media artist Leah Rei, that meant finding some soul-soothing relief in gold leaf. And what started as a per - sonal journey of healing turned into a body of work that started having a similar effect on collectors. They, too, began to experience the joy and hap - piness that Leah felt when she was creating the work. “I started creating these works using gold leaf because I needed to create for myself a safe and happy place,” she said. “There were things going on in my personal life that weren’t necessarily that. This series of art, and this body of work, has become that freedom and comfort. Now that every - thing is great in my life, I get to create these pieces and give them as gifts to collectors. Through that, I’m giving them that gift of comfort and peace.” Where Leah found peace and hap - piness in the interplay between gold leaf and light, watercolor artist Heidi Rosner finds in desert environ - ments––that is her happy place. “These days I’m feeling such a strong connection to the desert,” she said. “The flora, the fauna, the air, the smell when it
rains, those are all very spiritual, soul connections for me.” So, when she chooses to paint something, it’s usually not because she wants to paint that object specif - ically. She’s more compelled to paint the impact it has on its environment–– the way the cast shadow, intense color or filtered light can create moments of calm or lively energy. She then trans - lates that feeling into a watercolor. “When I’m creating, especially my ‘Serenity’ pieces, there’s a lot of breathing room and calm space to them and that feeds my soul, because there’s so much chaos everywhere,” Heidi said. “When I work on one of these pieces, I feel centered and pres - ent.” That feeling then carries over to her collectors. With her colorful body of work, she often hears from collectors that it makes them joyful and en - ergized. With the “Serenity” pieces,
collectors tell her they provide a sense of calm and peace. “It’s fascinating to see how people respond, because I feel the same way when I’m painting colorful pieces––I’m energized and it makes me happy in my heart,” Heidi said. “And when I’m painting one of my monochromatic pieces, I feel very grounded, present and calm.” seeking soul guidance Much like collectors rely on their gut or heart connection to help guide a purchase, artists rely on their soul to help guide the process of creation. “I think it’s a point of departure with every piece,” said artist Tatiana Rajkov. “It starts at an unconscious level, and then it takes body, shape, color and characteristics while you’re working on the idea and preparing the con - cept. But the soul connection starts in
Opposite page: "Whispers of a Bloom", Tatiana Rajkov, 48x36. This page, upper left: Artist Chad Lieske buffs one of his rings. Upper right: Guests admire artist Heidi Rosner's watercolor "Serenity" series. Right: Art lovers admire Laura Lee Stay's masterful sculptures.
Issue 5 | Summer/Fall 2026
Page 7
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease