Some artists need colorful paints. Timothy Leistner needs a produce stand. The artist, who typically paints in watercolors, has begun painting with organic materials such as beet roots, onion peels, pomegranate juice and tumeric.
“This idea was sparked by a coffee stain on my white shirt,” he explains. “I actually liked the color and thought how it would work to paint with wine, juices, coffee and tea. Soy sauce from my fridge came next.”
Then he asked students in his watercolor exploration course to bring organic liquids to class. “We painted with beet juice boiled down to a reduced consistency which made a drop-dead gorgeous fuschia colour when drained, and onion juices from the peel,” he explains. “Turmeric made sensational yellows and ochers. … The results were unique and I decided to paint some abstract as well as representational works with the materials.”
Julio Green, one of several artists who host the monthly Night at the Studios just across Oakland Park Boulevard from Pearl Artist and Craft Supply, saw Leistner’s work recently and invited him to exhibit his abstract paintings at their next gathering.
Leistner (whose works are shown here) and Green will exhibit their works along with Eduardo Garcia, Carmen C. Cordero, Nancy Giannone and Erick Allen at Night at the Studios, an art party with live music, beer, wine and munchies, 7-11 p.m. Friday at 3050 N.E. Ninth Ave., Oakland Park.
