Leah Michelle, University Courtauld Institute of Art, 2010
This week we learn more about Leah Michelle who originally met us when she interned at the gallery during her Masters at the Courtauld.
1) Which art movement do you consider most influential on your practice?
My technique of mixing my own paints and layering paint is heavily influenced by Italian Renaissance Masters like Caravaggio and Giorgio Vasari whilst my subject matter and painterly style is most influenced by the American Abstract Expressionists working in the aftermath of the Second World War.
2) Where do you go and when to make your best art?
I am lucky enough to paint in my own home studio even though it is currently a cold, old basement room in our new (very old!) house. I tend to make my best work when I have a good few hours to dedicate solely to painting. This happens so rarely these days with two little ones so time management is key as is a really good Spotify play list!
3) How do you describe your 'creative process'?
Messy! Before the chaos though, I tend to think about what I want to paint for weeks leading up to actually putting any paint on the canvas. I cull through many inspirational pictures sometimes saving dozens of shots that might influence the energy of the work and do lots of sketches and collages before setting the blank canvas on my wall. Then paint, paper and gloss fly making it look like a colour bomb of artistic fury in my studio. I make at least 3-4 pieces per series but I am normally painting around 10-20 works-in-progress until one by one they seem finished. That is always the difficult part, knowing when each piece is finished, and the finishing process always seems a little different for every piece. All pieces are then sealed with at least 20 layers of polyurethane, and the edges are either painted or the canvas is framed to finish off each work professionally.
I'd love to own a small, beautifully guilt Italian Renaissance altarpiece one day.
4) Which artist, living or deceased, is the greatest inspiration to you?
Mark Rothko and Giorgio Vasari. Both artists dedicated their lives to creating works of art that would influence and inspire generations to come albeit in very different styles.
5) If you weren't an artist, what would you do?
I am really loving the idea of becoming an interior designer at the moment as we are about to begin our second house renovation.
6) What do you listen to for inspiration?
7) Which 3 artists would you collect work by if money was no object?
I'd love to own a small, beautifully guilt Italian Renaissance altarpiece one day, and I know I'd win the best daughter award if I could buy a Canaletto* for my father!
*Giovanni Antonio Canal (18 October 1697 – 19 April 1768), better known as Canaletto, was an Italian painter of landscapes, orvedute, of Venice. He was also an important printmaker in etching.
8) If your dream museum or collection owner came calling, which would it be?
My dream would be for all of my friends and the lovely parents I meet at nursery and play groups, and all the art lovers at our art fairs to own one of my works. If we are really dreaming big (!), I'd love for my sons to open a gallery space showcasing my artwork along with the artwork our family has collected over the decades.
9) What is your key piece of advice for artists embarking on a fine art or creative degree today?
Allow your art the freedom it needs to grow even if that means dividing your time between a day job and making art.
10) What is your favorite book of all time (fiction or non-fiction)?
*By Irving Stone this book is a powerful and passionate biographical novel of Michelangelo.
11) If you could hang or place your artwork in one non-traditional art setting, where would that be?
I think it'd be really amazing to have my original artworks displayed in Selfridges and Waitrose to show people that original art is affordable to buy and rewarding to own.
12) What was the biggest lesson your university course or time studying taught you?
When you get into a rut, go back to the basics and find your way back again.
13) And finally, if we were to fast forward 10 years, where would we find you?
Hopefully blogging about and owning my own lifestyle brand/store, creating inspiring, beautiful art and having amazing holidays with my almost grown-up kids and amazing husband!
