ne
Sketch Book
Recent Renderings: Clockwise from top, the
residence at 39 Green Street in Newburyport has
been painted for posterity; a home on Harris Street is
handsomely drawn; Leanna demonstrates his technique.
Leanna developed his eye and skill
for rendering buildings while studying
architecture and art at the Rhode Island
School of Design, followed by a year of
independent study in Italy. "The prevailing architectural thought during my
college days was toward modern design,"
says the artist. Although he appreciated modern buildings, it was a course
in the drawing style of the L'École des
Beaux-Arts that he particularly loved. "It
offered me an opportunity to illustrate
the architecture that I had discovered
in Italy along with an interesting collage approach to composition," he says.
"That course has been very influential on
my personal and professional work."
After graduating, he moved back to
Newburyport, still drawn to the town's
historic preservation, and took a job as
an illustrator with a local architecture
firm where he did perspective drawings.
In his Newburyport studio, Leanna creates beautiful works of art of the city he
has lived in for decades. "I love Newburyport," he says. "I love its architectural diversity and heritage, as well as its
architectural cohesion—the town still
has its original skyline."
He also likes its size. "It is a very unique
small city and its small scale is very
friendly for walking…and for painting."
paintedbuildings.com
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