Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigh Larson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Art has been a part of my life since I was a young child getting caught coloring on the walls! My mother is also an artist and so was her parents, creativity is running through my veins! After high school, I moved out to San Francisco to study Interior design. I decided I would rather be painting then be behind a computer. I took the knowledge I learned in school and I applied it to every inch of my painting practice. I see these core teachings shine through as my work evolves. It wasn’t until I started teaching painting, that I thought of myself as a “real” artist. Yes, I could paint, but I wasn’t getting paid, so I thought of myself as more of a hobby painter. I have been teaching painting now for 7 years with various ‘paint & sip’ companies. I love seeing the look of accomplishment on students’ faces when done with a painting. One that they didn’t think they could do, it is extremely rewarding! It is truly a blessing that I get to share my knowledge and passion as part of my career. In 2015 I started my own teaching/creating studio in NC… Wow, was that a change of pace! I didn’t get much time to create for myself and my practice took the back burner to teaching and motherhood. Since being back in MN and the saving grace of preschool, I have decided to teach part-time to focus on my own collections again.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Six years ago, almost to the date of my first collection’s release, I gave birth to my precious baby boy. He is the best thing in my life, but with this beautiful blessing came a grey cloud of depression. Postpartum depression paralyzed me in most aspects of my life. I felt smothered by guilt, anger and sadness. I began painting, as much as I could, with a newborn and a new creative business. Painting became an outlet to release my feelings. It became my form of meditation and ultimately my saving grace.
As I kept painting, the feelings that were smothering me slowly turned into a warm blanket wrapping me in love. Once I was able to breathe again through the grey clouds, I lifted my head and took a look around me. I was surrounded by beautiful, colorful universes, that I created with my own hands! As I stared in disbelief, everything came together. I had created more than half my collection without intending to. I call that BIG MAGIC!!
I share my story to encourage others, that are going through a dark chapter in their lives to find a creative outlet. To find themselves again through self-love.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in oils and have fallen in love with realism and landscapes. My forte is sunsets, sunrises, and cloud systems; however, I love to paint anything and everything! I find inspiration for my paintings through traveling the world! I take the time to study every landscape, every beautiful detail: shadows, shapes, lines, colors, and angles. I take this knowledge and inspiration into every painting.
While painting landscapes, there are moments of big magic… Little spaces, different universes, if you will, appear out of one simple brushstroke! I crave these moments!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
My painting practice is my form of meditation. I am able to be present in myself and in my work. I paint when I’m feeling anxious, angry, worried, sad, or even joyful, happy, content. Doing and sharing my passions has taught me to love myself. With self-love comes the desire to be the best version of yourself.
I urge each one of you to do what makes your heart light up! Do it for you, do it to find yourself, and then when you find that light, share it with the world in hopes someone else will be inspired to find love for themselves!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lelolafineart.com
- Instagram: @lelolafineart
- Facebook: @lelolafineart
