07Jul 2025 by Leisa
Working on my Dunedin House Portrait Collection

Working on my Dunedin House Portrait Collection

Coffee Table Book, Historic Preservation, House Portraits, News
My Dunedin Connection. . .  Growing up in New Zealand, I always longed to visit Dunedin Scotland.  Although I have since travelled all over England, I still haven't made it there.  But ironically, Dunedin, New Zealand, was one of the first cities I explored on my travelling artistic adventure throughout NZ in the late 70's. [caption id="attachment_52345" align="alignleft" width="400"] Dunedin, New Zealand has same coastal vibe as Dunedin FL[/caption] Since then I have to come to realize that Dunedin Florida has some stark similiarites. They are both situated on the coast, and both have very interesting architecture, which for me is always a main draw. Dunedin NZ, the oldest city in the country, was founded by Scottish settlers and its name also derives from the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh,…
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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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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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10Mar 2021 by Leisa
Home portraits in Seattle and surrounding areas of WA

Home portraits in Seattle and surrounding areas of WA

Coffee Table Book, House Portraits
My Seattle and Washington State House Portrait Collection! Much of Washington is focused on the deep waters of Puget Sound. First settled during the early nineteenth century, the state has become home to substantial Hispanic and Asian ethnic minorities. This cultural variety manifested itself in numerous architectural styles --from homes, to churches and to the Evergreen State’s public buildings. Washington’s Architectural Styles The architecture of Washington State mirrors its uniquely diverse landscape. Like its two distinct climate zones, the Evergreen State covers everything from Craftsman to Italian Renaissance Revival designs. In a state famous for its natural splendor, Washington is known for its National Park Service rustic design. From Bellingham to Mount Rainier, one can find structures made from local materials like logs and stone, allowing the public buildings to…
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13Feb 2021 by Leisa
Marin County House Portraits Blending with Nature

Marin County House Portraits Blending with Nature

Coffee Table Book, House Portraits
The Beginnings of Marin County Home Portrait Collection Marin County is a magical place that reminds me of my homeland of New Zealand, especially the hillside city of Auckland, where I grew up and first became interested in historic homes and architecture. [caption id="attachment_24726" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Hillside homes in Greenbrae, Marin Country, CA[/caption] Located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it sits across from the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Founded in 1850, Marin County is one of the original 27 counties of California.  Its founding followed shortly after the adoption of the California Constitution of 1849 and just months before the state was admitted to the Union. Marin County is the smallest of the San Francisco Bay Area counties, both in size and population. It's natural…
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24Sep 2020 by Leisa
Pen and watercolor barn in Tennessee … its in my upcoming book!

Pen and watercolor barn in Tennessee … its in my upcoming book!

Coffee Table Book
No, I don't just paint houses.... anything that is in any way architectural and crosses my path is liable to be captured. These days I am blessed to get a constant flow of commissioned custom portrait work, such as this gorgeous barn in rural Tennessee. It is still an operating farm and has been in the same family for over a hundred years. And of course it will be featured in my coffee table book that will be released later this year so be on the lookout!
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12Dec 2018 by Leisa
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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