A native of Ontario, Canada, Leanne began her life as an artist while training as a classical pianist with the Royal Conservatory of Music. This was followed by her studies and career in mechanical engineering working on submarines, which paradoxically accompanied her ongoing interest in the psyche and the emotional connection to physical illness.
Following her intuition, and desiring to get back to a freer and more creative lifestyle, she took a huge leap of faith, leaving her engineering career behind, and moved to Italy where she lived & worked for 7 years, towards the end of which she began dabbling in watercolors (self-taught) and studying ceramics with a master ceramicist.
She then moved to Austin and, continuing to be fascinated by the human psyche and its connection to physical illness, completed graduate work in acupuncture, Shiatsu and Japanese Five Element psychology and started a successful healing practice treating women challenged with cancer. Throughout all this she continued to create her art until she finally realized her artwork was the language through which she was able to communicate most effectively what she had gleaned from her years of self-study.
She continued her painting education through a class at Austin Museum of Art, Laguna Gloria campus and one at Austin Community College in addition to a considerable amount of independent study. She also trained extensively in ceramics with the internationally renowned sculptor and ceramicist, Ishmael Soto.
Since beginning to show her work publicly in December 2006, her paintings have been met with widespread appreciation as well as numerous international awards and feature articles in national and international publications. Leanne now paints full time in her Austin studio at Pump Project Art Complex and exhibits her work in the United States and Europe.
One of her recent collectors commented, “There is always something new and fresh to be perceived in these paintings, as if they are a doorway into some aspect of the world which we normally ignore.”
FUTURE EXHIBITS
AWARDS & PRESS COVERAGE
MEMBERSHIPS
Austin Museum of Art
Arthouse at the Jones Center
Art Alliance Austin
