Artist Statement

My work has been diverse over the years, but my passion for painting landscapes, still life and spiritual themes, as well as photography of architecture and nature, have stood the test of time and seasons of life. When painting, I enjoy working in the impressionist style, as well as expressionist and conceptual, especially if there is a spiritual bend to the work. By spiritual I mean divinely inspired, or inspired by my own spiritual journey into the heart of God. I am inspired by the beauty of nature when in harmony with man (rows of trees or lavender, a garden, sailboats on the water). Another source of inspiration are historic buildings awaiting restoration (my favourite examples are found in the Czech Republic; The Czechs are amazing colourists). They have layers and layers of beautifully colored paint visible; the layers tell a story; what has each layer seen and been through? The result I see is beautiful, unique, deep and full of character.

I use acrylic paint and lots and lots of water in my conceptual/expressionistic works to achieve the look I envision. I sometimes use mixed media such as modeling paste, gold leaf and photographs, even an inspiring Starbucks bag has found its way into one of my pieces. I like to use gold, because it represents something that does not tarnish with time and even if its beginnings are not pure, it can be refined. I use water, a blow dryer, and rotation of the canvas or board itself to manipulate the running wet paint. I seal each piece with varnish to protect the work and give the colours clarity and depth.

It is hard to put into words what I feel when I conceive a work. I used to just paint the beauty I saw in the world; now I am able to paint the beauty I see beyond it. My hope is that my artwork will not only speak to the soul of the viewer, but to their spirit as well, that my artwork would offer the viewer a glimpse of the Divine. I want it to view the viewer, just as there are literary pieces that read the reader.

Curriculum Vitae

Exhibitions:
2010
'A Glimpse Of Heaven' Group art exhibit and event organized by the Belleville Ministerial Association, hosted by Maranatha Christian Reform Church, Belleville, Ontario. October 2010.
2008
Juried Art Show & Sale: Expressions 2008. Quinte Arts Council's Annual Juried Art Show & Sale, John M. Parrott Art Gallery, Belleville, Ontario, May 1-29
Solo exhibit. Art In The Community Gallery, Quinte Arts Council. Location: Northumberland - Quinte West, On. MPP Lou Rinaldi's office. Jan. 17th - Mar. 7th.

2007
Belleville Art Walk. Location: BIHC, Belleville, Ontario. Nov.
Art Sale. Location: Private home in Bayside, Ontario. Oct.

2006
Art As Worship. Prophetic painting during Church worship services. 2006+
Commercial Gallery. Killick Rose Frame Work, Frankford, Ontario. Full year.

2004
‘Originals Only’ Fine Art Show & Sale. Comox Community Centre, Comox, B.C.
“Landscape In Miniature”. Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.
Annual Studio Tour. Comox Valley Art Gallery, Comox Valley, B.C.
‘Originals Only’ Fine Art Show & Sale. Marina Park, Comox, B.C.
Artisans Exhibit. Comox Nautical Days Festival, Marina Park, Comox, B.C
Juried Art Show. Comox Valley Community Arts Council, Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.

2003
’Originals Only’ Fine Art Show & Sale. Comox Community Centre, Comox, B.C.
Annual Studio Tour. Comox Valley Art Gallery, Comox Valley, B.C.
Commercial Gallery. Qualicum Frameworks Gallery, Qualicum, B.C.
‘Originals Only’ Fine Art Show & Sale. Marina Park, Comox, B.C.
Artisans Exhibit. Comox Nautical Days Festival, Marina Park, Comox, B.C.
Commercial Gallery. The Framing Post Gallery, Campbell River, B.C.
Federation of Canadian Artists. Comox Valley Chapter Summer Exhibit, Filberg Lodge, Comox, B.C.
Arts & Culture Week “FCA Paint-In”. Historic landmark Old House Restaurant, Courtenay, B.C.
‘Art & Bloom Festival’ Original Fine Art Show and Sale. Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, Courtenay, B.C.
Spring Art Show. Driftwood Mall, Courtenay B.C.
Federation of Canadian Artists. Comox Valley Chapter Exhibit, Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.

2002
Juried Christmas Show. Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.
“The Miniature Show”. Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.
“IMPRESSIONS: Landscape & Still Life”. Duo Exhibition of Works By Kay Hilborn and Magdalena Leaker. Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C., November 2nd – 23rd
Artisan’s Exhibit. Comox Nautical Days Festival, Marina Park, Comox, B.C.
Juried Art Show. Comox Valley Community Arts Council, Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.
Spring Art Show. Driftwood Mall, Courtenay, B.C.
“Small Art Gallery” Exhibits. Comox Valley Community Arts Council, Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.

Art Related Education:1994 Diploma of Fine Art, Kwantlen University-College, B.C.
1992 Painting lessons from Antonia Lanik-Gabanek
1992 Graphic Arts Co-Op Education Program, Princess Margaret Senior Secondary
1992 Fine Arts Program, Princess Margaret Senior Secondary, Surrey, B.C.

Awards:2004
Honourable Mention: Acrylic Painting Category for “Aix En Provence Flower Market”.Comox Valley Community Arts Council Juried Art Show, Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.
2002
Award of Excellence: painting category for “Parrot Tulips & Oranges”
Award of Merit: painting category for “The Old Pear Tree”.Comox Valley Community Arts Council Juried Art Show, Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.
2001
Honourable Mention: painting category for “In the Pasture”.Comox Valley Community Arts Council Juried Art Show, Muir Gallery, Courtenay, B.C.

Commissions:
2002
Denis and Kathryn, San Jose, California/Royston, B.C.
2001
Sheila, Comox, B.C.

Donations of Artwork:
2012
Acrylic painting: 'Persistent Fruit'.  Donated for Haiti fundraiser auction.  Sold.
2009
Acrylic Painting: 'Prague Sunset' to auction for Private School fundraiser.  Sold.
2008
Murals: Wildflower Meadow Murals inside the Maranatha Christian Reform Church building at 100 College St. West in Belleville, Ontario. The murals represent 100 donated hours. A labour of love.
Props: Christmas Theme paintings, two 8ft. x 8ft. painted wood panels representing approximately 20 donated hours also for Maranatha Church.
2007
Acrylic Painting: “Birth & Deliverance”.

2002
Oil painting: “Fruit/Still Life” donated to the Comox Valley Art Gallery Biennial Art Auction Fund-raiser.

Artist Statement

“Beauty is food for the soul.” Author unknown

This saying encompasses the message and spirit of my artwork. I am inspired by beauty, I notice it in nature, in people, and in objects; I strive to surround myself with it. I believe that to notice beauty in the everyday, in seemingly ordinary things, is a gift. My desire is to inspire and share this gift with others. It is a commitment to practice beauty, just like anything of true value in this life; so I believe with all my heart that it's time well spent. The soul does, indeed, need to be fed, so my hope is that we may learn to slow down, look up, and notice the message that beauty would bring us.

Paintings By Magdalena Leaker

1. Three Red Pears 12 x 24 acrylic on canvas
2. In The Light 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas
3. Unity In Diversity 12 x 12 acrylic on canvas
4. A Fruitful Gathering 12 x 12 acrylic on canvas
5. French Dress Form 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas SOLD
6. Lisianthus in Bohemian Jug 24 x 30 acrylic on canvas
7. Parrot Tulips & Oranges 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas
8. “P” for “Pear” 10 x 10 acrylic on canvas GIFT
9. Still Life in Sapphire & Violet 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas
10. Lemons with Blue Jug 11 x 14 inches oil on canvas
11. A Summer Idyll 16 x 20 inches oil on canvas
12. Trixx Roses 3 x 4 feet oil on canvas GIFT
13. Tulips on Blue Wash 20 x 24 inches oil on canvas
14. Yellow Onion 8 x 10 inches acrylic on canvas
15. Nectarines & White Bowl 12 x 16 inches oil on canvas
16. Little Rose Bush 7 x 9 inches oil on canvas
17. Potted Hydrangea 16 x 20 inches oil on canvas
18. Valensole Plain at Dusk, Pvc. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas
19. Pl. Des Precheurs, Aix En Pvc. 12 x 16 inches acrylic on canvas
20. Ochre Cliffs, Roussillon, Pvc. 12 x 16 inches acrylic on canvas
21. Les Alpilles at Dusk, St. Remy, Pvc. 12 x 16 inches acrylic on canvas
22. Lavender Field, Valensole, Pvc. 12 x 16 inches acrylic on canvas
23. La Rue Verrerie, Aix En Pvc. 12 x 16 acrylic on canvas SOLD
24. Deep Bay October, Van. Isl. 18 x 24 oil on canvas SOLD
25. The “Paint - In” at Paradise Gardens 18 x 24 inches oil on canvas
26. Harvested Wheat Field, Pvc. 20 x 24 inches acrylic on canvas
27. Beauty In a Stormy Place 24 x 30inches acrylic on canvas
28. Blue Mountain, Valensole Plane, Pvc. 12 x 16 inches acrylic on canvas
29. Old Apple Tree 20 x 24 inches oil on canvas
30. Beach Grasses & Driftwood 20 x 24 oil on canvas GIFT
31. Sunday Sailing (Hornby & Denman Isles.) 12 x 16 inches oil on canvas
32. Island Laundry, Kye Bay 16 x 20 oil on canvas GIFT
33. Three Boats, Comox Marina 16 x 20 inches oil on canvas
34. Lavender Field; Day Before Harvest 22 x 28 inches oil on canvas
35. Tuscan Farm Lavender #1 16 x 20 inches oil on canvas
36. Tuscan Farm Lavender #2 16 x 20 inches oil on canvas
37. Country Meadow 20 x 24 inches oil on canvas
38. Catmint Bouquet 22 x 28 oil on canvas SOLD
39. Cherry Trees 20 x 24 oil on canvas SOLD
40. Dahlias in Blue Pitcher 12 x 16 inches oil on canvas board
41. Polemonium 7 x 9 oil on canvas SOLD
42. Primrose 12 x 12 inches oil on canvas
43. Wildflower Bouquet 20 x 24 inches oil on canvas
44. Olive Tree 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas SOLD
45. Aix En Pvc Flower Market 24 x 24 acrylic on canvas SOLD
46. Comox Valley Cherry Trees 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas SOLD
47. Oranges & Blue Vase acrylic on canvas
48. Oranges in a Compote acrylic on canvas
49. Pink Rose in Blue Creamer acrylic on canvas
50. Apricots & Strawberries, Aix En Pvc. 11 x 14 inches acrylic on canvas
51. Blue cornflowers 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas SOLD
52. Red Ranunculus 11 x 14 inches acrylic on canvas
53. Purple Pears 12 x 12 acrylic on canvas GIFT
54. Comox Bay Sailing 5 x 7 acrylic on canvas GIFT
55. Comox Valley Lunar Eclipse 5 x 7 inches acrylic on canvas
56. Lavender Hedgerow 5 x 7 inches acrylic on canvas
57. This list needs to be updated with MUCH more of my work
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