House Portraits Archives

27Feb 2022 by Leisa

Homes of Washington, D.C. – House Portrait Collection

House Portrait Collection of Georgetown in Washington, D.C.! The District of Columbia is one of the most historic area in all of the United States. The city abounds with Neoclassical buildings and monuments and along with Roman, Egyptian and Greek inspired architecture. Today we'll be taking a walk through the streets of Georgetown, Capital Hill Neighborhood and many other nooks of this historically abundant city. To quote an excerpt from my new book, "Hand Painted Homes": "Behind the monuments and stately institutions of Washington, D.C., there is a wealth of history in the architectural style of every home in and around the city. Having resided just a few miles south of the D.C. area, I enjoyed exploring the historic heritage of the city and building my collection of paintings representing…

23Feb 2022 by Leisa

Historic home in German Village, Columbus

House Portraits

29Nov 2021 by Leisa

Traveling through Scenic West Virginia. . .

House Portraits, Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award, News

The most abandoned state in the nation . . .and the restoration of a 200-year-old stone home. West Virginia is one of the nation’s most scenic states, known for beautiful wooded mountains and dramatic falling rivers. The state is also known for Civil War action and coal mining. It is home to grand resorts, a Cass Gilbert designed capitol and gorgeous mansions built during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. West Virginia was originally part of the Virginia Colony established by England in 1606. In 1607 the first settlement of Jamestown was formed and pioneers arrived to make their home in eastern Virginia. West Virginia, however, remained the frontier for some time and West Virginians retain that resilient pioneer spirit today. Abandoned Buildings of West Virginia But despite its…

11Nov 2021 by Leisa

Honoring our Veterans

House Portraits, News

Grateful to those who served. . . Today is Veterans Day and I would like to show my support for our troops through this painting. The yellow ribbons are to thank them for their service and to let them know we appreciate them. On this day we honor our veterans, who fought for our freedoms and risked their lives in doing so. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or deceased—but most importantly, it is a day to give thanks to living veterans who honorably served their country during war or peacetime. There are over 20 million veterans in this country. Sadly, many veterans get lost in “the system”, struggle to adapt to regular life or become homeless once they get back from their service. We should all strive…

06Sep 2021 by Leisa

Favorite 2021 Summer Home and Garden House Portraits

House Portraits, News

Summer Garden Dreams and Home Memories Over the last week I have noticed golden edges forming on the leaves of trees outside my studio window here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The occasional yellow leaf has flittered by, catching the sun on its descent and the air has a new and distinct crispness. Before the summer slips through our fingers and disappears completely, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite summer portraits of 2021 for your enjoyment. Nothing enhances a home portrait more than the gardens of summer. Whether behind a manicured lawn, framed with shade trees, or covered in pots of flowers, the color and vibrance of summer bring a special magic to any home. Even in the city, the tree-lined sidewalks and pocket gardens give…

20Aug 2021 by Leisa

House Portrait Collection of Old Town Alexandria VA

House Portraits, News

Old Town Alexandria . . . my artistic beginnings I have great affection and nostalgia for Old Town Alexandria. It is where I launched my art career 11 years ago and I loved being part of the community and was honored to serve on the board of the Alexandria Arts Commission. Old Town Alexandria is a walkable historic district in the heart of the city of Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749 when Alexandria was a thriving tobacco port in a British colony, it is renowned as George Washington’s hometown (his Mount Vernon estate is located just a few miles away) and still has a wide array of pre-Revolutionary War houses. The main historic styles found in Old Town Alexandria are Georgian, Federal, Victorian, Second Empire and…

22Jul 2021 by Leisa

Why I love historic homes. . .

Historic Perservation, House Portraits, News

Touring a Historic Tudor Home A few days ago I delivered a house portrait II had just finished to Linda and Jim, the owners of a charming brick Tudor cottage in the Heritage Hill neighborhood of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Heritage Hill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its abundance of large Victorian houses. My clients were most gracious and asked if I would like the “grand tour” of their home. “Well of course!” I replied. The experience reminded me just why I love historic homes so much. As I have always said, architecture is about people, and every home with history has a story. The moment I entered their Tudor abode I could sense almost a 100 years of memories embedded in its walls. I thought…

25May 2021 by Leisa

Watercolor Homes of Greater Detroit Area, MI

House Portraits, News

House Portrait Collection of Greater Detroit Area, Michigan! Firstly I would like to say that I am enjoying living in Michigan. The lush greens and wide open spaces remind me of my homeland of New Zealand. It's also nice to be close to family, as my husband was born and breed in this state. "I'd like to share an excerpt from my brand new book, "Hand Painted Homes: An Artist's Pen and Watercolor Journey Across America": "Greater Metro Detroit consists of the three counties that border or contain the city of Detroit. In addition to its automotive heritage, Metro Detroit is known for arts, entertainment, music, sports, architecture and design. A variety of natural landscapes, beaches and Great Lakes parks also make up the area. The outlying suburbs contain homes…

10Mar 2021 by Leisa

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…

07Mar 2021 by Leisa

Homes of Greater Grand Rapids – Neighborhood House Portrait Collections

House Portraits, News

First Stage of my Grand Rapids Historic Home Portrait Series Now Completed! The Greater Grand Rapids Area is home to many beautiful neighborhoods filled with interesting homes full of character. After painting a wide variety of homes in many of these neighborhoods, I thought it was only fitting to showcase these home portrait paintings in a "Greater Grand Rapids Area" neighborhood series. I've added all of my house portraits from each neighborhood, which offers its own unique story and style, while the individual homes speak to the creativity of their architectural designers and homeowner caretakers. Baxter Neighborhood We'll begin our walk through Grand Rapids in the Baxter neighborhood. Wedged between Eastown and Heritage Hill, this small tight-knit community is resilient in it's efforts to create a more progressive and inclusive…