It was the second time I had walked into Leanne's home.
The first time, I had had a rushed morning of dressing, feeding and depositing three children at their various locations. And as I stepped through the doorway I felt myself take a deep breath and sigh, as the peace invaded my hectic mind.
It was a haven. I knew that immediately.
It was a home of gentle serenity where I felt my body skidding to a stop.
So the second time, I made sure I wandered in slowly, breathed out mentally before I rang the doorbell.
Recently renovated, this home spoke of who Leanne is as a person and who she is as an artist.
Soft tones of grey and white with a hint of colour dolopped here and there, mostly by the books she was inpsired by sprawled across her coffee table, and a bunch of flowers on the kitchen bench.
"The natural light was the most important thing to me," she said with a smile.
The light was beautiful. It made you rest your eyes on where it touched. The beautiful coral wooden cross and soft coloured grey pear paperweights that lay on the table. The paper scrolls by the cabinet next to the huge canvas of hydrangea delicately painted the artist herself.
We sat down to tea and Greek pastries and began to talk all things art, colour, blogs and photography.
It was a morning of inspiration and challenge.
We wandered out to Leanne's studio. The studio that holds her imagination and the tools that assist her to create her masterpieces.
There was a huge canvas patiently waiting for final touches of colourful paint, and a world of magazine clippings plastered on the wall with light green washi tape. There were handfuls of paintbrushes and pencils that seemed to be having a conversation about how awesome life was crammed into buckets ready to be used. There were pictures of her kids with their stunning light coloured eyes and dark brown skin. And a window sill lined with white stones she had taken time to paint words and names on.
I liked this woman. I liked this studio!
I was here to learn. And she was ready to teach.
You are a woman of many creative talents from painting to drawing to creating detail with pastels....what is your favourite medium and how old were you when you started exploring it?
I've been drawing for as long as I can remember but my earliest significant memory is of my Yr 2 teacher at school telling me that I could draw well. I think from that point on it was something I loved to do - with anything and with everything! Colored pencils, crayons, pastels, charcoal and lead pencils. The messy oil paint came later and it's definitely my favorite medium.
Tell us the significance of the box you owned as a little girl ...
The little box that sits on my art room shelf is a memory from childhood. I think it belonged to my grandparents who were from Melbourne, so it's pretty old :). I've always kept it with me wherever I've lived. It's significant now as the address stamped on it is the next door address to The Bridge Room - an amazing restaurant on Bridge Street in Sydney - at my last exhibition they bought one of my paintings. It hangs on a wall that would have 'backed' the little boxes address. Amazing huh!
What has influenced the path of you becoming an artist?
I was an art director/graphic designer before I left work and had children. I've always been drawn to the field of design, I think had I not done graphics I would have done fashion, industrial or interior design, anything where I could 'play' at creating beauty. I have a passion for photography also and that plays a big part in my painting process. I take a bazillion(!) photos of a flower or an object, playing with the light and focus to achieve the outcome I'm looking for.
Also, I love my children's art work and have quite a few of my daughter Bella's beautiful water colours dotted around my art room walls. I find the pieces they create amazingly inspiring as they're so 'free' with their ideas and colours - something to aspire to!
This studio is amazing. Did u always have a space to create?
The simple answer to that is NO! I juggled my equipment from room to room for quite some time until I found a home with the spiders (Red Backs to be exact) in our garage - it was where I felt most at home as I could make a mess and leave my materials out without little fingers getting into things. Since these humble beginnings we've had a major house renovation and I now have nice white walls around my original garage space (the Red Backs still live there though!). I also have a lot more light for which my eyesight is grateful!!
You have teenage children now, how did you find the time to build your career when they were small?
I think if you have a passion for something you'll find a way to achieve the dream. When the children were small and I decided that I wanted to learn to use oil paint I enrolled in a studio school in Redfern. It was a 3 year course that takes on 20 students and teaches them techniques and principles of the Masters. Intense yes! It was full on but I loved every 'soul stretching' minute of it!! I look back and am so thankful the door opened to that amazing teaching. I feel free to paint whatever I can dream up because of it.
I have heard it said that, "Talent can get you so far but your best work will come out of what's going on on the inside." Do you believe this to be true?
Completely. I think what will come out onto the linen is what you hold in your heart to be true. For me it's continually aiming to work from a revelation of the Grace that's been given to me. An outworking and a response to Truth and a desire to create beauty that compels.
What keeps you pursuing art?
By the simple fact that I love doing it (always have!) and also the desire to use what's in my hand (the gift) to fulfil what's in my heart (the passion). I want the message of Grace that has so radically impacted me to be conveyed in some way through an image to flood out into a broken and torn world and make a difference.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a large greyish Hydrangea painting that's a commission for a couple in Paddington. Each painting takes about 3/4 months to complete as they are very layered. I'm also working on my own body of work that's a response to a book I read and enjoyed called "Finding Sanctuary".
My web site is www.leannethomas.com.au and there is a blog attached that I regularly update with painting process.
There are so many artists out there who don't know where to start. What would your advice be to them?
Try and get some great training. Skill supports whatever you can dream up. Learn everything about what your specific area of interest is because the last thing you need is for the materials to not work at their fullest capacity. Also if you can, set yourself up somewhere that you don't need to pack your materials away all the time and allow some time in your day or your week to do the things you love to do - exercise your gift.
