Art & Life with Leah Rei

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Rei.

Leah, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have always been a creator. From a very young age, I was interested in anything that meant I could make something. My mother taught me how to sew, embroider, make paper by hand, dye fabric – you name it. My brother, a tinkerer in his own right would help me build wild structures with everyday objects. We were completely encouraged to let our imaginations run wild.

In my education, I excelled in math and science. It was the gratification of finding a solution that kept me driven but as I got older and closer to college, I felt that I needed to do something that was more challenging. Art is like science in the way that it is driven by curiosity and the need to discover, explain, and resolve. However, what really makes being an artist challenging and interesting is there never is an end to that searching and exploring. As an artist, you are always learning and developing and that is why I decided to pursue and a degree in Fine Art from Arizona State University with an emphasis in painting.

After graduating with honors, I started my career as a professional artist. I have been working as such for 10 years now, which puts me in a unique position to have experience but also be early in my career. I enjoy the process of working with clients, finding and interacting with those that share a passion and appreciation for art. It is my ultimate goal, as a professional artist, to create art that not only satisfies my need for expression but also resonates with my collectors. I am truly excited by my chosen career path and I am eagerly looking forward to the growth ahead.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My current body of work is centered around and inspired by nature. Although some imagery is recognizable, a fair amount of my work can also be considered abstract. I approach each piece with the intent of expressing a part of nature and the feelings surrounding it in a loose non-realistic manner. Marc Chagall once said, “Great art picks up where nature ends.” This phrase embodies in one sentence what I am chasing as an artist.

Nature is not just a sight to be seen but also an experience. I am working to explore the intangible moments of when the shadows and light shift, when the breeze rustles just the right way, or when the sun warms your skin. These moments are brief but substantial. As such, my art is an exploration of color, light, and texture with a sophisticated and thoughtful touch.

My technical approach includes the use of mixed media, gold and silver leaf, and fluid acrylic inks. I find the fluidity of the inks allows me to guide the painting with a mixture of intuition and intention. This approach lends an air of serendipity to my work as I find a balance between what is seen and what is expressed. In addition to acrylic ink, I find the use of gold and silver leaf an integral part of my creative process. Gilded gold and silver accents throughout my work help to express reflections of light found throughout nature.

I draw further inspiration from the life and works of American artist Helen Frankenthaler. I am drawn to her confidence and need to express what she saw and experienced. Mrs. Frankenthaler once said about her own works, “my pictures are full of climates, abstract climates. They’re not nature per se, but a feeling.” I feel similarly about my own works, as they are an expression of nature, not a direct depiction.

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
In this modern economy, I think that an artist needs to exhibit great drive, ingenuity, and authenticity. These traits when paired with business acumen are a true recipe for success. I am currently in my last semester of earning my MBA from the University of Arizona, which I intend to use throughout the length of my career as a professional artist.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work can be found on my website. I am also currently exhibiting at Think Fine Art Gallery in Scottsdale in addition to several galleries across the country.

Additionally, for a behind the scenes look at my studio practice, I post regularly on Instagram.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leahreifineart.com
• Email: leah.rei@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/leahrei_fineart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/leahreifineart

Image Credit:
Leah Rei

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