We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leah Thompson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Leah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
This is one I think about often. I struggled so much in my younger years (and still do, really) with self esteem. I knew I always wanted to do something creative, but never thought I was good enough or was a “real” artist. Constantly, I would compare myself to others and always thought my art and my voice was “too weird”. Well, now in my later years, I am proud of my “weirdness”. In fact, I’ve come to see it as my super power! My silliness, imagination and play make me the artist I am today. There is only ONE Leah Thompson and I am so happy that I finally feel comfortable enough sharing my version of beauty to the world.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Originally a Pacific NW native, I am primarily a self-taught abstract artist now residing in the Phoenix metro area. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by natural beauty on a daily basis. That natural beauty, combined with an artistic influence via my mother, I always knew I was destined to be an artist some day, and really, was an artist since day one. Ever since I can remember, I “created”. whether it be coloring, making collages, making clothes, or even just little scenes put together with my stuffed animals, I was creating something, somewhere, all of the time.
As I got older, I always saw artists and painters as something I wanted to be, but never felt like I was, or would be good enough. So, rather than focusing on fine arts, I decided to venture into the realm of design. Interior design, fashion design and graphic design then became my focus. I then made the decision to study at The Art Institute of Portland where both my love of art grew, and my frustration grew. I LOVED my drawing classes where I could play with shadows and light, and really excelled. In the classes where I had less freedom and needed to follow “rules”, I struggled. In a search for that “play” I longed for, I found focusing difficult and flitted around the realms of design, but never settled in.
After that, life happened, just like it does for all young adults, and I worked for YEARS in jobs that were awful but paid the bills. I hated the work I did but needed to be able to “adult” so I stuck with it and tried to sneak in my creative endeavors when I could.
It wasn’t until the pandemic when I had a bit of an “ah ha!” moment. I did something I hadn’t done in YEARS…I started painting. It wasn’t that I just started painting though. I started painting with that freedom and play that I had been missing for so long. It felt incredible. So incredible that I decided to share it with others this time.
Using a combination of fluid mediums such as diluted acrylics and alcohol inks, combined with mediums such as pastels and spray paints, I love to play and experiment with fluid and static. Color and intuition are my guides and I just paint with my heart and my feelings. I pride myself on my unusual voice and how my work speaks to others. Painting intuitively, my work doesn’t come alive until it lets me know its done. When it does, I then take a step back and read what it is trying to tell me and give it its title. After a piece is created and I take that moment to dive into it as a whole, its very emotional sometimes. Its given me something I needed.
When others view my work, I don’t expect them to see what I see or feel what I feel. Nothing gives me greater joy than for someone to tell me that they see something in my work that THEY needed too. That its spoken to them as well and brought something out of them whether that be an intense emotion or just brought back that spirit of play an imagination to their world.
Within this last year, I have been lucky enough to share pieces with others in many different ways. I have been involved in exhibitions at five local galleries, and two exhibitions in southern California, and was listed as one of Camelback Galleries artist’s of the month for August of 2022. My goal for 2023 is to continue to share my work via my website, social media, group shows as well as have my own show this year. Currently, I mainly create pieces on canvas, but also include digital work, and soon, I plan on combining my love of design with my art by creating hand painted textiles to construct one of a kind handbags.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think the biggest thing is that when you’re a creative, you will ALWAYS be a creative and sometimes when youre not, its hard to fully understand that.
When someone fights their creative spirit, you aren’t being true to yourself and its so hard to be truly happy when that part of you is stagnant.
For creatives that are in the standard 9-5 workplace, find ways to sneak in that creative time. Even something as simple as creating power points for your job to help with presentations. Its something that you can do that allows you to play with colors etc and even though its not very exciting, its a sneaky way to get some creative juices going.
As a non-creative just understand that us creatives are a bit weird, BUT, we add some color and flair to the grey world!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Honestly, I just want my art to reach people and reach the people who will find joy in it.
Life is too short to not embrace the beauty and magic in the world. I know that especially in this day and age, it can be sooo hard to find those things that truly gives us that sense of wonderment, excitement, child-like playfulness and fun. I want my art to inspire those feelings in those that see it. That makes it all worthwhile for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leahthompsonartistry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lta_leah_thompson_artistry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahtotallyarted/
- Other: tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@leahtotallyarted