10Jul 2023 by Leisa
Visit my new sunroom studio in historic Benton Park!

Visit my new sunroom studio in historic Benton Park!

News
Open Studio THIS SUNDAY, JULY 16TH: 1 - 4 PM   ---  2915 Missouri Ave, St. Louis * Iconic St. Louis paintings and my Love Me Don’t Leave Me series of STL abandoned buildings on display * Slide show of my greater St. Louis house portrait collection (covering 30 areas and counting. . .) * All are welcome! Relaxed and causal affair. Light refreshments served. Any questions: email leisa@leisacollins.com or call (703) 598-7360
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13Jun 2023 by Leisa
My growing international house portrait collection

My growing international house portrait collection

House Portraits, News
The Power of Word of Mouth . . . Since I began capturing the personalities of architectural subjects in pen and watercolor a decade ago, I have truly come to appreciate the power of word of mouth. Nothing makes we prouder to getting referrals from my clients and I would like to thank all of you who have helped spread the word about my work. As you know, my focus has been on architectural paintings of homes and historic buildings in all 50 states across the USA, and indeed my coffee table book, Hand Painted Homes: An Artist’s Pen and Watercolor Journey Across America, documents that story. However, I realized the other day that through word of mouth alone, I have now created over 20 commissioned paintings of interesting homes…
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12Apr 2023 by Leisa
NEWSFLASH! My first St. Louis Art show!

NEWSFLASH! My first St. Louis Art show!

News
seen & found art show AND YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED! I am honored to join forces with three wonderful Benton Park artists, Don Murphy, Phyllis Terry Friedman and Scott Bean for this one-day pop up show on Sunday, April 23, between 11 - 7 pm with a wine&cheese reception between 6 - 7 pm. We all share a passion to amplify and celebrate some of St. Louis’ hidden gems.  Featured media includes painting, prints, assemblages and photography.   Scott Bean, paintings/prints “I love wild shadows, old architecture, designed spaces like parks as well as industrial scenes. Discovering St. Louis has been great for my art making. Nighttime corners of Soulard, twilight in Benton Park, the storefronts of Cherokee Street have all inspired my work for this show. I am glad…
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04Apr 2023 by Leisa
A Greek Revival treasure saved from demolition in the final hour

A Greek Revival treasure saved from demolition in the final hour

Historic Perservation, New Art, News
One of the gems of St. Louis architecture I have been concentrating lately on my Love Me Don’t Leave Me series in order to shine the light on the plight of abandoned buildings, many of which are now sadly teetering on the brink of final death and destruction. However, I decided I needed a break to put my attention onto creating a painting of a stunning historic building that instead has a happy ending.  It was saved from demolition in the final hour, and now, 60 years later it serves as a house museum in St. Louis. Allow me to introduce to you my latest painting, the Chatillon-DeMenil House, one of the gems of St. Louis architecture! [caption id="attachment_34298" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Chatillon-DeMenil House[/caption] Although the Chatillon-DeMenil House sits right in…
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03Apr 2023 by Leisa
Introducing another piece in my abandoned building series

Introducing another piece in my abandoned building series

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, New Art, News
Happy Spring my friends! It is no secret that I am passionate about saving historic buildings.  I consider them works of art and after all, architecture is about people. Our built history is created by people and it is people that give life to brick and mortar. Instead, one of the key reasons I created my coffee table book, Hand Painted Homes - An Artist's Pen and Watercolor Journey Across America,  (which I released in 2021) was to raise awareness of the fact that hundreds of historic homes and buildings are being torn down every day in this country.  I decided to document beautiful vintage structures before it was too late. Sadly, many of the homes that I feature in my book, no longer stand today. Last August I moved…
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14Feb 2023 by Leisa
The Despair of Abandoned Homes

The Despair of Abandoned Homes

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, New Art, News
Happy Valentine’s Day friends! It is no secret that I have a love affair with saving historic buildings.  I consider them works of art and after all, architecture is about people. Our built history is created by people and it is people that give brick and mortar life. I moved to St. Louis seven months ago knowing that one of the biggest problems confronting this city is abandoned homes and buildings.  And while the city and preservation advocates have worked diligently over the years to improve this situation, today out of a total of 129,500 properties, a whopping 25,000 are considered vacant and abandoned. As I drive around the city, it breaks my heart to see crumbling and discarded buildings, however their beauty and form can still be seen behind…
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16Jan 2023 by Leisa
My Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

My Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Historic Perservation, New Art, News
The birth home of a truly great American Last year, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day, I painted this portrait of the Atlanta, Georgia home where the great orator, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and leader of the American civil rights movement was born. I wanted to pay my respect and celebrate his life and legacy the best way I know how — with my paintbrush.   Martin Luther King Jr. (originally named Michael Jr.) was born on the second floor of this clapboard Victorian house on January 15, 1929, and he lived there for the first twelve years of his life. His home was a happy one, and he once said, “I grew up in a family where love was central and where lovely relationships were ever present.” Located…
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08Jan 2023 by Leisa
2022: Year in Review

2022: Year in Review

New Art, News
Hello friends, Now that the whirl of the holiday season is over, I decided it was time to stop for a minute and reflect on achievements of 2022, before I become completely engulfed in the activities of 2023! By August we were on our way to our next adventure and by September we had settled into our newly acquired fully renovated historic home in St. Louis MO - a wildly underrated city that we have decided to make our home. In additional to creating new art in 2022, Bruce and I continued our road trip tradition, discovering new cities, towns and communities with many new and wonderful friends made along the way. Please enjoy my whistle-stop re-cap of 2022! JANUARY & FEBRUARY:   EXPANDED MY ICONIC AMERICAN SERIES  Here are some…
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01Dec 2022 by Leisa
The Joy of Living in a Historic Neighborhood

The Joy of Living in a Historic Neighborhood

Historic Perservation, Historic Preservation, New Art, News
Painting a local bookstore and cafe. Just two blocks away from our home, sitting right on the edge of Benton Park with a tranquil view of the lake from the outdoor patio, is Spine Bookstore and Café. [caption id="attachment_32691" align="aligncenter" width="1483"] The latest painting in my Benton Park neighborhood series, Spine Bookstore & Cafe[/caption]   I has provided a nice walkable respite for me when I need a break – and a good coffee.  One can often find the owner, Mark Pannebecker, behind the bar and he is always good for a yarn and a laugh. In the evenings, Spine offers open mic, live music, book readings and poetry and you can grab a beer, wine or one of their cocktail specials. In fact, Spine was voted Best Indy Bookstore…
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09Nov 2022 by Leisa
New Home and Studio in St. Louis!

New Home and Studio in St. Louis!

News
Leaving Michigan . . . . It was a blustery summer day and finally all signs of city life were now behind us. I was at the wheel. Bruce seemed to be aimlessly flicking through his phone. Lush green trees and fields dotted with red barns, farmhouses and haystacks lay before me. This was pure Michigan at its best!  We were headed due south for a welcome break in Florida and planned to make camp for the night in German Village, Columbus.  We had promised ourselves a nice hotel and I was dreaming about the hot tub that awaited us. . . Suddenly, the idyllic silence was broken.  "I found it!" exclaimed Bruce excitedly.  "It's just been listed - it's the house we've been looking for!" We had already decided…
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