Jessica Leach
Painted Pony Artist, Riding an Artistic Trail Deep with Emotion
by
Georgianna Lane, for Fine Art Registry®
Fine Art Registry® member Jessica Leach is a multi-talented artist from New Jersey whose creative drive springs from highly emotional experiences and a passionate commitment to using art as a powerful and healing communication tool.
She has trained and produced in a variety of fields including fine and graphic arts, sculpting, photography, stained glass and lace design, and is currently creating intricate and emotionally resonating pieces as a Painted Pony Artist.
Jesse, affectionately known as "Bird" to very close friends, recently shared with FAR® the very moving story of how she decided to become an artist:
"When I was 10 years old, my 13-year-old sister passed away suddenly. I was given all of the gifts she received at the hospital, one of which was an art set with pencils. After the funeral, the entire family was at my home and I hid away in the bathroom drawing a pencil sketch. I emerged from the bathroom and held the sketch in my hand. I watched and observed – the entire family was so awkward and troubled for words. Some had regrets, some anger, some resentment, and so much sadness. I presented my sketch and was amazed how this piece of art brought everyone together. Everyone thought it was a drawing that came with the set, but when they realized I had drawn it, they all opened up. They were communicating and forgiving and smiling. At that moment, I saw what art could do. It not only helped me express myself at such a tender time, but it affected everyone that saw the piece. It wasn't so much the attention I received that captivated me, it was the way it affected everyone. From that day, my passion has been Art."
This awakened in Jesse a lifelong pursuit of aesthetic creation and a greater understanding of people, their desires for meaningful communication and the unmistakable power of art in defining human experience.
"My art is a passion from within. I often think about it but mostly feel it. It's both a gift and a curse. Artists see things differently. A falling leaf can bring on symphonies, a ballerina can bring tears, a piece of wood brings endless visions. I have this thing inside me that is driven to create. If I am not creating, I am surely dying.
"Besides gifting my art, I have an ability to bring the "artist" out in others. I share what I see and encourage others to create. When someone shares with me an inability to express certain feelings, I say, 'It's simple, you are an artist'! And believe me, some of those same people have gone on to create beautiful work.
"I feel we all have the ability to create – some recognize it and bow to it, and some do not. Art helps children, and mentally ill to express emotions."
Becoming a Painted Pony Artist
Jesse's stylistic influences include Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt and Vincent Van Gogh. But like many other artists, she received most of her inspiration and encouragement from her high school art teacher, in her case, Ms. Agnes Dauerman.
"My passion is sculpting, however, I live in a small apartment and have not had the luxury of working in that medium for quite awhile. I use the computer a lot now to create collages and graphic art.
"I have mostly gifted my artwork and sketched friends' children when asked. I have freelanced and was paid well doing lace designs and illustrations. But most of my deeply emotional works, I gift.
"It wasn't until I started creating the Painted Ponies and putting them up on eBay that I began to sell my work on a regular basis.
Huge numbers of pony collectors exist as well as a great demand for them in retail outlets, the secondary market and from online stores such as eBay.
The Trail of the Painted Ponies
The phenomena of the Painted Ponies began as a public art project in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2001. One hundred and twenty artists were invited to unleash their imaginations in turning life-size fiberglass horse sculptures into works of art. Displayed all over New Mexico, and seen by thousands of people, the ponies were applauded in national media and featured in a documentary on PBS.
When sold, they generated nearly $1,000,000 for charitable art, youth and environmental organizations.
The overwhelming response to the project has expanded it into a cultural and artistic movement that has inspired and nurtured artists around the country, especially bringing attention to the work of Native American artists. Painted Pony figures, inspired by the original 120 pieces, have become one of the most popular collectibles in the US.
And individual artists are creating their own imaginative original ponies which are also purchased and cherished by collectors.
Fine Art Registry is proud to have a number of pony artists as members, tagging and registering their exceptionally beautiful pieces. To see their work, type "painted pony" into the search bar on the FAR website.
Jesse belongs to an eBay group called Custom Painted Pony Collectors (CPPC), made up of collectors and artists that share this passion. Several in the group are also Fine Art Registry® members.
"It's easy for many to just mass create ponies to make sales. As an artist, I try to offer a variety of ponies. I put emotion and deep feelings into all of them. I am not as concerned with them selling for high dollars as I am with collectors appreciating the work and having them 'say something' to the buyer.
"The ponies I create are very interesting. I sit and watch each for awhile, and they really create themselves. I could start out with a plan to make a War Pony, and before my eyes, it evolves into something totally different. These ponies are wonderful canvases."
Many of her pony creations mirror what is happening in her own life.
"Metamorphosis was created when I was in a growing period. It shows all the stages of a Monarch butterfly. I created the pony to appear to be morphing into a Monarch.
"Labyrinth was created when I had relationship troubles. I remember how I was trying to figure out the relationship and it felt like a maze.
"Unbroken may not be my best work, but because it arrived broken I wanted it to shine instead of discarding it.
"Mourning Mist was created for a customer that just lost her mother and wanted something created in memory."
To date, Jesse has created over 70 Painted Ponies, which were either private commissions or which were sold on eBay.
A Permanent Relationship To Her Ponies With Fine Art Registry
Because of her personal connection to each pony, Jesse began to search for a way to keep a record of her pieces, document their history and provide provenance and authenticity for each one. She knew she had found it when she discovered Fine Art Registry. She tagged and registered her first pony two years ago and currently has over 60 tagged and registered in her FAR® gallery.
"As an emerging artist, registering all my creations with Fine Art Registry gives me increased exposure and comfort in knowing my pieces offered for sale provide the buyer a credible history and authenticity with their purchases. It gives the owner of my art a connection to myself as its creator and a point of origin, and will continue to do so long after I am gone. It offers a Certificate of Authenticity, and when buyers transfer ownership, they have told me it was a very easy process.
"I believe having the pieces registered has had a lot to do with my successful pony sales on eBay.
"But more importantly, it gives all my artwork a permanent home."
Jesse is honored to be a FAR Featured Artist and knows it will help bring attention to her work, and to that of other Painted Pony artists, especially the others who are FAR registered artists.
"I appreciate FAR and all they are doing. If it weren't for FAR, I would probably still be giving my work away with no history of origin. I have ponies in homes in Australia, England, California, and even one in Austria. It's nice to know they are being admired and still have a connection with me in addition to the love and emotions that went into them. FAR has given me a permanent connection to my tagged pieces."
Visit Jessica's Fine Art Registry gallery here.
— by Georgianna Lane
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August 1, 2008
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