We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leah Wiedemer . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leah below.
Leah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
After the last class of an eight week watercolor course I naively stopped on my way home to apply for a job painting leather gifts. For some reason the boss agreed to take me on. This was the first of a series of on the job training positions. A year or so later I began work with a muralist, learning everything I could about the business as well as painting murals. It wasn’t too long before I was able to start my own mural business. No matter what medium I decided to try I was always drawing and working on those essential skills. It probably would have been faster to take a more direct route by going to art school and studying illustration. If I had it to do all over again I might do that or at the very least I would go full throttle into oil painting; plein air oil painting in particular. Having said that, I believe that all of my past artistic experiences have contributed in making me the painter I am today.
Leah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I began my artistic journey as a watercolor artist. My husband who has always been very supportive gave up many weekends to help schlep paintings and assemble a display tent for art festivals. While I loved watercolor, I didn’t love trying to protect them from the unpredictable elements of nature in an outdoor show. So when I saw a position advertised for a mural artist I went for it. A couple more twists and turns later found me illustrating children’s books before I finally decided to try my hand at oils. I had avoided oil paints because of the perceived mess, and toxicity. But after doing a little research I learned that I could avoid using smelly turps and mediums. Once I gave it a try I was hooked. Initially I was painting landscapes and street scenes exclusively. More recently I have added flowers and figures and portraits to my repertoire. My granddaughter has inspired me to paint children. I have started a series using her as my model and inserting her in different landscapes and situations. These are so enjoyable to do and have gotten a very positive response from my collectors. I’m open to doing commissions along these lines. I choose my subjects according to the emotional connection I feel. It can be a special place we visited, a scene that is special to me close to home or the way the light is playing across my garden. My hope is that others will feel that emotion and find a connection of their own to the work.
I’ve had the privilege of exhibiting in national and regional shows with the Oil Painters of America, as well as the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, and the American Impressionist Society.
Much of my work can be seen and purchased at Lost ArtGallery 210 St. George Street, St. Augustine,FL. Anything not in the gallery can be purchased from me directly through my website.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
After 9-11 my mural business experienced a significant drop off. That combined with the fact that time was relentlessly marching on and it was becoming increasingly more difficult to perform some of the more physically demanding aspects of my job such as building scaffolding, I knew I had to make a change. I accepted an art teaching job and also given the opportunity to illustrate some children’s books in watercolor and soft pastel. At the completion of those projects I decided to answer the siren call of oil painting. I muddled along on my own for a couple of years trying to figure out how to handle this new medium. Then due to massive layoffs and downsizing my husband found himself suddenly unemployed and unable to find another position. Faced with losing our home and basically starting over I knew I had to get serious.. So I did. I began to seriously study with online artists.Constantly practicing, absorbing, and learning everything I could from whoever would teach me.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I’m so lucky to be able to go to work everyday excited about doing something I love. There’s always an interesting problem to solve and the possibility of discovering a new look or a new way of achieving the effect I’m after. Everyday is interesting and exciting.
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