The Artist who brings life to Portraits
“Through my creative self-expression, I aim to convey a story. Every portrait is unique and tells that story,” says Leanne.
During the pandemic, Leanne Bishop’s talent for drawing was discovered in 2020, thanks to her innate talent for all things creative. Her unwavering resolve to produce images that capture an emotion or an event as genuine as the memory or snapshot they reflect was strengthened by each new obstacle. Graphite pencils were Leanne’s first choice of medium, and she later switched to mostly charcoal on paper. Leanne creates works of unmatched depth and mystery, from quick drawings to elaborate projects for clients. She believes in promoting fun, soulful, and healing art. Her social media expertise forges connections with her followers with each pencil stroke or personalized video fade-in to encourage joyful, spiritual, and therapeutic work.
She has always cherished artistic expression. Leanne obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Thompson Rivers University after growing up in Kamloops, British Columbia. Later, she relocated to the Fraser Valley to have a family and continue her nursing work. A delightful family painting session at our kitchen table in April 2020 sparked her love of drawing. “My affinity for creating hyper-realistic artwork grew from being inspired by my kids. Every time a project was revealed, their faces lit up, and their voices rose in excitement,” says Leanne. She was inspired to keep exercising her new skill by her sense of accomplishment after finishing each drawing. She aspires to give each portrait life and produce accurate, meticulous work that provides the viewer with a better understanding of reality.
Leanne’s illustrations add delicate layers of visual narrative to the reference image rather than being perfect replicas. Although dynamic, the process is organic. Her preferred medium evolved from graphite pencils to compressed charcoal, with the odd graphite and coloured pencil for finer detailing. She learned through trial and error that various tools, including paintbrushes, sponges, and cotton swabs, can create multiple textures.
Her journey in arts has paralleled every other element of her life; thus, she naturally sets objectives to increase her knowledge and abilities. She has discovered that creating hyper-realistic portraits is the most challenging but satisfying artistic achievement.
“Through my creative self-expression, I aim to convey a story. Every portrait is unique and tells that story,” says Leanne.
She describes herself as an artist, still growing her wings before she begins to fly. Regardless, in December 2021, she finished her first commission portrait. The ‘Community Art Show Exhibition’ at her local museum featured her artwork from 2020 to 2022.
“My affinity for creating hyper-realistic artwork grew from being inspired by my kids,” says Leanne Bishop.
