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The Gallery

“Natural Phenomenon” by Barbara Léger

Barbara Léger has a long history of classical training, formally and in studio, with a strong concentration in oil painting. She
has been trained through a Master Apprenticeship Program and is a Master Marine Oil Painter with the International Society
of Marine Painters and a member of Oil Painters of America. Her work is showcased at the Vanderbilt Gallery in Nantucket and
at premier galleries along the Eastern Seaboard. She’s also been featured in numerous magazines, including Nantucket Only,
American Art Collectors, Cape Cod Art and American Art Review, to name a few.

The artist is an integral part of the resurgence of the illuminist movement. As an illuminist, she devotes countless hours
building thin layers of pigmented oils to result in refined details. Her paintings in the current collection highlight the fluid
complexity of the water with an emphasis on the animal characteristics that magnify the highest human qualities: honor,
perseverance, and commitment.

PPL: How long have you been working as an artist?

BL: I have been painting for over 40 years. It is not a profession; it is a calling. I am vibrantly alive when painting, and that
vibrancy is embedded in my work. This is the case with all original art. There is a vibrational energy that lives within the
art and positively affects the beholder.

PPL: What inspires you?
BL: I am inspired by nature and the interaction of living beings in nature. As a Master Marine Oil Painter, I focus on the
ever-changing waters--oceans, lakes, and streams. I am devoted to every work through composition, and once named
and signed, I send it out into the world with the intention of bringing joy.

PPL: How long does it usually take to complete a piece?

BL: High quality work cannot be done part time or as a hobby. In my case It requires hundreds of hours to complete one
painting.

PPL: You mentioned art is a calling, not a profession. Yet we’ve all heard of the “starving artist…”

BL: I do sell art, but not at a rate to keep up with a rising economy. More and more often, many artists in all genres must
walk away from their life’s calling as an artist and settle for a more financially secure job. I am only able to sustain my
natural talents and continue this path because my husband supports our household. Ironically, there was a time when
only the affluent collected original oils; someday it may be only the affluent who can devote the time to create them.

PPL: How has the digital world impacted the creation of original work?

BL: Today it is commonplace to post, print, and sell images for home décor on public platforms or purchase art in every big
box store. While this practice is putting painters and photographers out of business, there’s much more at stake.

PPL: …the loss of originality.

BL: Exactly. Imagine seeing the same prints in the same frames on every wall across the country. Imagine never experiencing
the joy original art offers. Imagine looking at something mass-produced and feeling, well, nothing. We need original
art in our lives, just like we need live music. It pleases us, connects us, frees us, soothes us, inspires us—individually and
as a society.

Learn more about the artist at www.barbaraleger.com. If you are interested in purchasing one of the pieces please contact Anne
Phelan, 508-830-4250, ext. 216 or Barbara directly at (508) 991-1761 or barbleger@comcast.net.

Cover to Cover Winter/Spring 2022 Issue 19