Leonard Mizerek

LEONARD MIZEREK Fellow, ASMA, nurtured his artistic love of nature while growing up in the Brandywine Valley. As a young boy, he often went painting along the Brandywine River, deriving inspiration from the countryside of nearby Pennsylvania. His early influence was with the Pennsylvania Impressionists and Brandywine School.

Throughout 2009 and 2010, Leonard participated in several invitational Plein Air events including Marblehead, Mystic, Kennebunkport, Annapolis, winning Honorable Mention and Easton Md. winning Second Place in the Quick Draw event. He was featured painting live on TV France3 during a major antique boat festival in 2009.

In 2006, he was awarded Artist in Residence at the Museum Yvonne Jean-Haffen in Dinan, France and one painting was made part of the museum collection. He was one of 15 artists selected to paint at the Forbes Colorado Ranch and exhibited at the Forbes Museum in New York and made part of the permanent collection. He was featured on the cover of American Artist Magazine and Sept. 07 and May 08 issues of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine and most recently in the February 2011and January 09 issue of American Art Collector He exhibited with 23 nationally recognized marine artists at, the Newport Art Museum, Maine Maritime Museum and Connecticut River Museum.

Known for his colorful, luminous seascapes and expressive brushwork, Leonard paints on site deriving inspiration from the many nearby coastal locations as well as harbors throughout the world. A central theme throughout Leonard’s work is his use of light. In Mizerek’s words, “ Light alters the color of all objects and touches those nearby. It sets a mood and evokes emotion, which I strive to portray in my work. I often explore various methods to interpret the way I view nature. I prefer marine subjects because I enjoy the way water reflects the floating objects, as well as the sky and time of day. It mirrors shapes and intensifies light. I paint outdoors to capture the light first hand and bring out all its color and luminosity.”

Recently, Leonard was awarded Exhibiting Artist Member status in the National Arts Club where he won the People’s Choice Award this year. He also received the Iron Man Award from the American Society of Marine Artists for distinguished achievement.

Past exhibitions have included: Over 30 Featured Artist and One Man Shows. The American Society of Marine Artists Exhibitions at the Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Chase Riverfront Arts Center, Wilmington, DE, the Delaware Art Museum, The Frye Museum of Art, Seattle, WA, The Mariner’s Museum, Norfolk, VA, The Cummer Museum, Jacksonville, FL, San Diego Maritime Museum, The Mystic Seaport Museum. He has exhibited in the Annual Mystic International and Modern Marine Masters Exhibitions since 1988 and two exhibitions at the National Academy of Design in New York.

He graduated with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and studied at The New York Art Students League with, Nelson Shanks and at the National Academy of Design with Raymond Kinstler. Leonard is an Officer and one of 25 Fellows of the American Society of Marine Artists and one of 70 elected members of the prestigious Guild of Boston Artists. He is a member of the New England Plein Air Painters, Signature Artist Member of the New England Watercolor Society, and the International Society of Marine Painters. He was awarded the 2006 Merit Award at the Coos Art Museum in the state of Washington.

Leonard was selected for Painting Ships, Shores, & the Sea, a book showcasing America’s top marine artists by North Light Books. He was chosen as a finalist in The Artist Magazine’s Competition ‘95, ‘97 and 2001. He was included in magazine articles in Maine Boats & Harbors, Sea History, Marine Art Quarterly, American Artist Magazine and Watercolor Magazine. Len is also featured in the book, Splash 3, as well as Gallery of Marine Art, Rockport Publishers & Bound for Blue Water by Greenwich Workshop Press and the new book Best of Worldwide Landscape.