We recently connected with Leah Steiner and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I was a junior in college when Covid-19 plagued the world and while the pandemic of course had negative impacts on my life, it freed up a lot of my time, and with that time I taught myself how to paint. I remember being in my room on a zoom class, I turned my camera off, pulled up YouTube, and watched a video on how to draw a nose. Every day since then, I have sat down and created something. The first part of the process of learning how to paint came from trial and error and lot of practice. I have always been a creative person with what feels like a never ending stream of ideas so it felt really natural to have a brush in my hand and just let go. However, as time went on, I felt like in order to be a “real” artist, I needed a more foundational understanding of shapes, proportions, lines, color theory…etc. I bought books on the human anatomy, theories on modern art, color theory, and artists I liked. I spent a lot time reading these books, specifically studying the body and face, flipping through pages and sketching what I saw.

Looking back on these past 5 years, seeing where I started and how far I have come, the most essential skill that is testament to my success is my dedication. Anyone can be an artist, but in order to make it as an artist, everything in your life has to come second to your craft. I spend Friday and Saturday nights in my room alone painting, I get home from work and I paint, I spend night after night staying up till 2 or 3 in the morning painting; to put it simply, my whole life has become centered around art and although it can be very lonely, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Leah Steiner and I am a 25 year old self taught artist from Chapel Hill, Nc. I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2021 with a bachelors in Communication and Women and Gender Studies. I have always been a creative person but it wasn’t until 2020 that I started using that creativity in an artistic way. For my capstone Women and Gender studies class, I chose Art in Activism and it was during that class I found myself in a love affair with art and artistic expression. My group ended up winning the first ever creative activism award for our project titled “Mutant.”

Over the past 4 years, I have fallen in love with painting, experimenting with acrylics, oils, and watercolors. I branched out, exploring charcoal, sewing, sculpting, and poetry. Now, I mix and match all these mediums to create expressionism pieces that vary in size and primarily explore themes of female sexuality and Pareidolia: the ability to find faces in the mundane.

Art has become everything to me; I have used it as means of healing myself from the outside world, as well as a pure form of self expression. Art has given me a sense of happiness and fulfillment I never thought was possible, even as I used it to heal from traumatic experiences. My work seamlessly blends raw emotion with conceptual depth, inviting you into a world of vivid color and evocative forms, shapes, and textures. My use of both bold, geometric abstraction and expressionism-based portraits creates an intriguing balance between both structure and spontaneity. Whether on canvas, in structure, or through wearable pieces — I, dive head first into the complexity of human identity, emotion, and physique. By using captivating features and eyes, exaggerated shapes, and a symphony of hues, she both effortlessly creates and captures a range of emotions — from contemplation to vulnerability, you’ll ask yourself “What am I feeling?” In her expression through fashion, faces are reimagined on denim and fabric, turning everyday wear into bold statements of rarity and uniqueness. This balance between fine art and wearable art, reflects my ability to push boundaries and offer viewers and wearers a thought-provoking experience every time. Each piece, whether abstract or figurative, feels like a 1-on-1 conversation with her – but with grace, I try and let my art do the talkin.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There is a book titled “Three magic words” by U. S. Anderson that has completely changed the way I approach my art but life in general. The book is based on the idea that individuals are not limited by external forces or circumstances but can create their own reality through their thoughts and beliefs. It emphasizes that by aligning one’s consciousness with the divine essence within, a person can access boundless potential and live a more fulfilling life.

Through anecdotes, philosophical insights, and practical advice, Anderson encourages readers to shift their mindset and embrace the idea that they are divine creators of their own experiences. The message of the book is both spiritual and empowering, reminding readers of the importance of self-awareness, positive thinking, and the power of belief in shaping their reality.

I know not everyone is spiritual, and honestly I wasn’t really either before I read this book. However as an artist I think it is really important to believe that you can create your own reality in the outside world, not just on a canvas, and this book has helped me do that.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having people fall in love with your work. The reason for this is because my art, like any other artist, is the purest most true reflection of who I am to my core. Sharing that part of yourself to strangers is really scary, so when you are able to take that risk and then feel a positive response…there truly is no better feeling in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leahsteiner.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lis_tudiozz/

Image Credits

image credits: Lindsey Kiesgen