From Spring in Duke Street to Spring in Cameron Street Old Town Alexandria!

Continuing my House Portrait Series,  The Faces and Homes of Historic Old Town Alexandria -- Connecting the Past with the Present

This next home is a one of the most untouched original homes I have seen in Old Town -- both inside and out.  It could be transported to a museum site as so much of the historic fabric is in tact.  The date it was built was 1796 - 1804 and it is called the Ramsay-Snowden House, named after the two original owners. 

The current owners owners are Richard and Trish Klingenmaier. They were able to provide me with a wealth of information about the history of their home and Richard, I discovered, is quite a history buff when it comes to Old Town.  He has become my "historical consultant" and so far there isn't one question he's not been able to answer!

Onto the next one!
Leisa

More Old Town Alexandria House Portraits in my Series

This is a lovely home in Duke Street, owned by two lovely people, June and Bob Nemchin (see below).  They are both retired now. June was in the interior design business -- you can tell as soon as you enter the house-- and Bob is a chemistry researcher and an impressive freelance photographer.  The Nemchins are very fond of art and their home also serves as a gallery of original art and photography. 

I chose their home as part of my house portrait series of Old Town Alexandria as I love the unique rose pink hues (that was June's creation of course) and the three flags in a row caught my eye.  The Nemchins were granted a plaque by the Historic Alexandria Foundation which is proudly on display.  They have kept their home very much to the original, complimenting it with antique furniture and a great patio garden out back where spring colors are now bursting forth! 

My Lastest Old Town Alexandria House Portrait - Third in Series

Here's my third pen and watercolor painting.  A gorgeous home in Wolfe Street Old Town Alexandria. Love those spring colors!  The original is now in the hands of the home owner, my new friend, Tom Amontree. He has decorated the interior beautifully, in vibrant but earthy complimentary colors.  Tom gave me a tour and even showed me the trap door leading to the basement that was once part of a morgue -- that's right!  Last century this building was an Old Town funeral home. 

Here's Tom and his house!

That's all for now. Doing more homes. Can't get enough of Old Town!

Leisa

My First Two House Portraits of Old Town Alexandria Historic Homes!

Announcing My Old Town Alexandria Original Homes Series

I've finished my first two paintings and have now selected a further array of unique homes in Old Town that I want to include in my series.  Once completed, I will be using this series to create a calendar and eventually put a book together.  My compilation will be a little different, however, in that it will not just be a series of paintings of old buildings, it will be a melding of the glorious past with the equally interesting present. I'm not only fascinated by the history of these charming houses, I want to know about whose living in them now, in other words how did that old building become a beautiful unique restoration of the past!

Here are the first two, on Prince Street and Duke Street respectively.

Onto the next ones!
Leisa

My New Studio in Alexandria

At this time my studio serves as a workshop as well as a place to display my paintings.  It's a good start.  Got to get back to work. . . it's art in action time!  I'm busy on my first house portraits of historic homes in Old Town Alexandria.  I've been walking the streets and selecting my subjects. What fun!

 

I'm about to finish my second Old Town house portrait. . .

Leisa

We Found Our Home in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia!

Historic Buildings, Art in Action.... a Community with a Message!

Finally, after 25,000 (road) miles travelled across America and all over New Zealand in the last six months we have found the perfect location to call our home!  Alexandria, Virginia is that place.  It's a hip city but also a real community steeped in history.  In fact Old Town has more beautifully maintained historic homes than anywhere else in the country -- a constant inspiration for house portraits!  What's more folks smile and say hello as you walk down the streets of Old Town, Alexandria's hub.  Washington D.C., an international city with its own regal charm, is only a stone throw away and the state of Virginia is lush and green and outdoor water and land activities abound.  And hey, it also has seasons!  Now that's exciting.

Here's a taste of Old Town Alexandria.

Next, I'll show you my new Alexandria studio!
Leisa