News Archives

13Sep 2022 by Leisa

A Happy Ever After Story of a Home. . .

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, News

From train wreck to grand painted lady! I get to meet a lot of great houses with my occupation, but I also have the pleasure of meeting many wonderful homeowners. This is one such homeowner in Wilmette, Illinois. The beginning of their “once upon a time’ story was July 7, 1995, when Tim and his wife Pam took on a dilapidated Victorian built in 1893. The home had unfortunately been stripped of virtually all its charming Victorian “gingerbread” features. And like others who tackle such a herculean task, the couple battled through whatever was thrown at them to make their home beautiful once more – while bringing up a family at the same time. Here's how their home looked when they purchased it. [caption id="attachment_31468" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The forlorn looking…

29Aug 2022 by Leisa

Helping Artists Succeed!

News, The Flourishing Artist

Creating a Niche Market for your art. While in Lansing MI a couple of weeks ago, and before heading down to St. Louis, I had the honor of facilitating a workshop for a dozen extremely talented local artists. I am an affiliate member of a wonderful arts administration firm based in Lansing called Opportunity Arts LLC, and the founder of this organization, Mike Mariott, organized the event. The workshop took place at the famous Lansing heritage landmark, Turner-Dodge House, and the theme was how to create a niche market for ones art. I also gave tips regarding how to making your living as an artist as well as creating consistent reliable income as a career artist. What a great group of artists, all with their own creative skills and diverse…

26Aug 2022 by Leisa

Meet me in St. Louis … the house that was

Historic Perservation, News

The sad demise of a historic beauty . . . Most of us know the famous song, "Meet me in St. Louis" sung by Judy Garland. It's the theme song of the movie of the same title which was released in 1945. Being that I am now here in St. Louis, I decided I had it was time to get in the swing of things so I watched this old classic. It's hard to imagine life actually being the way it is depicted, but never-the-less it was certainly entertaining. The movie is based on author Sally Benson's collection of short stories which she wrote for The New Yorker. Benson's maiden name was Smith, and she wrote about her life on Kensington Avenue, St. Louis in the late 1800s and early 1900s.…

17Aug 2022 by Leisa

Our New Adventure Begins. . . in St. Louis, Missouri!

News

As is well known, my husband Bruce and I have lived in all parts of the United States. In fact in 2017 we moved to St. Louis for a few months, and while we loved it there we decided that Florida would be a better choice. So off we went. How wrong we were and the grand old city of St. Louis --with its myriad of art, history and cultural diversity-- called us back. So it's now official and to prove it, we have even purchased a beautiful 1911 home in Benton Park, one of the most historic neighborhoods in the city. Strangely, almost every time we announce the fact we have moved to St. Louis -- even to locals -- their first response is, "Really?" and their next response…

26Jul 2022 by Leisa

Update: Historic Grand Rapids Church Transforming into Art Center

Historic Perservation, Historic Preservation, News

This is a project I am honored to be involved in: the ongoing transformation of a once vacant and crumbling historic church which is now being turned into a vibrant art center that the entire Grand Rapids community can enjoy. Just over a year ago, I created this painting of the church at 1009 Hermitage St SE in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids, in support of the renovation efforts. My painting depicts how the church will look when fully completed, freshly painted, a new roof and restored windows with all the original stained glass beauty fully in tact once more. At the time I lived only a few blocks away from the church. A couple of weeks ago, a Grand Rapids friend asked me how the project is coming…

20Jul 2022 by Leisa

Leisa Collins Featured on Go Solo

Media, News

Hi all! I'm thrilled to have been asked to do an interview with Go Solo by Subkit. They produce terrific articles and I was honored to make an appearance on their site a couple days ago. The piece is called, "Architectural Art is My Artistic Passion - Leisa Collins." I've included an excerpt below. You can read the entire article at https://gosolo.subkit.com/leisa-collins-art/ Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fine arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Leisa Collins, founder of Leisa Collins Art, located in St. Louis, MO, USA. What's your business, and who are your customers? I specialize in architectural art and have created portraits of historic homes and buildings in every state across the country. I am passionate about saving…

14Jul 2022 by Leisa

My Iconic Architecture Series of New York City!

New Art, News

Of all the cities in the USA, I have more iconic paintings of New York architecture than any other location. That’s not too surprising when you consider that there are probably more recognizable American icons in NYC than any other city and famous landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge immediately come to mind. In this article I include my six New York City iconic paintings! History of New York City But first a little history of this great city. It was given its name in 1664 when the British seized New Amsterdam from the Dutch. The population of New York City grew larger and more diverse over the next century and by the 1800s New York was one of the nation’s most…

30Jun 2022 by Leisa

An Artistic Celebration of the United States

Historic Perservation, News

When I set the goal for myself of painting homes in all 50 states, it was like a love letter to my adopted country. As many of you know, I am a native of New Zealand, but when I visited the United States, I felt completely at home and fell in love with the people, the geography, history and its architecture. I hope you enjoy this video which shows my journey through America and all the effort and commitment it took to fulfill my mission! [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FYwdawUE9o[/embed] If you would like to learn more about my 50 States project, you may be interested in my book, Hand Painted Homes: An Artist's Pen & Watercolor Journey Across America, available on my website and Amazon (links below). Hope you all have a very…

21Jun 2022 by Leisa

Celebrating Summer and Getting Out and About

New Art, News

Summer Scenes with House Portrait Backdrops. For those of us on the east coast, the warmer weather and longer summer days are truly a blessing. These paintings are a celebration of summer and getting out and about. They include simple, enjoyable, every-day activities that we should never take for granted. From kids playing in the streets, to walking the dog and an inquisitive boy checking out a free little library. All have architectural backdrops that represent life and people in the city -- weather in urban areas or quiet suburbs. [caption id="attachment_17352" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Kids playing in Alexandria, VA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17353" align="aligncenter" width="1724"] Ball game in Philadelphia, PA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17356" align="aligncenter" width="1717"] Phone conversation in Brooklyn, NY[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17359" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Surprise flowers in Washington, DC[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17358" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Walking…

14Jun 2022 by Leisa

Hot off the Easel: Vibrant Community Series Old Town Lansing, Michigan

Historic Perservation, New Art, News

My brand new technique to show off lively historic communities. These are the first three paintings in this series where I am exploring new techniques and mediums. Old Town Lansing, Michigan, and its artsy historic vibe, inspired me to explore its interesting urban vistas and along the way I discovered some enticing nooks and crannies. Introduction to Old Town Lansing: Lansing, the capital city of Michigan, was incorporated in 1859 and the city was formerly a major center of the automobile industry. The historic homes and neighborhoods around the city tell the story of its rich past. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old Town Lansing is located in the northern end of Lansing. It overlooks the Grand River and a winding walking and biking trail. The district was established in the mid-19th…