18Jul 2013 by Leisa

My New Studio in South Pasadena!

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Hello! Just wanted to let everyone know I have been busy finding and moving into my new digs the past few weeks. Bruce and I have a great new apartment/studio in South Pasadena! It is an artist's dream! South Pasadena is great because it has tremendous historical properties and is located conveniently to tour such in the greater LA area. The city website describes the area as follows: "The City of South Pasadena is a charming community, situated only six miles from downtown Los Angeles. Called the City of Trees, the area is known for its stunning homes, unique small businesses, and top quality schools. South Pasadena’s diverse population of about 25,000 occupies a mere 3.44 square miles of flatlands and hillsides on the west side of the San Gabriel…
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28Apr 2013 by Leisa
USA Historic Preservation Tour — Historically Preserved Rock Formations in Colorado!

USA Historic Preservation Tour — Historically Preserved Rock Formations in Colorado!

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Restored Old Homes in Historic Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, Colorado Prior to arriving in Colorado Springs we had to traverse the Great Plains of Midwest America. You can really see how they came to be called that.  Endless expanses of wide open space!  You could almost see the buffalo herds roaming the plains as they used to in days gone by, with Indian hunters in fast pursuit!  And imagine what it must have been like for new settlers coming across the plains in wagons to make their home there and start a new life! Now that would take some courage. Today this is cattle grazing country mainly as it is too dry to grow crops.  One could see the odd ranch house from time to time, but otherwise is…
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26Apr 2013 by Leisa
USA Historic Preservation Tour – Through Nebraska and into Missouri

USA Historic Preservation Tour – Through Nebraska and into Missouri

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The next leg of our journey was in a south west direction, leaving Iowa and briefly touring through Nebraska heading for our next Historic Preservation Award Event  in the city of Independence, Missouri.  Similar to its eastern neighbor of Iowa, Nebraska  is part of the mid-western corn belt.  However from time to time the tilled corn fields were broken up by patches of gorgeous purple lavender fields. [caption id="attachment_3318" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Driving through purple fields in rural Nebraska[/caption] Arriving in Independence, we took the opportunity to explore the historic city center and check out local architecture.  We found  stately Victorians (such as the boyhood home of President Harry Truman who grew up in Independence. ) and Queen Anns, large Craftsman homes and smaller bungalows. [caption id="attachment_3319" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Historic home…
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24Apr 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour – How to Paint Historic Buildings Workshop

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Historic Preservation Alive and Well in Woodbine, Iowa We arrived mid-afternoon in Woodbine, the location of my third Historic Preservation Award the following day.  The town of Woodbine, with a total population of just under 1500, is a wonderful success story of main street revitalization through a state funded program and a lot of hard work by Woodbine locals. As we traveled across the state it was clear that both urban and rural Iowa have a tremendous number of unique historic properties and yet the average citizen, as well as many officials, have no clue of the historic treasures that abound in their state. Too many homes and buildings have already been tossed to the scrap heap. I have especially noted this heartbreaking trend within smaller towns and communities, however…
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24Apr 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour – Old Homes and Buildings Across Rural Iowa

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Old Homes, Buildings and Barns Our next stop is the small rural town of Woodbine, on the western edge of Iowa, a drive of just over 300 miles. Statistics show that Iowa's population has grown increasingly urban in the past decade as residents continue to leave rural counties and flock to a handful of larger cities. The indicators can be seen in the architecture. While we passed a number of beautiful old Victorian and Craftsman farmhouses, others, like this long forsaken home, were in ruin. Iowa, a huge corn producing state, is part of the Corn Belt, a region of the Midwestern United States where corn is the predominant crop.  The U.S. produces 40% of the world crop.  With spring fast approaching, the fields were tilled and ready for the…
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11Apr 2013 by Leisa
Old Homes made New!

Old Homes made New!

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Restoring Old Homes and Preserving the Past! I have always been a believer in preserving the character and charm of beautiful old buildings that were built in former times when quality and craftsmanship were cherished and even expected!  That's why the majority of the homes I have painted around the country are historic homes. I also know the work, time and money that has to be poured into these homes.  One can see the love and pure creation oozing out of these old homes. Here are two examples of two homes in Lansing that serve as classic examples of such restoration. In each case I chose them as house portrait subjects last year when my husband Bruce and I were in Lansing, and I put the finishing touches on them…
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03Apr 2013 by Leisa
Repurposing a Lansing Michigan Treasure

Repurposing a Lansing Michigan Treasure

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Clara's, a Wonderful Example of Historic Preservation Even though I have driven past Clara's for years, I tragically had never gone inside. That all changes when Preservation Lansing Director Gretchen Cochran suggested we have lunch there this week.  All round, a very good experience -- including the food, ambiance and of course the company! [caption id="attachment_3080" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Former Train Depot, now Clara's Restaurant[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3083" align="aligncenter" width="464"] Restored entry to the historic Clara's Restaurant in Lansing[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3085" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Inside Clara's Restaurant[/caption] Here's a bit of history about Clara's. Built in 1903, the “Union Depot” on Michigan Avenue was known as an entertainment spot for Lansing locals whose loved to watch the iron horse pull in each day. It’s rumored this station was also used as a backdrop…
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06Mar 2013 by Leisa
House Portraits in 37 states across the USA!

House Portraits in 37 states across the USA!

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Twenty-five different architectural styles so far. . . It is so much fun receiving house portrait commission requests from all over the USA and I love the challenge of tackling every architectural style imaginable -- from an adobe Spanish bungalow I discovered in Arizona, a log cabin in Colorado, a historic Dutch Colonial Bed and Breakfast in Annapolis, Maryland and  a modern river house on the Mississippi in Wisconsin. Take a look at my new slide show on my House Portrait page which consists of 55 images highlighting the range of historical and regional styles I have so far depicted through my favorite house portrait mediums, pen and watercolor.   My goal to create architectural paintings of homes in every state in the USA was born from a  inspirational 12,000…
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07Jan 2013 by Leisa
Our Visit to the Historic Stickley Farm in Morris Plains, New Jersey

Our Visit to the Historic Stickley Farm in Morris Plains, New Jersey

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Gustav Stickley – A Founder of the Arts and Crafts movement in the USA Heading  home to Alexandria Virginia, we only needed to veer slightly to the east in order to experience one of the most notable Craftsman Farms in the USA.  We weren’t disappointed.  I took lots of photos as I plan to capture the site with pen and watercolor. Craftsman Farms is the former country estate of noted turn-of-the-century designer Gustav Stickley, a major proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement in decorative arts, home building and furnishing styles.  Stickley combined the roles of designer and manufacturer, architect, publisher, philosopher, and social critic. He is best known today for his straightforward furniture, sometimes called “mission” or “Craftsman” furniture. [caption id="attachment_2846" align="aligncenter" width="493"] Welcome to Stickley Farm[/caption] Around 1905…
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06Jan 2013 by Leisa
East Aurora, the home of the Roycroft Movement

East Aurora, the home of the Roycroft Movement

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A Magical Stay at The Roycroft Inn The Roycroft Inn, the Roycroft Campus, and indeed the Roycroft way of life and its story began in 1897 with Elbert Hubbard, a legendary man of vision who founded the American Arts and Crafts Movement in East Aurora NY. For more than 20 years, the Roycroft Campus was a center of entrepreneurship, creativity and learning. It was a hub of activity with over five hundred working artisans and craftsmen and drew visitors from faraway places. [caption id="attachment_2832" align="aligncenter" width="543"] Roycroft Campus Copper Shop[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2833" align="aligncenter" width="543"] Original buildings of the Roycroft Campus[/caption] In 1905 The Roycroft Inn was opened to accommodate visitors and artisans looking to experience this emerging community and style. The Inn became a center of activity for this community.…
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