After two decades in the Creston Valley, local artist Laura Leeder continues to find inspiration in the simple things: listening to the crows talk, watching blue jays dart among the trees, and greeting a bold squirrel who takes peanuts right from her palm.
Her connection to the natural world was built in her backyard and now bursts onto the canvas in her mixed media paintings, currently on display at the Creston Valley Public Library until May 1.
Originally from Alberta, Leeder and her husband made the move to the valley in 2004 after a years-long love affair with the Kootenays.
The couple traded fast-paced jobs in a busy airport environment for a quiet lifestyle on the lake.
“There was always a pull. And when we moved here, I felt immediately that the mountains were hugging me, and that feeling has never left me,” she said.
After dabbling with watercolours for some time, Leeder began dedicating more time to her art, embracing mixed media and leaning into a more playful, expressive style.
Her subjects? The feathered friends and flowers that fill her garden every spring and summer.
“We sit out on our deck almost every day and we have become friends with some of the birds,” she said.
Two of her favourite pieces — the bluebirds and tulips in And the Courtship Begins and the vibrant jays in Welcome, Neighbours — capture her sense of whimsy while reflecting the season’s themes of renewal and serenity.
“It really speaks to how I feel when I'm in my yard in spring - the excitement of waiting for all the bulbs to come up,” she said.
Over the years, she’s exhibited her work in Nelson, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Radium, and locally through the Creston ArtSpace to share her love and passion of the outdoors.
“I hope that when they view my work it brings a little joy to their day and they take a look around their surroundings and maybe find a new appreciation for it,” Leeder said.
As for her next series, she wants to expand her study of the many birds found in her own backyard - like hummingbirds, red-winged blackbirds, starlings, flickers, and ring-necked doves.
Her artwork is featured on greeting cards available at Creston Card & Stationery, and more can be viewed or purchased on her website at lauraleeder.com. She can be reached via email at lauraleeder@gmail.com for further inquiries.
Visit the Creston Valley Public Library by the end of month to view this artist's creations, and check out the Facebook page to see what's coming next.
