Well I have to admit that with all the amazing communication and support I’ve been receiving through Twitter, Facebook and emails alone, I have not been so good at staying on top of my blog.  Ah well, life as a busy work-at-home artrepreneur and mom of two little ones presents itself with the occasional unexpected little events that hold me back.  For instance, this simple blog post is taking me almost an hour to complete because my 4yr old daughter and 2yr old son are having trouble staying in bed.  Seems that they are finally quiet so let’s see if I can keep this up.  I tell ya… a lot of juggling goes on around here in the Laine household/headquarters!

Hope you’ll stay tuned, I’ve got some exciting stuff to announce.  Make sure you’re signed up to my newsletter for my next major (and rarely offered) giveaway!  Hugs, Leanne

The only thing I like about Mondays — is how I put it to rest.

So I’m known for my wine paintings but I do love my coffee too. If I owned my own coffee business, I’d launch it in the Fall season and it might look and taste something like this. Did you know that the last week of September was National Coffee Week? Then again, it’s national coffee day almost every morning for me anyhow! Before the Fall season hits, I am itching for my grande pumpkin spiced latte lowfat milk no whip. Hmm, I occasionally pick up the Chai tea latte when the snap hits so maybe I should consider painting something tea-related. As I type this, Stewart is out running errands and I believe he will be making a pit-stop over to Starbucks. I wonder what he’ll surprise me with.

A big thank you to the team at the Forum of Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) for the recognition of my artwork to showcase some of my works at the Once Upon a Grapevine Gala and to be featured on the gala cover. I wish you all the best and look forward to wining and dining with all the winopreneurs of BC!

Also do not miss a delectable aphrodisiac 3-course dinner for only $19.99…

INSTANT EBAY SUCCESS LAUNCHES LOCAL PAINTER’S CAREER  by Kelley Scarsbrook – Source Contributor

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It was once said by the classical Greek tragedian Euripides that, “Where there is no wine, there is no love.”

It’s probably why Leanne Laine’s painting series, The Women in Wine, reflects a love within her artwork that has captured the attention of art enthusiasts across the US.

“I’ve learned to let it all go with my paintings. I enjoy the flow and the beauty of wine. There is a lot of motion in pouring wine, it’s not just sitting there with grapes and fruit, it’s about excitement and colour,” said Laine.

What is most surprising about Laine is that she is a self-taught artist. Although she took a few courses in her early 20s, she always knew the style and technique she was most comfortable with.

“When I paint, I am completely in my own world. I don’t think too much about it,” she said. “I like the art to come to me naturally and not force it.”

As a one-time HR employee for a cable company, Laine always found herself painting on the side as a hobby along with sketching. A lay-off from the company in 2004 forced her to re-evaluate what she wanted to do with her life. “I knew I eventually wanted to own my own business, and use my creative ability; however, I didn’t know what to do with it.” She spent the next two months painting.

Her husband, Stewart Laine, suggested she put some of her work on eBay. Laine posted four paintings on a Monday night, and on Tuesday morning there was a bidding war for her pieces. “I had a woman call me and ask me to take them down immediately and she would pay me double of what I was asking,” said Laine. “I thought I would be crazy not to turn take her offer, so I did.”

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I wanted my work to be available and affordable for everyone. ~ Leanne Laine

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Laine continued to put her paintings on eBay and sold another six within a couple of days. It was then she realized she had stumbled upon something that connected with people.

She soon obtained a website and discovered a following had developed for her artwork. “I loved it, but I was overwhelmed. I didn’t want to find myself painting multiples of pieces every day and completely wreck my passion for it. I was working 14 to 16 hours per day with accounting, shipping, painting original work and handling customer service,” recalled Laine.

It was then she learned about reproducing her works into limited editions. She attended tradeshows, seminars and talked to experts about the process. By the end of 2004, Laine had launched Leanne Laine Fine Art, and invested in a large scale professional series printer.

“I didn’t want to disappoint my customers or turn them away,” she said.

The process Laine uses for her reproduction work is called “Giclee” (pronounced ‘zhee-clay’), which is the process of making fine art prints from a digital source using ink-jet printing. She also adds texture and embellishments to the giclees to have the look and feel of an original painting.

“I wanted my work to be availalbe and affordable for everyone. People can hang my artwork in their homes and not have to spend thousands – although I still paint original art work. But this way everyone can appreciate it.”

Laine found she was inspired to do women and wine one late night after looking down at her wine glass beside her.

“I don’t know a heck of a lot about wine, but I’ve learned a lot more as I’ve painted the series. There is something so liberating about it for me. The women in my paintings just developed naturally out of the wine. And I think a lot of women really connect with it. It’s a sense of knowing what you like and being confident in yourself and what you want,” said Laine.

Although Laine’s work is mostly known in the U.S., she is trying to raise her profile locally. Since launching her business in 2004, her husband Stewart has come onboard to work on the administrative side, allowing her to focus copmletely on her artwork.

However, as a busy mom to her three-and-a-half year old daughter and her one-year-old son, she has struggled with the idea of balance. “I’m constantly being asked to do shows in the U.S. but I love the time I have with my kids. I am fortunate enough to have found something that allows me to follow my passion and still be home with my kids.”

Currently Laine’s artwork is showcased at Slainte by the Pier Restaurant in White Rock, but she hopes to add more local venues in the near future.

“I love where I am right now. I’m in a very positive place, but until my kids are in school, I just need to keep doing what I’m doing — and then really focus on the shows.”

Leanne Laine’s art can be found at www.leannelainefineart.com

the South Surrey, White Rock SOURCE Newspaper | November 30, 2010 page /WR33

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Thank you, Kelley, for finding my work and writing this article.  To learn more about Kelley Scarsbrook, visit her website here at ENTERPRISING MOMS NETWORK.

I had the honor of having ShawTV reporter and journalist, Kendall Harris, over at my home studio and with me at my local gallery affiliate, Taylorwood Wines in Yaletown Vancouver, to do a short interview with me. Thank you ShawTV and Taylorwood Wines for a fun experience!

Leanne Laine on ShawTV (youTube): 

The works of reknowned modern wine artist, Leanne Laine of BC Canada, is featured here in a segment of The Express show on ShawTV (Oct2010). Her mixed media hand-textured limited editions (giclees) are produced entirely by her own high quality craftsmanship to maintain a level of authenticity and increasing value fo her collectors (no third party outsourcing is involved in the creations of any of her works). Leanne’s unique concept of women flowing in wine and contemporary wine series has earned her #1 spot in online searches for wine artist, also acclaiming Leanne the title heard to be as “The Women in Wine Artist”. Her hand-textured canvas limited editions offer a much more affordable price than of her hand-painted originals which range in the thousands. This brings a wider audience the ability to not only appreciate her works, but own for themselves.

To peruse her portfolio and shop online (where shipping, handling and insurance is Free within the US & Canada!) visit: http://www.leannelainefineart.com