Artist Profile: Merry Leggett

Moments of Tranquility

By Heike Hellmann-Brown

Whenever Merry Leggett is out and about she stops and retrieves her camera to take pictures of landscapes, blossoms, or leaf formations. I find beauty in simple flower arrangements, greenery, the lay of the land, or a broken down fence little things with character that many people may overlook, the artist says. Later, in her studio, Leggett uses these images as references for her oil paintings. With carefully placed brushstrokes she creates soft textures that contribute to her interpretation of the tranquility that her surroundings provide her with.

Originally from a small town in Oklahoma, Leggett moved to Alpharetta in 1994. She worked as an airline secretary and radio teletype operator and raised four kids, two of whom she and her husband had adopted. Even as a young girl I had wanted to be an artist, she notes, the fascination of color and shape has always been with me, but I tucked it back and let everything else take precedence.

After her retirement she found plenty of time to follow her passion. Everyone has that one dream he puts off for later. Well, it is later . . . Leggett jokes. Lacking formal training, Leggett attended classes and workshops. Initially I worked with stained glass and china painting. At that point I was satisfied that I was actually painting and didnt venture out further. Until a teacher challenged me to start painting in oils by simply handing me paint and a canvas. I picked up the brush and that was the last time I painted china.

Leggett began looking for instructors that worked in a media and style that appealed to her. She studied their mixing techniques, their brush handling and strokes, and their thought processes. I get more out of watching people paint than I get out of a lecture, she explains. By doing so, I have discovered a brand new world without limits. It is amazing that we can all look at the same thing, and yet each interpretation is entirely different.

As a member of the Alpha Art Guild, the Roswell Fine Arts Alliance, Kudzu Art Zone and the Atlanta Artists Center, Leggett especially values the honest critique of her peers. Constructive criticism is as important as support and encouragement is. It lets us learn, move forward and hopefully someday will get us where we want to be, she says. I see my paintings changing, my style evolving, not only through myself but also through the artists I surround myself with creative minds full of ideas and inspiration.

While Leggetts artistic endeavor is a never-ending learning process, she reconciled herself with the fact that being an artist doesnt mean you have to dedicate your entire life to it. It is never too late to start following your dreams. You can discover yourself at any time and develop new skills. I am creating art that gives me personally a sense of tranquility and enjoyment, and I hope I can instill the same in the onlooker.

MerryLeggettFineArt.com