“I paint for those who have felt trapped behind glass walls, unable to experience the world’s touch fully. My art screams that it’s possible to shatter these barriers, to taste life’s flavors and feel its textures without reservation.”
from this copy:
Discover the raw emotion and depth of Leonie.e Brown's abstract art. This curated collection showcases a glimpse into her extensive body of work, featuring bold, expressive strokes and layers of rich, textured paint. Leonie's art is a visceral experience, inviting viewers to explore hidden depths within each canvas.
With a career spanning over two decades, she has garnered international recognition, including being named one of Artling's Top 10 Artists in 2023. Immerse yourself in a world of colour and texture as you explore these captivating pieces. Her artwork transcends the canvas, evoking emotions and inspiring all who encounter it.
Discover why she paints and immerse yourself in her exclusive art sales at www.lifeart.co.za.
ABSTRACT NARRATIVE ART
Encaustic art is a mirror image of life. Just as we are born as a blank canvas, encaustic art begins with a blank surface, prepared with three layers of gesso. Each layer represents the early stages of our lives—our parents, immediate environment, and the people who shape us. These layers, carefully applied and sanded down, symbolise how life grinds, smooths, and shapes us through these foundational influences.
Once the gesso is complete, the first three layers of encaustic—white or translucent hot wax—are applied. Each layer must be melted to its liquid state and fused into the one below it. This process mirrors how human interactions become burnt into our memories—positive, negative, joyful, or painful. These layers are not separate but interconnected, forming the base upon which our unique stories are built.
With the foundational layers complete, the process of actual painting begins—a process as intricate and involved as life itself. The wax must first be melted with damar resin, then shaped and formed into solid blocks, which are left to dry. These blocks are later remelted and mixed with raw pigments, creating the colours that will define the piece. Some colours are mixed with more wax to soften their intensity, while others remain bold and vibrant. This variation is symbolic of how some life experiences leave vivid marks, while others fade into softer memories.
The painting itself is built in layers. A layer of hot wax is added to the board and melted again. Just like in life, sometimes too many harsh words or negative experiences create darkness within us. Research shows we need one positive comment to counteract 38 negative ones, yet so many of us grow up surrounded by rejection, fear, and the longing to be accepted. In life, as in encaustic painting, these layers of negativity can obscure the truth about who we are, leaving us unable to see our own light.
But just as the encaustic wax reacts to heat, melting and blending into one another, life’s challenges often overlap, creating a muddled confusion—much like too many colours melting together can turn into a dark, messy brown. In these moments, the artist has the choice to scrape away the top layers. The dark layers can be removed to reveal the light underneath, which has always been there, waiting to shine.
The act of scraping away reflects another truth about life: we don’t always have to do it alone. Just as we can choose to scrape away our own darkness, we can allow others to speak into our lives, helping us see the light within ourselves.
The beauty of encaustic art lies in its honesty—it reveals the whole person, the good and the bad—but ultimately, the light always comes through.
The encaustic painting also mirrors the complexity of the human experience. Just as each person is composed of many layers and facets, encaustic art is built layer upon layer. The translucency of the wax reflects this depth; the more translucent the encaustic, the more lifelike it becomes. With each touch of the artist’s hand, the wax grows more transparent, inviting viewers to see themselves in its depth and light.
Shipping Weight: 5 kg
Dimensions: 150 × 120 cm
Explore the dynamic energy and expressiveness of “Grasping Life,” a bold abstract art expressionist painting that captures the vibrancy of life through gestural brushwork, vivid colours, and a stunning interplay of warm and cool tones. This impactful artwork invites viewers to experience the raw emotion and movement conveyed through the artist’s spontaneous and intuitive application of paint on canvas.
Shipping Weight: 4 kg
Dimensions: 120 × 80 cm
This exquisite painting embodies the essence of vibrant expressionism, crafted with a rich blend of oils, cold wax, and translucent inks. The artwork’s bold, gestural brushstrokes and textured surfaces exude a sense of hope and life, making it a spiritual and colourful narrative work that speaks to the soul.
“Delicious Hope” is more than just a painting; it is a testament to the artist’s philosophy of embracing an abundant life filled with creativity, healing, and appreciation for the natural world. Leonie.e.Brown’s work often explores themes of PTSD and depression, using her art as a powerful medium to inspire and uplift. Through this piece, she aims to empower others, particularly women who have faced similar struggles, to find strength and hope in the transformative power of art.
The painting serves as a reminder that there is hope when there is life, reflecting Leonie’s own belief in seeing the glass of life as half full and maintaining an attitude of gratitude.
This large-scale abstract expressionist painting is perfect for those looking to add a statement piece to their collection. Its vibrant colours and dynamic composition make it a standout addition to any home or office, creating an atmosphere of positivity and inspiration, and a reminder to hope
Discover the transformative emotion of “Delicious Hope” and let it bring a sense of hope and life into your surroundings. Experience the powerful narrative of Leonie.e.Brown’s work, and be inspired by her journey of healing and creativity.
Shipping Weight: 4 kg
Dimensions: 120 × 80 cm
This vibrant abstract painting, “Joy in the Morning,” is a powerful expression of raw emotion and energy. It showcases the interplay of bold brushstrokes and a dramatic colour palette that ranges from fiery reds and oranges to cool blues and purples. The artist’s bold, fearless technique creates a sense of movement and depth, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the visual rhythms.
Through the lens of abstract expressionism, the painting seems to capture the essence of joy and vitality, transforming the canvas into a celebration of the human experience. Each stroke, each splash of pigment, tells a story of the artist’s own creative journey, allowing the viewer to embark on a transformative visual exploration.
This work is a true testament to the power of artistic joy and expression, transcending mere representation and speaking directly to the soul. It is a captivating work of art that invites you to lose yourself in the captivating rhythm of colour and emotion.
“Life Untamed” is a captivating journey through the raw, unrestrained essence of existence. This vibrant abstract painting bursts with energy, mirroring the untamed spirit of life itself.
Bold strokes of deep red and purple dominate the lower portion of the canvas, symbolising the intensity of lived experiences and the depths from which resilience emerges. These rich hues surge upwards, intertwining with lighter blues and whites, creating a visual metaphor for the journey from darkness to light, from struggle to hope.
Scattered throughout are vivid splashes of yellow and orange, like sparks of joy and moments of clarity breaking through chaos. The interplay of colours and textures reflects the complex layers of human emotion and experience, each brushstroke a testament to the artist’s intuitive and physical process.
This painting embodies Leonie E. Brown’s artist statement, serving as a powerful visual representation of her journey through complex PTSD and abuse towards healing and self-expression. The dynamic composition, with its clashing and harmonising elements, mirrors the internal battles and triumphs described in her artist statement.
“Life Untamed” is more than just a painting; it’s a declaration of freedom and resilience. It speaks to those who have felt confined by their past, showing that it’s possible to break free and embrace life in all its messy, beautiful complexity. The thick impasto layers and bold brushstrokes fight against invisible barriers, creating a tangible sense of breaking through limitations.
This artwork invites viewers to engage with their own emotions, to feel the vitality and hope that pulses through every stroke. It’s a celebration of the human spirit’s capacity to not just survive but to thrive and find beauty even in the aftermath of trauma.
Through “Life Untamed,” Leonie E. Brown extends an invitation to join her in embracing life’s full spectrum of experiences, to find strength in vulnerability, and to celebrate the untamed joy of existence. It stands as a vibrant testament to the power of art to heal, inspire, and transform.
“"Forged in Fire" - Encaustic Abstract Painting, 120 x 80 cm”
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, "Forged in Fire" is a large-scale contemporary encaustic painting that embodies transformation and resilience. This captivating large-scale contemporary encaustic painting (120 x 80 cm) draws viewers into its depths through masterfully layered hot wax, vibrant inks, and luminous shellac. This stunning piece by Leonie E. Brown, a mid-career artist selling internationally, is a testament to the human experience. Just as our experiences shape us, each layer of encaustic wax is carefully melted, fused, and transformed by fire, creating depth and luminosity impossible to achieve with other mediums.
Encaustic art wax painting is an ancient technique that creates a sense of movement and energy. "Forged in Fire" showcases this unique style, with swirling turquoise depths, fierce coral highlights, and emerald undertones that seem to capture light itself. The tactile nature of the piece invites you to explore the interplay between smooth and textured areas, making it a truly immersive experience.
The encaustic hot wax technique behind this piece speaks to the very essence of human experience. Just as our experiences shape us, each layer of encaustic wax is carefully melted, fused, and transformed by fire. The artist begins with three foundational layers of gesso, representing our earliest influences, before building up translucent layers of hot wax mixed with damar resin and raw pigments. This ancient technique, dating back to Egyptian times, creates a depth and luminosity impossible to achieve with other mediums.
"Forged in Fire" showcases the unique properties of encaustic art, where each layer becomes permanently bonded to the ones beneath it through the application of heat. The result is a painting that seems to capture light itself, with colours that shift and change as you move around the piece.
What makes this piece truly special is its tactile nature. The surface begs to be touched. This physicality, combined with the painting's impressive scale, creates an immersive viewing experience that transforms any space it inhabits.
Cape Town Artist, Leonie E. Brown's work represents an opportunity to acquire a piece from a rising star in the contemporary art world. Her unique blend of encaustic wax, inks and shellac combined with her emotive use of colour and texture, sets her apart in the realm of modern abstract art.
Don't miss this chance to own a piece of art that not only beautifies your space but also inspires and uplifts you. "Forged in Fire" is more than a painting—it's a movement from shadow to light, an invitation to join in a vibrant celebration of life's potential.
"Forged in Fire" is not just art; it’s a story of transformation told through the ancient encaustic art technique. This rare medium delivers unmatched depth, Praa texture, and luminosity, offering an investment-worthy centrepiece for your home or office.
Experience the healing power of art. Embrace the untamed.
“Grasping Life”
“Delicious Hope”
“Joy In The Morning”
“Life Untamed”
