Meet Leah Higgins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Higgins.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised in La Jolla, San Diego. I have an artistic background but my parents didn’t support me at college level to participate. My major was Social Work and Nutrition. My husband encouraged me to use my god given gift to be creative and use my art abilities. I became a fashion designer for 12 years, created my own line and manufactured and sold internationally. I also taught fashion design at the SD.Fashion Institute. We also owned local retail clothing stores, The Ocean Toad.

Currently, we own and operate a rehabilitation center. I managed the dietary dept for 25 years. I have retired and have started painting for the last 15 or so years. I started off as a muralist and painted trompe L’ oeil on many walls. Specializing in portraiture. Later, I began selling my work to real estate brokers for their closing gifts. This was my way out of interior work. I must have painted over 300 or more for the housing boom.

I have shown my work in galleries in La Jolla, San Diego, Lake Tahoe and New Orleans. One man shows and I am the Artist in the Garden chair person for La Jolla Historical Society. Currently, I am on the walls at the Girard Avenue Collection in La Jolla. And Allied Artists Association, La Jolla Community Center. This has given me a great boost and exposure. I teach art classes twice a week at my historical home art studio. All levels and mediums, my home was the first home that Kate Sessions built in 1926. Classes are very much fun!

Please tell us about your art.
I paint everything and all mediums. I market my self as “your very own personal artist ” I prefer commissions and I love to paint homes, gardens, seascapes, animals, people and love, love to paint floral designs.

Personalization is so fun and I like to suggest to my clients if you are going to pay for a painting, why not include something that is precious to you whether some heirlooms, an animal or a view. Anything to make the painting especially yours.

Painting is a wonderful outlet for everyone to try. It is a way to escape from troubles or just do because it is fun. I teach art and so enjoy watching a beginner transition to a confident artist showing and selling their work.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I feel a creative person is always ever changing, doubting and challenging themselves. It is so nice to feel confident enough that you can paint what ever you see or find beautiful. If it is difficult that is the challenge to make it another step into a successful painting. My motto has always been never give up. I have a hard time throwing a painting away because it isn’t up to par. So, I keep on working on it. I have not given up on many.
I also am very blessed to have a great following for my art. And a wonderful group of students who are learning how to become confident in their own style.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I am always at The Girard Avenue Collection, La Jolla Community Center walls. I have shows in different locations at different times. I have shown my art at the San Diego Fair, LJ Ryford Library and LJ Anthenium. I have websites with my sold as well as art for sale. This is actually to expose my art style for anyone to choose me to paint their favorite thing.

To support my work is to, of course, buy some. But, become a person on my email list and I will send them invitations to gallery shows. These are fun, the more the merrier, usually free wine and food.

Contact Info:

• Website: leahhigginsART.com
• Phone: 858 273 2199
• Email: Leahhigginsart@gmail.com
• Instagram: red_leah
• Facebook: leahhigginsfineart
• Other: pininterest Leah HIggins Art

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