searching for that perfect. last-minute gift, something for the person who seems to have everything. You want a present that captures the essence of home that encapsulates memories and emotions. This is why I often suggest a commissioned house painting – the epitome of thoughtful gifting. Commissioned house paintings elevate gift-giving to an art form. They transcend the ordinary, offering a personalized touch that resonates deeply with the recipient. Unlike mass-produced items that are a dime a dozen, I craft these paintings with incredible care and attention to…
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01Mar 2024 by Leisa
Hanging your house portrait in your home

Hanging your house portrait in your home

House Portraits, New Art, News
Look at these creative places to hang an original house portrait! My clients often ask for suggestions as to the best place to hang the portrait of their home.  The answer is practically any place in your home where  the painting can be seen and enjoyed.  Most portraits I create are smaller in size, as this is the most popular.  Many of my clients have lived in their homes for many years and  lack wall space, however I contest that there is always room for another original work of art if you are creative about where to hang your painting. Here are some great examples that show spaces in your home you can utilize for our orignal house portrait. Iin my opinion, t's better to group your art than have…
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15Feb 2024 by Leisa
San Francisco Custom House Portrait Collection

San Francisco Custom House Portrait Collection

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, New Art, News
Presenting my Hand-painted Homes of San Francisco San Francisco, the City of Love, has a brand of unique and romantic architecture that sets it apart from any other city across the USA. Its architectural history is as diverse and dynamic as its landscape, marked by a series of booms and transformations that have shaped its unique skyline and streetscapes. The city's architectural uniqueness can be attributed to a variety of factors, including its geographical location, historical events, and cultural influences such as the Gold Rush, the Victorian Era, and the Beaux Arts Movement.  This has resulted in unique home styles throughout the city that are characteristic of its charm. Over the years I have worked on my San Francisco collection and for the first time I am presenting it here…
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22Jan 2024 by Leisa
What Personalized Closing Gifts leave a lasting impression on homebuyers?

What Personalized Closing Gifts leave a lasting impression on homebuyers?

New Art, News
In the world of real estate, a little something extra can go a long way. When it comes to saying thank you to your clients, why not go beyond the usual and give them something truly special? Imagine the joy on their faces when they receive a custom-made portrait of their new home, a unique piece of art that captures the essence of their journey. Unique House Portrait Gift Think about it – instead of the usual gift basket or generic item, picture your clients unwrapping a handcrafted portrait of their new house. It's not just a decoration; it's a memory that will hang on their wall and remind them of the exciting moment when they first stepped into their dream home. Why House Portraits Stand Out? In a world…
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11Jan 2024 by Leisa
Hand Painted Home Portraits of Los Angeles City

Hand Painted Home Portraits of Los Angeles City

House Portraits, New Art, News
Watercolor Custom House Portraits depicting 20 Los Angeles neighborhoods I spent many years in Los Angeles, America's fourth largest city, living in a variety of neighborhoods and always enjoying the eclectic architecture and diverse nature of the city. And I found there was certainly no shortage of amazing house portrait subjects in Los Angeles city -- in every architectural style imaginable.  The increasing congestion of the metropolis finally became unlivable for us and we left the City of Angels, however I took with me a treasure trove of happy memories. Going back decades, Los Angeles has always been a patchwork of neighborhood enclaves separated by highways, thoroughfares and plenty of hills. There are so many fascinating neighborhoods in L.A. proper that I am concentrating on a favorite that represents many…
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01Dec 2023 by Leisa
Hand Painted Watercolor House Portraits of Clayton, Missouri

Hand Painted Watercolor House Portraits of Clayton, Missouri

New Art, News
Welcome to my Newly Completed Clayton House Portrait Watercolor Series! Clayton, Missouri, a beautiful city in St. Louis County, is part of the greater St. Louis area.  I am particularly fond of Clayton due to its incredible wealth of house portrait subjects. Not only is there an eclectic mix of historic homes in terms of architectural styles, but they are all so uniquely different. The area has provided me with great artistic inspiration for my custom home portraits series. Architectural History of Clayton Clayton, Missouri, has a rich architectural history that reflects its development over time.  Early Settlement began in the 1800’s when Clayton was initially established as a rural area with farms and small settlements. The architectural style of this period often included simple vernacular structures, reflecting the rural…
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14Nov 2023 by Leisa
City of St. Louis House Portraits and Surrounding Cities

City of St. Louis House Portraits and Surrounding Cities

House Portraits, News
First Phase of House Portrait Series of Greater St. Louis Completed! [caption id="attachment_37213" align="aligncenter" width="2225"] Class St. Louis historic building: original painting of Spine Cafe and Book Store in the Benton Park neighborhood, St. Loui[/caption] Watercolor paintings covering 21 distinct areas Situated on the banks of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, St. Louis became the “Gateway to the West” in the 19th century for the adventurers and settlers following the path of Lewis and Clark into the new frontier. Early architecture in St. Louis had strong French influences along with Victorian, Italianate, Federal and Colonial styles. Tudor homes became popular in St. Louis in the early 1900s. This architectural mix is reflected in neighborhoods like Benton Park, Lafayette Square and Carondelet. I can truly say that the the residents in this…
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07Nov 2023 by Leisa
Lake Bluff Illinois House Portrait Collection

Lake Bluff Illinois House Portrait Collection

News
The first of my custom house portraits portraying homes in Lake Bluff IL. I really enjoyed wandering through Lake Bluff and viewing the eclectic mix of homes there.  Lake Bluff reminded me of a typical New England village with its old-fashioned corner store and interesting boutique stores, hotels and restaurants. Additionally, one can find a wonderful array of shingled historic home right in heart of Old Town Lake Bluff. As you can see here, I  selected a number of interesting homes to create pen and watercolor house portraits of and start building my Lake Bluff hand-painted watercolor house portraits series. [caption id="attachment_37116" align="aligncenter" width="988"] Queen Anne watercolor house portrait found on Sunrise Ave, Lake Bluff[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37111" align="aligncenter" width="1375"] Lake Bluff Victorian style watercolor painting on E. North Ave, Lake…
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