10Mar 2026 by Leisa
Watercolor Painting of iconic Mud House Coffee House, St Louis MO

Watercolor Painting of iconic Mud House Coffee House, St Louis MO

Historic Perservation, Historic Preservation, Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, New Art
Instead of clamoring for awards, why not give one instead? I know this is a whole new way for artists to look at things, but many years ago I observed talented artists constantly entering competitions and then waiting for the judges to make their pronouncements. Being that  I have always found it more rewarding to give and to serve than to receive and hope for recognition, I decided to create my own award. So in 2013 I launched the Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award as my way of giving back to those who work tirelessly to preserve the architectural legacy in this country.  And since moving to Benton Park in St. Louis a couple of years ago, I have been working to honor and build this neighborhood and city, through…
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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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09Apr 2025 by Leisa
House Portraits Old Town Alexandria VA

House Portraits Old Town Alexandria VA

Historic Preservation, House Portraits, News
Pen and Watercolor Old Town Home Memories Old Town Alexandria, has always been a special place for me as it is where I lived and launched my art career 15 years ago.   Due to the success of my national coffee table book which includes portraits of homes and historic buildings in all 50 states, I am now focusing on creating more work to include in an art book that features my portraits of Alexandria with emphasis on Old Town, the historic hub of the area. Known for its rich history and beautifully preserved architecture,  some of the buildings in Old Town date back to the  late 18th century. Lee/Fenall House: I just completed this protrait of the Lee-Fendall House, which was built in 1784. General Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee,…
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26Feb 2025 by Leisa
Crumbling Church becomes Vibrant Community Art Center

Crumbling Church becomes Vibrant Community Art Center

Historic Preservation, News
This is the story of an old building in Grand Rapids Michigan, that is now being transformed and restored to its former glory. A couple of months ago, while in Grand Rapids we stopped in to see the progress being made on a historic preservation project that is very near and dear to my heart.  This beautiful 150-year-old church at Hermitage at Diamond, in the heart of Grand Rapids, was once a forlorn and dilapidated structure. That's when we lived a few blocks away in Grand Rapids. And that was before community leader, preservationist and friend, Carol Moore, took on the project.  She has rescued a number of landmark buildings in the area over the last three decades and this is her most ambitious project to date. She is currently…
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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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26Oct 2022 by Leisa
Featuring a Historic Preservation Hero!

Featuring a Historic Preservation Hero!

Historic Perservation, Historic Preservation, News
Highlighting the woman behind the transformation of a historic Grand Rapids MI Church into a community art center [caption id="attachment_30664" align="alignright" width="491"] The painting of what will become a vibrant art center on Hermitage and Diamond in the East Hills neighborhood[/caption] 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…
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26Jul 2022 by Leisa
Update: Historic Grand Rapids Church Transforming into Art Center

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…
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