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 and Watercolor Journey Across America, I needed to do my research first.
In no time at all, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity. I respect Collins’ appreciation for the things a lot of people tend to ignore or forget about. This alone inspired me to write her story. Allow me to invite you into the heart of passion, creativity, history, and labor of love.
Many architecturally enticing structures are becoming extinct. Lack of funds, time, care, and passion are all playing a part in their demise. With hundreds of historical homes being torn down every week in the United States, Collins felt the intense inspiration to capture the diverse architectural world of America.”
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HER WATERCOLOR JOURNEY
December 2021
“A vibrant labor of love, this big book presents artist Leisa Collins’ ink-and- watercolor paintings of old houses across the country. She is passionate about architecture, and preservation, and travel. That combination of interests took her to all 50 states to paint houses, including some in jeopardy due to neglect or development. You’ll find little stone cottages, row houses, Victorian mansions, and organic contemporary homes. Collins painted a few historic houses before and after being saved, along with churches and town halls. She included some informal sketches, adding to the moment- in-time sensibility.
The watercolors—650 of them—spurred text covering style, history, and the vernacular. Collins weaves in stories about geography, politics, and the economy as they affected domestic architecture.”
Hand Painted Homes: An Artist’s Pen & Watercolor Journey Across America
September 2021
“Michigan-based architectural artist and author, Leisa Collins has released a Kindle Edition of her coffee table book “Hand Painted Homes: An Artist’s Pen & Watercolor Journey Across America,” in celebration of American historic preservation.
Alarmed that hundreds of historic homes and buildings are being torn down in the United States every week, Collins embarked on a decade-long mission to honor the beauty and legacy of American architecture with her paintbrush…”
Architectural Artist, Leisa Collins, Combats the Ravages of Time by Painting Portraits of Historic Homes Before These Houses Are Lost Forever
By Suzanna Bowling
September 21, 2021
“Alarmed that hundreds of historic homes and buildings are being torn down in the United States every week, architectural artist Leisa Collins embarked on a decade-long mission to honor the beauty and legacy of American architecture with her paintbrush. She traveled to all fifty states — and the District of Columbia — capturing these invaluable structures on canvas and collecting their stories before they could be lost to the wrecking ball or the ravages of time…”
Grand Rapids artist releases art book on American homes
By Hunter Mull
May 25, 2021
“Leisa Collins, an architectural artist living in Grand Rapids recently released an art book, “Hand Painted Homes: An Artist’s Pen & Watercolor Journey Across America,” featuring American homes.
According to her website, Collins was alarmed at the number of beautiful historic homes that are lost to decay or demolition every day in the United States, and so she sent herself on a mission to tell the story of American architecture through her art…”
Hand Painted Homes: An Artist’s Pen & Watercolor Journey Across America
by Jane Roser
July/August/September 2021
“Leisa Collins started honing her artistic skills as a teenager by drawing historic buildings around her hometown of Aukland, New Zealand and her love of architecture grew from there. Working with nonprofits for decades allowed Collins the freedom to travel the world, becoming enchanted with the historic buildings she encountered and the stories she had to tell.”
