About my art:

Through colour, light, texture and form, I express (with paint) my vision of the interconnectedness and unpredictability in our world and its components.   

I take my inspiration from daily life, and the sights, sounds, smells, activities and interactions that it comprises. I don't try to create images of "things".  Rather, I allow my experiences to percolate in my subconscious, and express the results on canvas.  

Although my paintings are rarely representational, I welcome peoples' personal interpretations of what they see in my art, or how it makes them feel.  

When I do work on more representational pieces, it is to capture something I find special in the human experience. I usually portray everyday objects or scenes from unusual angles and / or in playful ways - and almost always with a touch of abstraction.

Current series:

As you pass GO 12"X12" Mixed media on canvas

Cube II "12X12" Acrylic on canvas

‘Small Things, Big Meaning’ takes a step away from my usual focus on abstract painting. It takes a playful look at simple objects that have a big role in the human experience.  My inspiration:

• The small things (games/ pieces) may evoke strong memories and emotions, drawing on the prevalence of classic games throughout peoples’ lives.  They harken back to childhood, or to cherished and potentially charged times with friends and family. 
• In the current era in which electronic devices dominate entertainment, the paintings refer nostalgically to a time when physical games played a larger role in everyday life. 



Chess it is  "12X12" Acrylic on Canvas



U1 (I won!?) 12"X10" Acrylic on canvas

• While the paintings are small, the game pieces are represented as larger-than-life.  These are truly “great big” versions of very small things.  This hyper-sizing heightens awareness of the importance of these small objects to our personal histories, and magnifies the tactile qualities that draw us to them and fuse them in our subconscious.  



AOK "12X10" Mixed media on canvas 



I WON!  "12X8" Acrylic on Canvas

• Only a portion of the referenced game is captured many of the paintings: for example, a single scrabble tile, a lone die.  By depicting only a small part of a larger game, the paintings create an impression of things left unfinished or something more, just outside the frame.

The Cube 12"X12" Acrylic on canvas

About my art practice: I'm a co-coordinator at the Loft art studios in Ottawa Canada, where I create most of my paintings.  The Loft is an artists' collective in an inspiring old factory space. 

We occasionally host exhibitions and other events, so please check here or at the Loft Artist Studio's Facebook page for updates on happenings. 

I'm working with mosaic artist Heather Weinrich on a collaborative venture we call EyeLevel Art - bringing art and design into functional pieces for the home, and to public spaces.  

Three of my paintings were interpreted into rugs produced by a socially responsible network of GoodWeave-sanctioned artisans in Bhadohi, India - a region renowned for its mastery in carpet weaving, with its own Geographic Indication.  The carpet master's interpretation of the original paintings make tangible the concepts of interconnectedness that I explore in my art.  This collaboration was the vision of the late Lori Mockson, a visionary artpreneur who understood the beauty that is possible when people connect, tapping into what inspires each individual to create something special:

'Tribute' 6'x9'

'On the Water' 6'x9'

See below for more examples of my paintings.  

My body of work is changing and growing, so visit here often if it interests you. Don't hesitate to contact me at marge_leach@bell.net if you're interested in viewing my work in person, purchasing, commissioning, exhibiting and/ or working with me! 

 

 

 

 


 

 

     

Thanks for visiting my art space!