New Video – Take an architecture tour of all 50 States!

New Video – Take an architecture tour of all 50 States!

News
Moving onto the next step -- my coffee table book! At the end of 2018 I achieved my dream of creating portraits of homes and historic buildings in every state across the USA.  It took some years to do it, not to mention an estimated 20,000 miles of travel. In the process I created around 2500 portraits in 35 architectural styles.  In addition to homes, I have painted city halls, churches, old school houses, family barns, lake homes and holiday cabins. Now I am onto my next target for 2019 . . . the compilation and publishing of my coffee table book! In the mean time I have distilled those years into a short zippy video that takes you on a whistle-stop  architectural tour across the USA and shows a…
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My favorite house portrait homes of 2018!

My favorite house portrait homes of 2018!

House Portraits, News
Thanks to all you awesome home owners and my wonderful house portrait clients! It's hard to believe that 2018 is now coming to a close. It's been a great year. Full of creativity and new adventures. I have to say, it's a wonderful thing to make one's living doing what you are passionate about, but I couldn't do it without you and your support of original art. So thank you very much for that. I have selected some of my favorite homes, all in different categories.  Actually it's pretty well impossible to narrow it down to such a few as there is always somewhat of a love affair with every single house portrait I create!  I hope you enjoy my selection and that it gives you a sense of the…
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Coffee Table Book – 50 States Now Done!

Coffee Table Book – 50 States Now Done!

Coffee Table Book, News
Moving onto the next step... Over the years I’ve travelled an estimated 20,000 miles and created around 2,500 portraits of homes and historic buildings. These range from homes in 35 different architectural styles, as well as city halls, churches, old school houses, family barns, lake homes and holiday cabins. I have always been fascinated with the changes in architectural styles as I travel across the country, especially when it comes to where people live, because to me, architecture is about people, family and community. The reasons for those changes are as varied as local weather conditions, cultural diversity and available building resources such as local stone, clay, brick and timber. Examples are stucco Spanish Revivals in California, stunning log cabins in Colorado, adobe dwellings in Arizona and one can find…
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Historic Preservation Event and my first NZ recipient!

Historic Preservation Event and my first NZ recipient!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News
Historic Preservation Hero - James Blackburne! In additional to spending valuable time with my family, I decided to celebrate my recent visit to New Zealand with the presentation of my Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award to an extremely deserving individual. While national in scope, James Blackburne just happens to be based in the city of Gisborne where my family lives. James is an architect whose passion is to see members of the community engaged in architectural preservation on all levels. A Gisborne native, he is the President of Historic Places Aotearoa Inc. and is the Chairman of Historic Places Tairawhiti Inc. and Tairawhiti Heritage Trust.  He is a strong advocate for the protection and restoration of heritage buildings and has taken a leading role in a number of stellar preservation…
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Announcing my Annual Christmas Special!

House Portraits, News
10% OFF All Commissioned Original House Portraits  with a further  10% OFF For Existing Clients    Homes are like people, they have their own special memories and personality.  From a classic craftsman,   to a elegant Tudor that has stood the test of time, to a charming family cottage in the country... a hand crafted painting of any home - no matter how grand or humble - will mean the world to someone this Christmas! There is nothing as unique or personal than a painting of one's home. Especially one that captures all the detail and character of the home and garden as well as all those special watercolor memories. Surprise a loved one this Christmas with this one of a kind gift. It's not that far from Christmas! Please feel free…
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Announcing my next Flourishing Artist Workshop!

Announcing my next Flourishing Artist Workshop!

News, The Flourishing Artist
  Flourishing Artist Workshop Sunday October 7 at my studio in Clearwater After working professionally as an artist for many years, and knowing the struggles of other artists, I started my Flourishing Artist Workshops in Los Angeles three years ago to offer my help. Due to their success, I began holding local workshops wherever my studio was based, which is currently in Clearwater FL. Workshop Purpose:  To help visual artists to find success and take positive action to make their living from their art. “Starving artist” myths abound and while it is not always easy, it is possible and there are solutions. Focus of this workshop: The basic actions that are the foundation to making one’s living from one’s art. How to find and establish a niche market for your art. Meeting with…
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NEWSFLASH!  Meet my latest historic preservation hero!

NEWSFLASH! Meet my latest historic preservation hero!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News
Presentation of my award in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I am currently in Florida and in travel mode, while working on new house portrait subjects for my coffee table book. I soon discovered that the most unique thing about Florida architecture is the color palette  – from soft coastal pastels to striking bursts of orange, blue and gold. [caption id="attachment_7990" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Florida Beach Cottages[/caption] I was introduced to the laid back coastal city of Tarpon Springs by a friend who lives there. Not only is it the most historic city in the state but Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US!  And being that I love Greece ... I decided to look further.  In the early 1900’s sponge diving was introduced to…
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Helping to save the historic Washington Canoe Club!

Helping to save the historic Washington Canoe Club!

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News
My painting of this Potomac architectural treasure! I recently had the honor of being commissioned to do a painting of the famous Washington Canoe Club. Nestled in a wooded setting on the shores of the Potomac River, the Club is part of the Georgetown neighborhood.  I thought you might be interested in seeing this painting and in learning a little about the Club’s rich history, which I just became aware of after reading the Washington Canoe Club's website. I further learned that the Club is in the midst of a historic effort to restore their boathouse, which has twice been identified by the DC Preservation League in its annual list of “Endangered Places.”   I have decided to help this vital cause. I am selling high quality prints of this original painting…
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What do you plan to create in 2017?

What do you plan to create in 2017?

News
The holiday season is now well and truly over, and a brand new year lays out before us.  What will it bring? I don't usually get too philosophical with these emails, I just stick to my art. However in looking forward into 2017, I realized that there is one word that has everything to with art and also has everything to do with the very essence of life, and that word is CREATE! People tend to think that creativeness is just something that has to do with "gifted" people, the painter, songwriter or author. But when you think about it, creating is an integral part of living.  Creativeness is something that we all have, to some degree or another. The Merrian Webster dictionary tells us that CREATE means: To produce…
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Detroit: The beauty of crumbling architecture …

Detroit: The beauty of crumbling architecture …

News
No this is NOT bombed out Berlin after WWII, or images from a SiFi movie! It is truly sickening and tragic. Today I saw these abandoned forlorn mansions, churches and houses.  The good news?  A lot of folks in Detroit are  now working to do something about it and I will be joining forces with them to lend a helping hand. I am doing a Detroit painting as part of my new Architectural Fusion series. So this can officially be a "before" post with more good news to come! This is a great article in the Huffington Post about the economic and cultural revival that is now underway. Leisa
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