March 2010 Issue
Sheer Inspiration
Christopher Leeper shares some of his favorite paintings.
As the featured artist in the March issue of
Ohio Magazine, Christopher Leeper discussed his compulsion to capture the everyday — fleeting moments that are common, yet full of grace and beauty. He finds inspiration in a ray of light, a shadowed ground, a gentle landscape and a scene of relaxation: images that, when transferred to canvas, exude a sense of tranquility and peace. We asked the artist to share his favorite pieces from his substantial body of work.
Napping Kathy: “An acrylic of my wife sleeping under a quilt. A special time right before our first son was born.”
Garden’s End: “An acrylic painting of our garden at the end of the season. There is visual beauty in this ragged garden. Weeds have taken over and the corn and a few tomatoes are all that is left. I think I came close to capturing the soft morning light that inspired the painting.”
A Road Less Traveled: “This oil painting really captures our winter. The scene is Lodge Road in Columbiana County, but it could be anywhere in rural Ohio. I like the sense of stillness and atmosphere.”
Woodland Sunset: “One of the first paintings of what would become a recurring theme in my painting — the backlit woodland. I have painted this sort of scene over and over and still find great excitement in trying to capture the filtered, warm light and deep shadows.”
Bloom: “This is a painting of my youngest son, Brian. In a way, it is also a self-portrait. I was thinking of my own youth growing up in rural Pennsylvania. There is a mix of melancholy, nostalgia and beauty. It was a difficult painting.”
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