Take a close look at her paintings of still life and flowers and “self taught” is not a descriptor likely to pop into mind. But Erickson waterclour painter Laura Leeder picked up her distinctive painting techniques almost entirely from books and trial and error.
There is a warmth and calmness to her finely detailed works that invites the viewer into a world that seems ever so slightly kinder and more welcoming. And the details keep drawing one’s eye further and further into her compositions.
“I actually set up my still life compositions by taking the objects outside so I can get the strong shadows and light,” she says. “Then I take a bunch of digital shots that I can load onto the computer right away and I can check and see if I’m happy with it or not.”
She then enlarges photographs to the size of the painting she plans and makes an outline of the elements that is eventually transferred to watercolour paper. Those elements are often adjusted as she paints — leaf shapes might be changed and details are added or deleted as she deems necessary. Some works use paint that has mica crystals that reflect the light, adding an almost magical quality to the surface.
“There are a lot of steps involved,” she admits. “I use only transparent watercolours — they’re not opaque so I can put on many, many light layers of colour to create the depth I’m looking for. This technique is known as glazing and through its use I can also achieve rich, luminous color.
“Some of the pencil lines are erased as I go along and others stay — I really don’t mind that. It shows how I work.”
While her finished work looks completely natural, she changes and adjusts the colours of the objects as she works.
“I tend to exaggerate the colours because in the end I want the painting to attract you, not to be a perfect rendition of what I started with. It’s all about the use of colours and their blending.”
Some of Leeder’s most recognizable pieces depict teacups. She painted a series of her favourite objects at the invitation of Creston Museum manager Tammy Hardwick, who organizes a fundraiser tea on the museum’s grounds each year. Originals, reproductions and greeting cards of the images have travelled around the world and even found their way into TeaTime magazine, a U.S. publication.
The teacup theme also helped her to get involved with Debbie Graham’s annual Pink Garden Tea, a cancer fundraiser. A portion of sales made through the tea goes to support local cancer programs and patients, and Leeder’s painting, The Power Of Pink, was created specifically for the tea.
Her paintings are in private collections throughout Canada, Japan and the U.S. Several paintings were purchased by the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton and placed in private family care rooms.
Leeder works in an above ground-basement studio in the home she shares with her husband, Ivor, and beloved Yorkshire terrier, Kenya. The view to the south brings the Creston Valley right to her doorstep, reminding her of the gratitude she feels for having relocated from Edmonton.
She has painted for less than 20 years, but she has always had a creative side.
“As a child I created Barbie doll furniture and clothing for myself and my friends.”
A career in business at Edmonton International Airport, where she ran the tax and duty-free shop and bonded warehouse didn’t allow for much artistic expression, but she credits it for helping her to learn “the marketing end of business” that has helped her in what she now considers to be a full-time painting career.
“After a good 18 years I left the job just because it was taking over all of my time. I was tired and I wanted a change.”
She went to work for a Mary Kay cosmetics director, helping her set up a home office and create monthly newsletters. It was in that job that she learned the computer skills that are now an integral asset to both her art designs and the marketing of her work.
“But over the years as I was working I was always looking for a release and that creative side of me kept coming out,” she recalls. “I picked up watercolour painting only because my husband used to be an oil painter. He had this interest in starting up again so I said, ‘Well, I’ll go out and buy you some paints to get you started.’ I had no idea what the cost was and I had no idea whether he was going to do it. So I bought him some cheap watercolour paints and brushes.”
The paints and brushes sat there and eventually Leeder “began picking them up and playing with them. The combination of the paint and the water and movement was so interesting to me. So I started to do more and more of it.”
She was drawn to still life because of her love of gardening, a passion she got from her mother. Gradually she started to become a painter. She learned by experiment and through books. After coming home from long days at work, the last thing she wanted to do was to hop back into the car and fight traffic to take lessons and workshops.
She took one or two workshops, finally, about 10 years ago, but has also taken advantage of the Internet for ideas and instructions.
“Mostly I’ve learned through trial and error, though. Through years of painting and maturity I started to find myself and learn what I really wanted to do.
“When I moved to Creston my paintings took on a deeper meaning. They have become a way to celebrate not only the beauty of the area we live in, but also the objects we use in our daily lives. Many of the objects in my paintings, such as the teacups and vases are vintage and bring their own story into my work. I also include vintage lace and this adds another layer. My love for this valley is shown by including fruit from local orchards along with the produce and flowers grown here.
“I have also started to include pottery made by local artisans. One of my paintings includes a bowl made by local potter Andrea Revoy. The painting I am currently working on includes a raku bowl by a Nelson potter. There are a few other Creston area potters whose work I want to include in my paintings, as well. Not only can I have fun with my paintings but I can help promote the work of other artists.”
“I want people to feel the joy in my work I want to create beautiful art that has meaning to people and that touches their lives in some way.”
Leeder’s blog is at lauraleeder.blogspot.ca and her website is www.lauraleeder.com. Her works can be found for sale online at ca.etsy.com. She is currently working on pieces that will become part of the Summer in the Kootenays show at Cranbrook’s Key City Theatre in April. Joining her in that show will be Creston mixed media artists Win Dinn and Elaine Gidman and nature photographer Jim Lawrence.