Carmen Leigh’s artwork is as vibrant as her personality. One step into her studio and I was alight with color, whimsy and playfulness. Her positive energy is reflected in her work which perfectly represents her artistic mission “to make beautiful things that evoke a personal connection.” Carmen has been creating beautiful things since she was a young child and has only recently begun producing for the public. A lifetime of experiences brought her back to what her soul was meant to do: paint.
“Her canvas pieces are as bold and enticing as the hats she designs.”
The genesis of Carmen’s creativity began with fresh boxes of crayons, her little sister, and hot summer days on her Papaw’s front porch in Arkansas. Huge sheets of butcher paper were her first canvases. As a shy and quiet child growing up in Denison, Texas, Carmen retreated into art and books. Her inventiveness was fostered by her parents, several teachers, and books. She recalls, “My second-grade teacher, Mrs. Dewey, used to gather us around the carpet and read books like ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ She taught me to see the books in my mind.” Mrs. Dewey also encouraged Carmen to enter her first art contest where she won first place. There was no turning back. Carmen manifested her mother’s belief that she was “born an artist.”
As Carmen ventured into middle and high school, her interest in art only grew. She took specialized art classes, worked on theater backdrops, designed murals, and explored new mediums. Learning to manipulate colorful acrylics and watercolors after having worked mostly in black and white, changed the direction of her art. Her teacher, Mr. Pederson, knew the caliber of her talent and wouldn’t accept anything subpar. So even on her laziest of days, Carmen persevered, reminded to not take her gift for granted.
It was in high school that Carmen met her husband of 36 years, Scott. They both attended Baylor University together where she majored in painting and he in business. After graduation, they moved to Denver for Scott’s career where she worked odd jobs to help make ends meet. Scott’s position landed them in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a few years, then to Sherman Oaks, California. In California, Carmen discovered she was pregnant with her first of two boys. She had no idea how becoming a parent would change her world. With a glowing smile, Carmen reflects, “Being a stay-at-home mom was the greatest blessing of my life.”
Because Carmen’s husband’s job had moved the family around quite a bit, they adopted the motto, “Bloom where you’re planted.” After a short time in California, they moved back to Texas where they spent the next 21 years raising their boys. It was during this period that Carmen began to find her way back to her creative soul. She painted elaborate nursery walls and floor cloths, designed jewelry, and dabbled in anything that kept her creativity alive. In 2022, Carmen and her family moved to Evergreen, Colorado; it was here she decided to embrace painting again by immersing herself in the art community and working in her own studio at Center for the Arts Evergreen.
Carmen loves to go beyond the canvas. Perfect examples of this are the wide-brimmed rancher hats and trucker caps she intricately embellishes. Each a one-of-a-kind, wearable piece of art adorned with hand-picked antique pins. Her canvas pieces are as bold and enticing as the hats she designs. Her paintings invite viewers to engage with both the visual and emotional components of her work. The wall-size Alice in Wonderland’s March Hare has eyes that beckon attention and a dubious mouth that guises his intentions. From storybook characters to Greek mythological heroines, Carmen brings a unique perspective to the canvas. One can spend quite some time uncovering the clever subtleties she infuses into her pieces.
Working in her studio at Center for the Arts Evergreen has given Carmen the opportunity to engage with other artists and the public. She believes, “No one needs more heavy things in this world.” Hence why most of her work leans toward whimsy and fairytale, providing viewers an opportunity for escape and levity. Her paintings often ignite conversations. “I love having people come through the studio to ask questions or discuss inspiration. It brings me such happiness,” she says. Carmen’s happiness is undeniable; it lives in her lively personality, expressive artwork, and inviting studio space.
To view more of Carmen Leigh’s artwork, go to carmenleigh.com or stop by her studio in the new addition at Center for the Arts Evergreen. She welcomes commission work and has prints of her artwork available online and in the studio.
