By Allison Plitt
If artists obtain inspiration for their work from the world around them, then Jackson Heights painter Leontine Greenberg is influenced by a universe of art.
Along with 14 other artists, the 35-year-old is currently displaying her work at the myplasticheart Gallery, at 210 Forsyth St. in Manhattan The exhibit, “New Moon: Interpretations of the Chinese Zodiac 2010,” runs through the Chinese New Year through March 6. Her paintings typically sell for $100 to $300.
While Greenberg draws various studies of a subject in order to complete one painting, she creates other works after just one attempt. Elucidating her creative process, she said, “Sometimes it comes very clearly. I just draw it once and it’s exactly the way I want it and then I’ll paint it. Other times, I’ll draw a lot of different variations on an idea before it really looks good and I’m happy with it.”
The greatest source of pride in her career so far is her tandem exhibit in November 2009 with comic-book illustrator Scott Campbell at myplasticheart, she said. In the show, called “Adrift,” she presented watercolor paintings that resemble pictures found in children’s literature.
When Greenberg’s daughter, Nina, was born four years ago, she became enamored of the books she started reading to her daughter. Greenberg admits that some of the whimsical characters in her paintings are inspired by the drawings found in Dr. Seuss books.
Although Greenberg worked with acrylic paints earlier in her career, she has made a transition to watercolor. She explained, “I’ve been drawing my whole life, more so than painting. I drew for a long time and then I wanted to start doing things with texture and color, so that’s when I started doing watercolor.”
Greenberg’s evolution as a watercolorist comes after testing the waters in other artistic professions. Besides painting, she wrote for a newspaper as an art critic, designed costumes, worked in an art gallery, and produced DVDs for the British Broadcasting Corporation. Her creative career choices mirror those of her parents: Her mother is a costume designer and her father is a scientist and author.
Citing her sources of inspiration, Greenberg lists writers well-known for their imaginative interpretations of storytelling. Naming Sarah Waters, Angela Carter, Steven Millhauser, and China Tom Demieville as her favorite authors, she observed, “They are all speculative fiction and urban fantasy writers that have a lot of lush, wonderful imagery in their books.”
Another muse for Greenberg is screenwriter and film director Terry Gilliam, the Monty Python alum who has directed such wildly imaginative films as “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “The Fisher King,” “Twelve Monkeys” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” As Greenberg took graduate school level classes for set design, she noted that Gilliam’s latest film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” was “mind-blowing. The production design is incredible.”
Growing up in Tuscon, Ariz., Greenberg is the eldest of three children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Washington University’s School of Art in St. Louis, and a master’s degree in special education from Hunter College. In addition to painting, Greenberg cares for Nina with her husband, Sascha Segan, an editor at PC Magazine.
Of course, Greenberg is always seeking out new sources of creative stimulation for her paintings. This month she and her family will be traveling to Barcelona, Spain. As would be expected from someone with such diverse interests, she adds, “I find the architecture there to be very inspiring.”
For more information about Greenberg, her artwork, and her upcoming exhibits, you can visit her Web site at leontinegreenberg.com.
