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

How to Create an Original House Portrait Painting -- Lesson Three

Painting a House Portrait Lesson Three: The Final Stage -- the Watercolor Wash

If you have decided to paint house portraits, this series of lessons is your step by step guide.

Lesson #1 taught you how to plan out your house portrait, choosing your subject and taking photographs. Lesson #2 walked you through pen drawing stage. This final lesson teaches you to complete your work of art with a watercolor wash of the pen drawing.

As I stated in an earlier lesson, you can of course use any method you choose to represent your house -- from oil paints to pastels -- but from my experience, certain mediums work better than others for house portraits. My preference for house portraits is a pen drawing followed by a watercolor wash. The line drawing records the finer points of the house and the garden while the watercolor wash or painting really brings it to life. This enables you as the artist to create a detailed, attractive but subtle representation of the home and its garden surroundings.

Now that you have your house portrait drawn out, including all the lines and shading, so that it has contrast and dept, it is time apply the last step – the watercolor wash. There are specific skills regarding watercolor painting techniques and obviously the purpose of these lessons is not to teach you these, but give you the simple steps that you can take to produce your own house portrait. There are however there are many books, tutorials, and step by step videos available on watercolor painting.

Firstly lay out small amounts of the colors that you will need on your watercolor palette. Have your source photo at hand so you can clearly see the colors of your house portrait. You will need a container of water and different sizes of paintbrushes, finer for the details and broader for the larger areas such as the sky, lawn and garden areas.

As per watercolor technique one usually starts with the larger areas first. Once these areas dry, fill in the shadows, deeper tones and details to create contrast. You will find that with a straight watercolor painting, where there is no pen work to follow, you will need to do many more layers of watercolor to get the depth and detail needed. Remember however that while the pen lines and shading does a lot of the work for you, to make your painting attractive you still need to use those basic watercolor techniques. But don’t overdo the watercolor wash either. It needs to be translucent so you can still see the pen work underneath. Otherwise, what’s the point of doing the pen work in the first place? One tip I can give on translucency is the use of acrylic paint rather than watercolor paint. In this case, one uses acrylic paint -- which is water based of course -- in exactly the same way as watercolor paint, but simply adds a lot more water than is usually used for acrylic painting.

In summary, you want the watercolor wash to add character and capture the personality of the home. With the pen and watercolor wash technique you are combining two distinct art forms, pen drawing and watercolor painting and if done well the result can be a vibrant mix of detail, accuracy and color. Don’t forget that any skill or art form takes practice and patience.

Good luck in creating your first house portrait!

About Leisa Collins:
Leisa's artistic motto is Art with a Message. Her website stresses the importance of artists creating social change and includes an online gallery of landscapes and portraits. She specializes in house portraits, pet portraits, child portraits and original landscape paintings.

Contact Info:
Send an email
www.leisacollins.com

Posted via web from Art with a Message

How to Create an Original House Portrait Painting -- Lesson Two

Painting a House Portrait Lesson Two:  Choosing your Medium and Drawing the House.

If you have decided you want to do a house portrait painting, this series of lessons is your step by step.  

Lesson #1 taught you how to plan out your painting, including working out the subject of your house portrait, determining the best angle and taking your photos. Now it’s time to decide on the best medium to use.

You can, of course, use any method you choose to depict your house -- from oil paints to pastels -- but from my experience, certain mediums work better than others for house portraits.  It is important to include detail. If you were doing a portrait of a person, you would not leave out characteristic details of the person’s face. It is the same with a house. You want to include the details that show the unique personality of the home.

My preference for house portraits is a pen drawing followed by a watercolor wash. The line drawing records the finer points of the house and garden while the watercolor wash brings it to life. This enables you as the artist to create a detailed, attractive but subtle representation of the home and its garden surroundings.

You will need a good quality watercolor paper. These come in different paper weights (thicknesses) and are commonly available at any local art supply stores.

The first step is to draw out your subject in pencil. This requires an understanding of perspective so that the angles of the building are correct and look three dimensional. When doing a house portrait, nothing creates an amateur impression faster than crooked lines and a building that looks out of plumb. If necessary, study and master this skill before you draw your building. (You can find excellent books on perspective drawing in art stores, bookstores, libraries and on the internet.)

To make sure your drawing is accurate, use a tried and true method of dividing  your main source photo into four quarters and then compare the content of each square with your pencil drawing (also divided in matching quarters) as you proceed.  After you have done as many house portraits as I have, the pencil stage can be reduced down to broad strokes only, which includes making sure the drawing is correct compared to the source photo and the overall layout is balanced and attractive. At that point I move onto the pen work.

It’s up to you how detailed your pencil draft is and the big advantage is that you can use an eraser.  But don’t go overboard with the eraser or you will end up scrapping off some of the surface of your paper in the process.  What is important is that you feel comfortable with the pencil stage before moving onto your permanent pen drawing.  

The next step is choosing the black pen you want to use. There are many different choices. Some artists like a fine ink stroke while others prefer the lines to be heavier. There is an abundance of quality art drawing pens on the market, most of them using ink cartridges, but with different size and types of nibs. Go to your nearest art supply store to get help in making your selection. Some artists prefer to use a thin tip felt pen or just an ordinary black ballpoint pen. If you plan to do a watercolor wash, make sure your chosen pen medium is water resistant. The only way to establish what works best for you is to try them out.  That’s what I did many years ago and I established that my favorite tool is a simple black ballpoint.  I found that one can perfect a fluid, more spontaneous look using a ballpoint, which is what I prefer.

Complete the pen work, starting with the main architectural lines of the roof and the walls. Then add shadowing and contrast, which is basically additional definition where needed. Use a set square or ruler on the key vertical and horizontal lines for a more professional final product. Include good contrast between differences in light and shadow to make your art work interesting and appealing. The standard I go for with my house portrait pen drawings is that the drawing is good enough to stand on its own as a piece of art, depicting the subject accurately and aesthetically. 

In fact, some artists prefer to leave their pen drawing as it is rather than add a watercolor wash.  Another option is to give the drawing a grey-tone wash. These creative choices are simply a matter of personal and artistic  preference. 

In my opinion, adding the watercolor wash adds life and character and helps to capture the unique personality of the home.  With the pen and watercolor wash techniques you are combining two distinct art forms, pen drawing and watercolor painting, and, if done well, the result can be a vibrant mix of detail, accuracy and color.  

My next lesson, Lesson #3, will cover how to apply the watercolor wash and complete your house portrait painting.  

# # #

About Leisa Collins:
Leisa's artistic motto is Art with a Message. Her website stresses the importance of artists creating social change and includes an online gallery of landscapes and portraits. She specializes in house portraits, pet portraits, child portraits and original landscape paintings.

Contact Info:
Send an email
www.leisacollins.com

Posted via web from Art with a Message

How to Create an Original House Portrait Painting - Lesson One

Painting a House Portrait Lesson One: Getting Started – The Planning Stage

“Fail to plan and you plan to fail”, as the old saying goes, is totally applicable to art.  Sure, there is always that element of “spontaneous creation” but my best paintings have been ones that I planned out well beforehand. A lot of other artists who make their living at their craft will agree with me.  

At the risk of stating the obvious, getting started on your house portrait first and foremost begins with having a suitable house as the subject of your painting. There needs to be some aesthetic or interesting element that inspires you to do the painting, but don’t lose sight of the fact that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.  If you are doing a house portrait painting for a friend or relative, think of what the painting will mean to them and it is amazing how good your work of art will turn out.  For example, that  ramshackle farmhouse that your mother was brought up in might not look like much but to her it is imbued with nostalgia and happy family memories. The ancient shaggy cedar tree that frames the house was where she and her siblings played for hours, swinging on an old tractor tire; the old wooden gate is what they would race to open when they were helping father bring in the cows before supper.  These elements should be part of the portrait therefore.
 

Your first step is to work out the best angle of the house and take photos.  Usually front on is not that exciting. It’s generally too boxy.  It would be the same if you were to do a portrait of a person or a car for example.  The two points to take into consideration when taking the photos are a) what is the most flattering angle of the house that shows off its personality and the surroundings and b) is there any foliage blocking a clear view of the home, in which case you may be restricted to one view only, i.e., the only one you can see. 
 

As mentioned above, the garden and surroundings of the house are very important. These are part of its character, especially a home with beautifully tended gardens which are the pride and joy of its occupants. And remember that the great thing about doing an original painting as opposed to just taking a photo, is that you get to indulge in “artistic license” to some degree. Just like a portrait of a person, you can’t change or improve facial features but you can change or improve the environment your subject is in, i.e., the background of the portrait.  It’s the same with house portraits.  You can make the house more visible by “trimming” the surrounding trees, or tidying up an out-of-control garden or even putting flowers in bloom to add vibrant dashes of color.

Take plenty of photos from each angle. That way if you are in any doubt as to what will look best on your canvas you can solve this by reviewing the photos. Remember to also take close-ups of windows, doors and other details that you may not be able to see clearly when it comes to doing the painting.  Of course, you can always sit outside the house and do it right on the spot, but this can often be challenging in terms of uncomfortable temperatures, changing light, wind, as well as the odd downpour.  So good photos are an excellent back-up in these situations.

Once you have accomplished the above, the next step is decide on the medium you will use.  My next article, Lesson Two, will cover that step.

Leisa Collins

www.leisacollins.com

Leisa Collins combines her artistic skills under the motto “Art with a Message.”  Her website stresses the importance of the artist bringing about social change and includes an online gallery of landscapes and portraits. She specializes in personalized house portraits, pet portraits, child portraits and original landscape paintings.

Working with Tapuihikitia Marae to Create Children and Art Project

I joined with a team of young people from the Tapuihikitia Marae (Maori center) and we created this painting of their Marae. We named it "Te Aroha" which means love in the Maori language and it's the name that is emblazoned above the door of the Marae meeting house. As you can see, the painting mainly includes a view of the Meeting House, the central point of the Marae, combined with swirling Maori designs drawn and painted by the youth team to convey the value of the marae within the Maori community and the unifying role it plays. The painting now proudly hangs at the Tapuihikitia Marae.

Here is an article that the local paper, the Gisborne Herald, ran about the completed project.

The Gisborne Herald 
Monday, 7 December, 2009

Showing Aroha for Marae through Art
By Alice Te Puni

A splash of colour and generous strokes of aroha were the finishing touches of a painting crated through a youth programme at Tapuihikitia Marae, Puha, last week.

Artist and activist Leisa Collins took marae affiliates Jasmine Morunga, Stephanie Murray, Haami Turei, Chelsea Hawkins and Casey Ihe under her skilful wing to create an art piece to hang in a place of honor at the marae. The young artists painted a piece called Te Aroha, which is the name of the wherenui.

The painting includes a view of the marae combined with swirling Maori designs.

"The purpose of the painting is to convey the value of the marae within the Maori community and the unifying role it plays," said Ms Collins. "The non-profit project was a labour of love. The kids are very bright. They wanted the painting of their marae to represent unity and a coming together of the people."

Ms. Collins, born and raised in Auckland, recently began a full-time art career after two decades of social activism that took her to the four corners of the globe and gave her a firsthand view of diverse cultures and social inequities.

One of her first paintings of social injustices was of Bastion Point during the 1970's. She was an 18-year-old who witnessed the drama unfold.

She is now combining her activist and artistic skills under the motto of "art with a message" and frequently gives free art lessons to young people to encourage them to further develop their artistic abilities.

Prior to returning to New Zealand a few weeks ago, she completed a 11,000 km journey across the United States to promote art education for children.

Two weeks ago she gave an impromptu free lesson to the pupils of the Mt Cook-Aoraki School, a location she stopped at as part of a national painting tour to retrace her footsteps of a journey through the South Island 30 years earlier. At that time she abandoned formal art training and the confines of the classroom in Auckland, opting to learn her craft through capturing on canvas the beauty of the New Zealand landscape

Ms. Collins is staying with family in Gisborne, painting a number of house portrait commissions while also creating a series of New Zealand landscape and portrait paintings.

Her website stresses the importance of the artist bringing about social change and her Art in Action page includes her activities in this regard.

Her website includes an online gallery of house portraits, child portraits, pet portraits and original landscape paintings.

"Art is a powerful means of communication and is therefore a potent weapon to bring about change. Art for me is something that goes far beyond the walls of the studio," she said.

# # #

Leisa Collins
leisa@leisacollins.com
www.leisacollins.com

House Portrait Artist Supports Children and Art on New Zealand Tour

PRESS RELEASE

House portrait and landscape artist Leisa Collins' most recent New Zealand tour stop was the Gisborne area where she visited family and tended to another artistic painting spree. “I toured 11,000 km across America on a painting tour before returning to New Zealand several weeks ago and I have since traveled extensively across both the north and south islands. I've been in Auckland, Rotorua, Gisborne, Christchurch, Mt Cook and more, but Gisborne takes top prize when it comes to homes and gardens with personality!” said Leisa. “I was so impressed I decided to selectively promote to Gisborne area homes and the response has been huge.” Collins just completed a pen and watercolor wash house portrait of a farm homestead on Wainui Road. “It was the first time clients asked me to include cows in a home portrait painting,” she said. “It was a lot of fun.” Leisa is currently working on two others commissioned works in the Whataupolo area of Gisborne.

Earlier on her New Zealand tour Leisa was at Mt Cook retracing her footsteps of a journey she took through the South Island 30 years ago. At that time she abandoned formal art training and the confines of the classroom in Auckland, opting to learn her craft by capturing on canvas the beauty of the New Zealand landscape. She celebrated her return to Mt Cook by giving an impromptu watercolor lesson to the pupils of the Aoraki Mt Cook School. Leisa enjoys combining children and art.

Leisa recently took up her paintbrush and full-time art career again after two decades of social activism that took her to the four corners of the globe and gave her a firsthand view many diverse cultures and shocking social inequities. She is now living in both New Zealand and the USA. She is creating her latest New Zealand series of paintings while at the same time fulfilling commissioned landscapes, child portraits and house portraits. “The first personalized paintings I did all those years ago were pen and watercolor house portraits of New Zealand homes, and its still a favorite,” said Leisa, “I especially like painting historic homes and buildings.”

Leisa is now combining her activist and artistic skills under the motto Art with a Message. Her website stresses the importance of the artist bringing about social change and her Art in Action page includes her activities in this regard. Her website also includes an online gallery, featuring semi-abstract as well as realistic landscape and portrait works. She regularly posts on her Art with a Message Blog and keeps her friends and clients ted through her newsletter, Art in the Making.

“Art is a powerful means of communication and is therefore a potent weapon to bring about change,” says Leisa. “Art for me is something that goes far beyond the walls of the studio.”

Contact Information:
Email: leisa@leisacollins.com
Website: http://www.leisacollins.com
House Portraits: http://www.leisacollins.com/house_portrait.html .

Posted via web from Art with a Message

Between House Portraits and Landscape Paintings -- A Bit of River Rafting Relaxation

I have been very busy lately working on a number of commissioned Home Portraits and Landscape Paintings, but seeing as I am also in the beautiful outdoor world of New Zealand and enjoying precious time with family, I took a few hours out for a bit of relaxation with my husband and kiwi relatives -- a river rafting adventure on the Kaituna River near Rotorua that included a 7 meter high waterfall!  Not all that relaxing but great fun!  Thanks to the River Rats Adventure Professionals who provided us with everything we needed for a splendid afternoon on the river.

Enjoy the photo sequence of our rafting team going over the 7 meter waterfall and take note of the frame where the raft disappears completely -- that's the handle of my paddle you can see just barely poking out from the froth of the waterfall.  You can see we nearly tipped at the bottom, too, but we made it safe and sound in the end!  Another inspirational adventure completed!

Leisa
www.leisacollins.com

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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House portrait of Mountaineer’s Café at Aoraki Village Mt Cook

It was sad to leave Mt Cook and the cozy Old Mountaineer's Café nestled in Aoraki Village Mt Cook but it had to be done. We departed at first light this morning but it wasn't till last night as I sat in the café watching the last vestiges of light play on the mountain peaks that the bright idea struck me.  I would capture the spirit of the café in a pen and watercolor house portrait and leave it as a gift for my friends Charlie and Mary Hobbs, the owners and creators of the café, for their incredible hospitality. And that's exactly what I did.  Here it is.

 

Leisa  

www.leisacollins.com

leisa@leisacollins.com

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Keeping an Eye on the Mountain... Returning to Mt Cook NZ and Supporting Children and Art

Mt Cook National Park has always been one of my favorite places on the planet and here I am looking at that awe-inspiring sight once again.  New Zealand has certainly changed in the last 30 years, the Aoraki Mt Cook Village has grown significantly but one thing that hasn’t changed a bit is Mt Cook itself.

I’m watching the mountain magically emerge from behind a thick blanket of cloud as I send this post while perched at a window table in the Old Mountaineer’s Café and Restaurant, a cozy mountain retreat in the heart of Aoraki Village. It’s owned and managed by my friends Charlie and Mary Hobbs and family. Charlie is a well known Kiwi adventure and mountaineer and his wife and co-adventurer is Mary, a writer and publisher.  You will see us in the photo below with Mt Cook in the back ground.

I celebrated my return to Mt Cook by giving back to this wonderful community in support of children and art. Today I gave an impromptu watercolor lesson to the pupils of the Aoraki Mt Cook School.

But this time I won’t be away from my mountain home for so long. I’ll be returning in January where I will hold an exhibition at the Old Mountaineer’s Café and Restaurant and I’ll also give an art workshop. On a broader scale, I’m completing my latest New Zealand series of paintings while at the same time fulfilling a steady stream of commissioned work, especially house portraits, still one of my favorites.

Leisa 


Information on Leisa Collins Art:

Leisa Collins Art is the artistic endeavor of New Zealand born visual artist Leisa Collins. The company motto is Art with a Message and the primary focus is on using art for social change by promoting art in action, especially working with women artists on projects concerning children and art education. Leisa specializes in commissioned art works of all kinds and especially loves doing house portraits.  For more information contact Leisa by phone, e-mail or website.

Contact Information:

Email: leisa@leisacollins.com

Website: www.leisacollins.com

Information on commissioned art: www.leisacollins.com/leisacollins_commissions.html

Information on house portraits: www.leisacollins.com/house_portrait.html

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Enchanted Forest in New Zealand

 My first series of landscape paintings created in New Zealand.

 

This series is called Looking into the Enchanted Rotorua Forest, New Zealand

 

The forest is an elegant mix of Redwoods and native New Zealand bush. Walking into the forest you discover that everything is coated with an iridescent layer of green moss.  It's totally magical.

 

This is what I have tried to capture with these paintings. The first painting is entering the forest, the second is observing an ancient log and the third is looking into the microcosm of one square foot of a moss covered tree trunk.

 

Leisa

www.leisacollins.com

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Return to New Zealand with Art with Message

NEWS RELEASE

After two decades of social activism that took her to the four corners of the globe and gave her a firsthand view of diverse cultures and social inequities, Leisa Collins, has taken up her paintbrush again and recently returned to New Zealand and her full-time art career.

Leisa is now combining her activist and artistic skills under the motto of art with a message. Her website stresses the importance of the artist bringing about social change and her Art in Action page includes her activities in this regard. Her website also includes an on-line gallery, featuring semi-abstract as well as realistic landscape and portrait works. She regularly posts on her Art with a Message Blog and keeps her friends and clients updated through her newsletter, Art in the Making.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Leisa embarked upon formal art training at 17, however after only a few months she abandoned the classroom, opting to learn her craft through capturing on canvas the beauty of the countryside. Exploring every nook and cranny of New Zealand, she financed her adventures by selling her work as she went. “It’s great to be back in Auckland,” says Leisa. This is my old stomping ground. It’s where I had my first studio and held my first exhibit, and many other firsts as well.” Leisa is currently creating her latest New Zealand series while doing house portraits on commission. “I have always found that to be a very fun activity in New Zealand because so many of the homes here have serious personality!”

Before returning to New Zealand Leisa completed a 7,000 mile journey across the United States that marked her reemergence into the art world and captured the faces and places of America on her canvas. Entitled Across the USA from the Eyes of an Artist tour the tour started in Los Angeles on September 1 and ended in New York on October 15.

“Art is a powerful means of communication and is therefore a potent weapon to bring about change,” says Leisa. Art for me is something that goes far beyond the walls of the studio.”

Contact Information:
Email: leisa@leisacollins.com
Website: http://www.leisacollins.com/
Blog: www.leisacollinsartwithamessage.blogspot.com
Additional info on house portraits: www.leisacollins.com/house_portrait.html

Going wild with House Portraits in New Zealand

Talk about Homes with Personality!

This was another thing that really struck me when I arrived back in New Zealand – something else that I had forgotten about. The unique character imbued into every square foot of so many of the homes here is pretty outstanding! I heard somewhere that Kiwis spent more time and money on their house and garden per capita that any other place in the world. I believe it. It’s become an observable trend in these parts.

I mean where in the USA do you find “Garden Cafes”? These are an amalgamation of very fancy garden centers with trendy cafes/eateries that are set in beautiful outdoors settings, sort of a cool coffee house in a mini-botanical garden.

OK, back to house portraits. Now take a look at this house here. That’s what I call personality! It happens to be where Bruce and I am staying right now, with my sister Michelle and her husband Paul. They converted this place 20 years ago from a one bedroom beach house (batch as they say here) to this super comfortable and artsy two-story four-bedroom home. Check out the view you get from the deck. This looks over Wainui Beach which is right next to Gisborne, the first city in the world to see the dawn every single day.

And here are a few other homes in Gisborne, just chosen at random, to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

 

I am producing my first house portrait right now, a lovely lakeside dwelling just outside of Rotorua. Actually, I’m doing three watercolors of this property in order to capture all its  facets. I’ll show it to you when I’m done. . .

Leisa

Heading down New Zealand's North Island while looking out for Hobbits

Its been quite a few years since I've been back home to New Zealand.  In those years, the famous trilogy Lord of the Rings made its mark on the world stage, at the same time grabbing a fistful of Oscars  and helping to put New Zealand's scenic wonders on the map.

Ttraveling down from Auckland  through the luscious Waikato countryside, my outlook was completely different and I found myself constantly looking out for Hobbit homes nestled in the soft rolling hills or for Hobbits lumbering along the grassy farmland tracks.  This Wiakato region served as the set for Hobbiton, the famous Hobbit Village depicted in the movie. Talk about green!  That grass looked good enough to eat... and certainly some of the 60 million grass-chomping sheep I passed along with the way agreed with me.

Twenty Hours in the Air.... then Arrival in Godzone

The point of departure was Michigan, USA, then it was onto Los Angeles. After virtually all day in a cramped plane Bruce and I would have been happy to collapse into bed … but that was out of the question. At precisely 15 minutes before midnight we were in the air again, this time heading for the “City of Sails” -- Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland is the largest city in NZ and it’s also my old stomping ground. It’s where I created my first art studio, had my first art exhibition and plenty of other firsts before that.

Fifteen hours later we entered Godzone. One of the first indicators you have arrived in this revered zone is when you walk outside the airport terminal and realize you can not SEE what you are breathing. It’s safe to take long depth breaths, despite being in a large city. My Mum, Melva Collins was there at the airport to meet us of course.

Auckland sprawls out over an isthmus, which is a narrow piece of land surrounded by water, lots of water. This is the view from my Mum’s house in Western Auckland. You can see two of the most famous landmarks of Auckland in this shot, the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Rangitoto Island, once an active volcano but now extinct. The funny thing is that no matter where you are in Auckland, Rangitoto always looks the same. That’s because it is shaped like a flat round pancake with a little peak in the middle, the point of volcanic eruption many moons ago.

Well, I have to say, it’s great to be back in New Zealand – a land of endless inspiration for an artist...

Art in Action in New York -- Final Destination of USA Tour!

After Pennsylvania came New Jersey, where pumpkins also abounded!

From TV and movies I had always thought of New Jersey as one big grimy dilapidated inner city projects area. I found that it was nothing of the sort. In fact, I discovered they have some of the most beautifully restored and well maintained historic homes in the country! The friends I stayed with, Diane and Steve Workman, were no exception. Their century old house, nestled in the quiet New Jersey suburb of Glen Rock, inspired me into action and I created this pen and watercolor painting as a gift for their hospitality.

While in New Jersey I also visited the Ability School, a wonderful place for kids both scholastically and in terms of teaching and promoting the arts. I snapped this shot as a group of students were busily creating Halloween artwork as an after school project.

Then it was time for The Big Apple! New York City. I have always loved New York. Day in, day out, the city in continuously teaming with life. One can simply stand in Time Square (where the photo was taken) and see just about every type of person, from street musicians to mothers with their children in tow to men in Wall Street suits. At the same time you can hear dozens of languages from people all over the world. You simply can’t get any more international than New York!

I had a very productive meeting with Sarah Smith, the Arts and Cultural Coordinator with the New Zealand Consulate. We discussed joint art projects both in New York and New Zealand, where I am heading at the end of the month.

I met with Broddie Sigurdarson, a Coordinator for Cultural Affairs with the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous People. Originally from Iceland, Broddie works with indigenous people from around the world and helps them promote their art and cultural roots. I showed him my indigenous series paintings and found out how I can best help in upcoming UN indigenous events.

While the tour was now officially over, there was still another 600 miles to go to join my husband Bruce in Michigan. It was a beautiful morning as I took off through Upstate New York. I had told myself that there would be no more photo stops now, the tour was over. But I couldn’t resist one last stop to photograph this beautiful scene -- perfect for a painting. I looked back fondly at our trusty Volkswagan Passat Wagon. With an average milage of 32 miles per gallon throughout the trip, it never missed a turn and held the road firmly every inch of the 7,000 mile journey.

But there was no time for nostalgia; I needed to move on. The open road stretched out before me, full of the promise of future adventures, new friends and unforgettable experiences. I got in the car and began to drive.

Leisa

www.leisacollins.com 

leisa@leisacollins.com