Hello, I'm Leanne Fortney, a contemporary figurative painter exploring the psychological side of portraiture and the quiet stories that exist within human presence. Working primarily in oil with a restrained palette, I combine classical painting techniques with a contemporary sensitivity to inner life. My figures often exist in quiet, reflective spaces where small gestures, expressions, and atmosphere hint at emotion rather than telling a direct story.
My work draws from personal memory, observation, and lived experience. Through the human figure, I explore themes of connection, vulnerability, and resilience, often focusing on the subtle tension between how we appear outwardly and what we carry internally.
Being an artist is an ever-evolving journey. My artwork shifts and morphs, just as I do, with each collection offering a glimpse into my life. I'm fascinated by people—their habits, patterns, and the narratives they choose to share with the world. This applies to me as well.
I find myself balanced between my masculine and feminine energies, rooted in my desire to support those I love while also nurturing, creating, and expressing that love. Below are my top four character strengths that I strive to reflect in my work.
Liking to laugh and tease; bringing smiles to other people; seeing the light side; making (not necessarily telling) jokes.
Mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, whether on one's own or formally; related to the strength of curiosity but goes beyond it to describe the tendency to add systematically to what one knows.
Treating all people the same according to notions of fairness and justice; not letting feelings bias decisions about others; giving everyone a fair chance.
Noticing and appreciating beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in various domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.