Picture perfect — Local Paddo

Painter Anne Leisner always enjoys it when people have an emotional response to her paintings.

“I do find people enjoy my paintings, maybe because they feel comfortable with the subject matter,” she says. “It’s a known and they don’t need to interpret it too much.”

Leisner does not live locally but her paintings of terraces and streetscapes have captured the suburb in a unique and appealing fashion. The corners she paints are instantly recognisable for denizens of Paddington, or those familiar with the area, and depict beautiful pockets as they are, complete with shadows, powerlines, trees and street signs.

“There is an immediate response to these paintings,” she says. “I think because of the character, age and culture of the places.

“I have done many paintings around Newtown and Marrickville, too, and these areas each have their own ‘feel’. I love it when people recognise the places I have painted and have a connection to the piece.”

Leisner, who grew up in Leichhardt but now lives in the Sutherland Shire, says that when she visits the area to scout for material, she looks for buildings or places that capture her eye. Then she photographs them from various angles and does some sketches before working on completing the pieces in her studio.

“Paddington has heaps of character, its buildings are iconic Sydney,” she says. “It has great cafés, pubs and, of course, galleries.

“When I come to Paddington, I usually make a day of it, with husband Peter in tow. I wander around streets and lanes with my sketch book and camera in hand, trying to explore a different area each time. And there’s always time for lunch.”

Leisner's Paddington pieces have been shown in collections and exhibitions and have been finalists in art prizes.

“I think my favourite would be one I painted many years ago in 2003,” she says. “It was a large view of the rooftops of Paddington from Trumper Park, which is blocked now by trees. It was a finalist in the Mosman art prize. I think that’s when I realised urban landscapes were my thing.”

Leisner’s Stafford St (oil on canvas, 101cm x 122cm) was selected for the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award 2022.

View more of Anne Leisner’s work on her Instagram page at @anne_leisner_artist