Virginia Leonard

Born in Auckland in 1965

“Newcomer Virginia Leonard uses layers of thick paint applied with appealing energy to make vividly coloured romping paintings, at their best when the underlying idea is floral”.

Terry McNamara, NZ Herald

2003  “New Paintings”

“The initial “atomic blast” impact of Virginia’s paintings belies the subtlety and depth afforded by sustained viewing. They are composed of many, many layers. Most compositions contain figurative elements, but these are gradually and deliberately obscured by subsequent layers of gestural marks and splashes until they are submerged”

2003 – Finalist – Wallace art awards

2007 – Finalist – Norsewear Art awards

2007 – Waiheke Art awards – Zinni Douglas Merit award

2008 – Finalist   Waiheke Art awards

2009 – Finalist   Waiheke Art awards

“Paint is laid on paint, mark is laid on mark. The subject becomes less important as the painting progresses. Often the sheer thickness of the paint, between the small valleys and crags of paint add to the paradox of realised space.Sometimes the subject is formed by the drama of colour – forms caught up in the method of paint laid upon paint.

Often in the painting I invent visual ideas and images that are summoned up by the automatic gesture, where the marks have no specific reference purpose. It is a play of mind and imagination” Virginia now lives in Matakana with her young family where she paints professionally.

Her current body of work investigates mixed media gouache, acrylic and resin on canvas. She explores the relationships between form and the illumination of resin.

Virginia Leonard