Hand Painted Homes: An Artist's Pen & Watercolor Journey Across America

Acclaimed artist, Leisa Collins, combines her passion for American home architecture with her love of travel and adventure in Hand-Painted Homes: An Architectural Artist's Pen and Watercolor Journey Across America. Her beautiful paintings and fascinating tales take us on an exploration of the architectural house styles in all fifty states and the nation’s capital as well.

Hand-Painted Homes exhibits over 650 paintings: from humble stone cottages, historic row houses, ornate Victorian style homes, elegant Tudor houses, to contemporary architectural styles that blend seamlessly into their natural environments. While historic house preservation is her focus, Collins treats us to a glimpse of farmhouses, churches, town halls and iconic landmarks, all in her indelible artistic style. Her work spans centuries: from the Acoma Pueblo, with structures that date back to 1000 AD, to stunning modern day residences.

In this home restoration book, Collins weaves in stories relating to the history of home designs and how geography, industry, politics, economy, available resources and our melting pot culture shape the face of American house architecture. Included are before and after historic homes saved from the wrecking ball and tributes to the homeowner heroes who restored these structures to their original glory. Also shared are house portraits of historic homes painted before they were tragically torn down and removed from the country’s landscape forever. Get a peek inside Collins’ artist journal to view her on-the-road pen and watercolor art and her artist drawings of the oldest structure in every state.

One of the best coffee table books on architecture today, Hand-Painted Homes gives the reader intimate insight into Leisa Collins’ mission to use her artistic skill and talent to save old houses while honoring the legacy and beauty of American homes and buildings throughout the nation.