Reminiscent of Van Gogh, Leonie Brown uses bold and harsh brush strokes to create emotion in her pieces.
https://www.singulart.com/en/artist/leonie-brown-7275
Brown had a passion and talent for art since her childhood, and she pursued a degree in Fine Arts at Potchefstroom University to expand her creativity, where she won national awards. But after graduating, she stopped painting for a decade for her mental health and to recover from her childhood trauma. She returned to art in the 2000s.
In her paintings, Brown relies on a spontaneous approach to express herself. She uses lots of layers, an impasto technique (thick brushstrokes to make them visible), and various materials (resin, ink, wax). Different materials accomplish different things; for example, wax allows viewers to experience the art with touch and resin thins out pigment, revealing underlying truth.
Light Shines in the Darkness (2016).
https://www.saatchiart.com/en-kr/art/Painting-Light-Shines-in-the-Darkness/894044/3051311/view
Through her work, the artist hopes to inspire other women like her who have gone through difficulties and challenges. Her chaotic paintings are actually meant to show a path of healing and a life filled with appreciation. They’re full of positivity, serving as a symbol of hope and peace in our world of negativity.
Brown’s main source of inspirations are Van Gogh, Karel Appel, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko, whose works also express the same sense of optimism through color.
Burning Child with Hoop (1961) by Karel Appel
https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/karel-appel-influence-outsider-art/3796
Leonie Brown reminds us to find happiness in every moment and smile in the face of adversity. Her paintings show the transformative power of art.
If you resonate with her work, find out more about here: https://lifeart.co.za/!