BA (Hons) Fine Art
Eleanor Leese
Eleanor Leese’s work is primarily focused on value in the everyday, paying attention to the overlooked items that we might use, see or interact with; she is fascinated by the ‘ordinary’ and in giving it a sense of decadence and importance. The deliberate isolation of a single object and acute attention to detail in a pen, a saucepan or a water bottle seems to give them a striking presence. As an artist, she intentionally captures objects that she is surrounded by in her everyday life.
Her work often takes hours or days to complete, giving her a feeling of catharsis, as it deliberately contrasts with the cycle of being trapped in a continuous working routine. Her intention is to capture the attention of those who view her art, thus providing them with a moment of distraction away from their own busy lives.
Leese uses a mixture of painted backgrounds, oils and inks for her gently textured backgrounds to create a surface for graphite pencil drawings. She also explores scale, but keeps her style of realism consistent throughout her practice. Her work is continuously experimental as she endeavors to both capture and present mundane items in the most impactful way possible.