Andrea Leland
Andrea E. Leland is an artist currently residing on St. John in the Virgin Islands. Originally from Quebec, Canada, Leland received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. For the past twenty five years she has traveled throughout the Caribbean observing, participating in and documenting its culture and natural beauty. Using oil paints, mixed media and chalk pastels, she expresses what she has observed on paper and canvas. In addition to painting and drawing, Leland has directed and produced several documentary films about culture and artistic expression in the Caribbean. Her paintings, drawings and documentaries have been exhibited nationally and internationally and are in numerous private collections. She self-distributes her documentaries through New Day Films, Inc.
Of her work, Andrea Leland states:
“For many years, I have been traveling throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. When traveling my senses are heightened and I develop a keen sense of how the people fit within the landscape socially, politically and visually. Using intense colors and working completely intuitively I began to paint and draw landscapes and fruits that are bold, bright and passionate. The use of color, form, and texture are used to evoke a strong sense of emotion suggestive of the Caribbean spirit. In addition, the use of color and form creates a direct vehicle for my own self expression. The work is active, packed with energy and suggestive of landscape and culture reduced to its essence.”
Notes on the work displayed:
This new series of landscape and floral drawings are created by directly applying pigment (chalk pastel) onto archival paper. The drawings are then fitted into archival mattes, framed and protected with non-glare glass.
The mixed media work includes oil paints on archival paper that has been permanently adhered to masonite board and mounted on wood frames. Additional bits of recycled paper or cloth are sometimes added to enhance the overall image.
Three Apples
1998, 10 1/2” x 22”, oil/paper/wood
Cinnamon Bay Looking at Mary's Point
2004, 22” x 15”, pastel on paper
Trunk Bay
2005, 13” x 20”, pastel on paper
