Fine artist Alicia Leeke launches 2009 designs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlanta, G.A. – With an eye toward 2009 consumer trends in home entertaining and renovation, artist Alicia Leeke is introducing a new line of contemporary landscape paintings that reflect current color marketing groups. Featuring comforting tones such as violet, plum, fuchsia, watery blues, grays, - and optimistic yellows and oranges- Leeke has produced investment-quality original landscape paintings on canvas, as well as prints.

Professionally trained in a variety of fine art media, Leeke blends the old and new. She views art as a medium for the painter to actively experience and express oneself through creative experimentation. Her art begins, transcends and evolves and that is why her landscape paintings are the hot ticket item in home décor. “Her art will withstand the test of time because it is original and her versatility is unlike anything else on the market. Not only that, her art exudes happiness and is full of optimistic bright colors and that’s what consumers are buying,” said Mike Doran, owner of Fontenay Fine Art, Antiques and Eclectic Interiors in Columbia, South Carolina.

Historically working in series, her paintings have embraced a variety of concepts. Previous series include Figure Studies, Ballerinas, Divas, Architecturals, Landscapes, Cityscapes and Abstracts. Her new landscapes complement 2009’s trends and afford you one-stop shopping with an artist whose talent captures multiple styles.

Here are a few trends and ideas to keep you ahead of the game when selling her art:

· DIYers. A continuing - and growing- need is for DIYers (Do It Your-selfers) to renovate their homes for entertainment purposes during tough economic times. They have a strong sense of fulfillment in selecting - and owning - unique design elements. This means we will see continued buying from empty-nesters who want to spruce up their new homes as well as urban professionals who want investment-quality wall art. They desire to improve their kitchens, halls, boudoirs and dining rooms...themselves.

· Home Staging. Anticipating improvement in the residential lending sector, consumers prepare to compete strongly when listing their existing home in a market flooded with foreclosed and long-listed properties. Some homeowners, builders and real estate agents are buying art for the walls, and rugs, followed by a few simply placed pieces of furniture in an effort to add value to their once vacant property and sell the house more quickly.

· Going Green? More than a just a trend, expect a demand for more botanicals and organics associated with landscapes, such as water, earth, and bright plant inspirations.

· Punch it Up. “Punch” color, strategically placed through art, can distinguish an otherwise mundane environment – and increase the perceived value. Leeke’s art adds distinctive punctuation and cohesion to a room when paired with subtle background in wall color.

· A Touch of the Exotic. Also complementing home décor this year are items that are exotic with influences from India and the Orient. Rich purples, reds, oranges and yellows serve as the punch for walls, sofas and tabletops. Leeke’s new landscapes work beautifully with both Contemporary and Eastern-inspired design palettes.

“Art is the one thing that can change the entire look of a room dramatically, because it is a personal decision” says Todd Collins, owner of House Brand Furniture. He goes on to compliment Leeke for works that are “vibrant with color” and employ “great use of material.”

Collectors as far as way as California, New York and Paris agree.

Innovative products at Fine Art By Alicia Leeke (F.A.B.A. Gallery) include original works on canvas and paper, fine art giclees (framed and unframed), greeting cards and mouse pads. Also available are monotypes, commissions and works on paper and special sketches of buildings and homes.

Examples of her work and experience can be viewed at http://www.alicialeeke.com/.

Leeke’s Cherry Grove Landscape Sells During Exhibit

The Florence Museum of Art accepted Alicia Leeke’s landscape painting “Cherry Grove” into its Annual Miniature Art Competition which was on display November 1– December 21, 2008.

The competition now in its 20th year, began as a fundraiser by the Friends of the Florence Museum to create awareness and appreciation of art in the community.

The event was judged by professional, realist painter William McCullough who lives and works in Williamsburg County and Southern France. He hand-picked 54 pieces for the exhibit from artists across the nation

And the best news? Leeke’s painting Cherry Grove purchased during the show!

Courtyard Art Gallery Adds Leeke to Repitoire

Charleston, South Carolina's Courtyard Art Gallery is pleased to announce the addition of its newest artist Alicia Leeke.

Leeke's new textural abstract landscape paintings add new depth and a fresh approach to Charleston's art scene. Her current body of work, now on display at the gallery, focuses on peaceful marsh scenes and estuaries around the Low Country.

Courtyard Art Gallery is located in the French Quarter of historic downtown Charleston South Carolina and features the fine art of 16 local artists. The gallery showcases paintings, paper sculpture, pottery, jewelry, and photography as well as works in mixed media.

Courtyard Art Gallery is located at 149 ½ East Bay Street. Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Art Magazine Determines Leeke’s Work to have definite Signature Style

Charleston’s Art Magazine, published by Renaissance Media announced eight artists with signature styles in its Fall 2008 issue.

Known as “the bible to the Charleston art scene,” Art magazine highlights the happenings of visual, culinary, performing and wearable arts. It is a virtual who’s who of venues, artists and the galleries that represent them in the Charleston, S.C. area.

In it’s most recent issue, publisher Olivia Pool points out eight artists with very distinctive styles that set themselves apart by the very nature of their brush stokes, separating them from the rest of the pack. Included in this outstanding group are: John Sheran, Peter O’ Neill, Wilfred Spoon, Don Dahlke, Loet Vanderveen, John Stobart, Alicia Leeke and DAB.

So what exactly is a signature style?

For someone to have a signature style means you can look at their body of work or several pieces of their work and almost immediately know that it is exclusively theirs. It is like a handwritten signature that you sign on a check or your fingerprint. Each artist has developed their own style which sets them apart from what others are creating.

To give you a better understanding of signature styles take a further look at these other famous painters: Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Toulouse Lautrec, Degas, Andy Warhol, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’ Keeffe, Dorothea Lange, Freida Kahlo, Suzanne Valadon, and Helen Frankenthaler.

Painters are typically what one thinks of first in terms of a signature style, but other corollaries can be seen in the works of other creative fields such as jewelry designer David Yurman, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, composer Mozart, designers Christopher Lowell and Ty Pennington, Comedian Eddie Izzard and Madonna to name a few.

Why is having a signature style important?

First of all, it says to the world that these artists have a unique, consistent style. This is important because galleries find it easier to market to collectors on their salability. From a collectability standpoint, these works usually increase in value as an art investment.

Lake Carolina Wine Festival to Auction Original Wine Art by Alicia Leeke

October is ushering in cooler weather and fall colors just in time for Lake Carolina's Sixth Annual Wine Festival which will be held Sunday, October 19, 2008 from 2:30 - 5:30 pm.

The event takes place on Lake Carolina's lush Harborside Village Green where patrons can listen to jazz and enjoy great art and food while tasting over 100 wines under pointed white tents with billowing table linens topped with Fall flowers.

Special to the event is the 2008 Fall Wine Festival Poster designed by South Carolina artist Alicia Leeke. The original will be auctioned off during the silent auction along with other noted artists and home decor items.

Funds raised from the auction will benefit Children's Charities of the Midlands, one of the Northeast area's signature charitable events sponsored by Essex Homes. All patrons will receive a souvenir wine glass to commemorate the event.

Tickets are $30.00 in advance, or $40.00, the day of the Festival and include complimentary valet parking. Tickets may be purchased on-line at http://www.lakecarolina.com/ or by calling (803) 461-9586. Reserved tables are available which include a special VIP Pre-Party with food and private tastings.

Be sure to visit Alicia's website to view other wine related art, signed, limited edition giclees and original art at http://www.alicialeeke.com/print.shtml.

Get Ready for the Fur Ball!

Plan on attending Project Pet’s annual Fur Ball Moonlight Gala Saturday, October 11, 2008 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center at 7:30pm. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Called the Gala that everyone talks about year round, the Fur Ball is filled with dancing, dining and delights for all with fabulous silent and live auction items. For Bird lovers or anyone in the market for a cool piece of art that would look great in the kitchen, I have donated a colorful and festive monotype entitled "The Bird from Bangladesh VI." This piece is inspired by Indian drawings and textiles and is on 100 percent cotton with an off white matte and black frame. You can see an image of it on my website at http://www.alicialeeke.com/monotype.shtml.

Other fabulous auction items include a spectacular 5600 square foot villa in the West Indies that ordinarily rents for $2000 per night (visit at http://www.capcana.com/) along with other international trips to Portugal, Cabo San Lucas and more! Maybe you’re in the market for a new boat or personal watercraft -- wait until you see what's in store for you! All proceeds benefit Project Pet’s life-saving efforts so bid for a good cause!

Tickets are available for $100 each or $175 for two. Click http://ppet.convio.net/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=100129 to buy your tickets.

NONNAH'S ADDS ARTIST ALICIA LEEKE TO GALLERY

Nonnah's in the Columbia Vista area is pleased to announce the addition of artist Alicia Leeke to the gallery. She joins other artists: Michel McNinch, Bonnie Goldberg, Edie Biddel, Ingrid Carson, Marcia Murry, Betty Mandel, Bob Lancaster and Jan Fleetwood.

Leeke will be showing a varety of works that will rotate including landscapes, the Divas, abstracts and Cityscapes. While she prefers to paint landscapes and quaint street scenes she also strives to capture the essence of every-day events, converting ordinary scenes into lively images. She manipulates acrylics to capture the thick rich texture of oils and mixes a palette full of rich reds, vibrant oranges, shocking blues and sharp white accents.Her gentle distortions of linear perspective are a fundamental element to the overall design of her creations and are a necessary ingredient in the composition of her pieces.

If you’ve already been to Nonnah’s you know what a great addition its been to The Vista. A lite supper menu, full service bar with a wonderful list of wines, big frothy cappuccinos and desserts to die for! We’ve got a little bit of everything plus a relaxed elegant atmosphere that combines warmth and sophistication.

Founded in 1996, and always family owned, Nonnah's was one of the first restaurants to set up shop in the Vista. Nonnah's continues to impress the citizens of Columbia with our spectacular desserts (voted "Best of Columbia" nine years in a row by Free Times, The State Newspaper and The Columbia Metropolitan Magazine), exotic imported coffees and large selection of dinner and lunch items.

Nonnah’s opens at 11:30 AM for lunch Monday thru Friday and is open until 2:00PM. We open again at 5:00 PM and dinner is served from 5PM on. Monday through Thursday we are open until 11:00PM. Friday & Saturday until 12:30AMNonnah's is conveniently located at 930 Gervais Street in Columbia, South Carolina.