Capturing Nature’s Essence in Wax and Pigment
Leah K Read is a fine artist specializing in encaustic and mixed media, creating richly layered works that explore the delicate beauty of the natural world. Raised in the coastal wilds of Point Reyes after an early start in Chicago, Leah’s deep connection to nature was shaped by childhood adventures and her father’s scientific curiosity.
With a background in graphic design and a lifelong love of art, Leah eventually left behind commercial work to pursue her own creative path. Today, she works from a light-filled backyard studio in Northern California, where beeswax, pigment, and found materials converge in immersive pieces that evoke memory, texture, and wonder.
Leah is an active member of International Encaustic Artists, NorCal Wax, and the Encaustic Art Institute. Her work has been shown in juried exhibitions and is recognized for its emotional resonance and tactile detail—each piece a quiet portrait of the natural world.
Nature's Tapestry: A Fusion of Precision and Freedom
Surrounded by the serene landscapes of rural coastal Marin County, nature has been my constant muse since childhood. The National Seashore, State Parks, and vast wildlife areas that adorn my doorstep have fueled my artistic journey, imprinting the intricate details of the natural world into the fabric of my creations. As a former graphic designer, my affinity for meticulous attention to detail seamlessly informs my artistic process.
While I find joy in the literal depiction of nature, my artistic heart gravitates towards the gestural, free, and abstract. A pivotal encounter with artist Raimonds Staprans at the San Jose Museum of Art sparked a shift in my perspective. His bold use of color, simple compositions, and seemingly carefree brushstrokes challenged my rigid mindset, urging me to embrace imperfections as integral to the artistic process.
Simultaneously, my foray into encaustic painting became a lesson in patience and release. Manipulating molten wax with a torch led me to embrace the beauty of imperfections, blurring the line between memories and dreams inspired by nature. Encaustics have opened new realms of expression, fostering flexibility, pushing boundaries, and igniting an abundance of unexplored ideas.
Each artwork weaves a narrative between the meticulous and the spontaneous, capturing the essence of a world suspended between reality and imagination. In this creative dance, I find myself on a perpetual journey of growth, with an ever-expanding canvas of ideas waiting to be explored.
Exhibitions
EAI (Encaustic Art Institute) Member Only Exhibition
Museum of Encaustic Art, 18 County Road, 55A, Cerrillos, NM 87010
When in Rome: The Art of Travel Exhibition & Publication
International Encaustic Artists, Online & Print Publication
Pacific Art League 103rd Anniversary Exhibition
Pacific Art League Palo Alto, CA 94301
WaxOn – WaxIn
Museum of Encaustic Art, Cerrillos, NM 87010
Wax and Wildflowers
San Antonio Art League & Museum in partnership
with International Encaustic Artist, San Antonio, TX
Silicon Valley Open Studios
San Jose, CA
Members Only Online Show (MOOS)
Pastel Society of the West Coast, Online
Pastel USA
Pastel Society of the West Coast, Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
Landscapes, Seascape & Cityscape
Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
Feathers, Fur, and Fins
Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
Publications
When in Rome: The Art of Travel Exhibition & Publication
International Encaustic Artists, February 2025
Wax and Wildflowers Exhibition Catalog
San Antonio Art League & Museum in partnership
with International Encaustic Artist, June 2023
Of Murmurs and Musings
Internal Collaborative Catalog, San Jose Museum of Art, April 2023
Pastel Society of the West Coast Magazine
Spring, 2020, Tulip Blooms
Pastel Society of the West Coast Magazine
Summer 2019, Black Hen
Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art
California State University, Fullerton
Workshops and Professional Development
Mentor
Sandra Jones, San Jose, California
Encaustic Workshops:
Lonnie Zarem, Palo Alto, California
Jaya King, San Jose, California
Alicia Tormey, Online course
Painting with Fire, yearlong online workshop with 26 instructors, including: Kathryn Bevier, Christian Lovisa, Amanda Jolley, Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch, Angela Hansen, Elise Wagner, Erin Keane, Crystal Marie Neubauer, Shary Bartlett, Linda Robertson, Clare O’Neill, Michelle Belto
Pastel Workshops
Terrilynn Dubreuil, Online
Barbara Jaenicke, Bend, Oregon
Collectors
Sebastop, CA
Los Altos, CA
San Jose, CA
Fort Collins, CO
San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico
Palo Alto, CA
Green Valley, AZ
Ashland, OR
Point Reyes Station, CA