30Jun 2022 by Leisa

House portraits in all 50 states – portraying the architectural legacy of the USA

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…
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21Jun 2022 by Leisa
Celebrating Summer and Getting Out and About

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…
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14Jun 2022 by Leisa
Hot off the Easel: Vibrant Community Series Old Town Lansing, Michigan

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…
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24May 2022 by Leisa
Celebrating Victorian Era Architecture

Celebrating Victorian Era Architecture

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, News
Happy Birthday Queen Victoria! Today we celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819.  She became queen at the tender age of 18 and gave the Victorian era its name. During her six-decade rule she was responsible for the creation of the British Empire, becoming one of Britain’s most famous monarchs. Description of Victorian Architecture Victorian architecture is an over-riding term that describes the many ornate architectural styles that came into being during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901. Likewise, the Victorian era of architecture includes several different styles, including Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Shingle, Second Empire, Folk Victorian, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne and Italianate style. The Victorian era is marked with decorative details and ornamentation, rejecting the practical simplicity of previous architectural eras.…
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17May 2022 by Leisa
Architectural paintings of homes – Before & After

Architectural paintings of homes – Before & After

House Portraits, News
Some of my most challenging watercolor house portraits . . . I'm making a plug for all artists who like me, make their living from ORIGINAL hand-crafted one of a kind art.  Yes I am talking about the "old-school" way of doing things where only ONE painting was created of a subject, brought about by the skilled hands of artists and crafts-people alike. People today often talk about simply "photo-shopping" things away, or creating "digitally-modified" art.  My view is that while this is the "easy" way to do things, there is too much reliance on this route. Here one good reason why.  Have a look at this stunning Queen Anne home in Alameda CA which I recently completed. It was built in the 1870's and has been in the family…
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28Apr 2022 by Leisa
Unveiling my Denver House Portrait Collection

Unveiling my Denver House Portrait Collection

Coffee Table Book, House Portraits, News
The breathtaking beauty of Colorado From the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is a land of vast geographic contrasts that attracts outdoor adventurers, wilderness lovers and winter sports enthusiasts. However, one can also find towering cities, monumental historic landmarks, charming small towns and windswept ghost towns.   I have always loved Colorado. With its soaring mountains and lakes it reminds me of my homeland of New Zealand.  I include a number of Colorado homes in my coffee table book Hand Painted Homes: An Artist's Pen and Watercolor Journey Across America  including this stunning log cabin home in Crested Butte in the Rocky Mountains.  Recently The Mountain Ear newspaper in Nederland, CO, featured a story about my book and my feelings about Colorado. [caption id="attachment_27648" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Log home in…
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20Apr 2022 by Leisa
Announcing the First of my Industrial Architecture Painting Series

Announcing the First of my Industrial Architecture Painting Series

Historic Perservation, New Art, News
The Rugged Beauty of Industrial Architecture As I travel across the country -- whether through cities or out in the wilderness -- I am becoming increasingly aware of the remnants of America’s industrial architecture and have been inspired by the rugged beauty of their forms.  After all, at the root of this country’s progress over the last two centuries, were the factories built to produce needed goods – from the finest linens to firearms -- for a rapidly growing nation. I have just completed the first three paintings in this series. As you can see, the technique I use is a far cry from the fine detailed pen and watercolors of my signature house portraits, Iconic American Architecture series and more. This first pair of original paintings evolved from various…
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17Apr 2022 by Leisa
Media on my national coffee table book

Media on my national coffee table book

Coffee Table Book, Media, News
  My artistic passion has always been to highlight the beautiful architecture in this country – especially homes and historic buildings. This led me on a ten-year project to create paintings of homes in all 50 states, which culminated in my coffee table book, entitled Hand Painted Homes: An Artist's Pen and Watercolor Journey Across America. I have been thrilled by the response to the book and here are a few stories in the media   Media about Hand Painted Homes Coffee Table Book   AN ARTIST’S LABOR OF LOVE October 2021 By Omayra Acevedo “It’s difficult for me to write anything that’s not from my heart. When I was asked to write a story on Ms. Leisa Collins and her coffee table book, Hand Painted Homes: An Artist’s Pen…
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12Apr 2022 by Leisa
Painting of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello: Latest in my Iconic American Series

Painting of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello: Latest in my Iconic American Series

Historic Perservation, New Art, News
Monticello, “Little Mountain,” was home to Thomas Jefferson from 1770 to 1826. It was also the architectural masterpiece of the author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. Renowned as one of America’s first and finest architects, Thomas Jefferson created, rebuilt, and revised the house throughout his long life.  The home reflects the personality of Jefferson, a Renaissance man and one of the Founding Fathers. [caption id="attachment_29299" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Painting of Monticello, the latest in my Iconic American Architecture series[/caption] History of Monticello Jefferson began building Monticello in 1769 on the plantation that he inherited from his father.  Located it on top of a hill, the original eight-room main house was still incomplete in the 1780s.  Regardless, the sophistication of Jefferson’s design impressed European visitors. …
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10Apr 2022 by Leisa
First Paintings of Historic Homes in German Village, Columbus OH

First Paintings of Historic Homes in German Village, Columbus OH

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, News
A trip through Columbus Ohio is never complete for my husband and me until we stop in and visit the charming town of German Village. It a historic neighborhood, situated just south of the city's downtown.  As the name suggests, it was settled by a large number of German immigrants in the early-to-mid-19th century.  At one time these immigrants totaled close to a third of the city's entire population. I am now well into a series of house portraits depicting some of my favorite homes in the area, as part of a series of 50 paintings of homes and historic buildings I have now created within the greater Columbus area. The city of Columbus has a fascinating history, but in this article I am concentrating on the earliest residential area in the…
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