DESIGN&DECOR
Real Connection
You are very familiar with Mandy van Leeuwen’s art; you just might not know it. From Main Street in Winnipeg to as far north as Churchill, the Manitoba-based contemporary realist painter has turned some of the bleakest canvases of brick and mortar into iconic murals that pay tribute to the historical events and people that have shaped the province. While these large-scale projects keep her on the public front, her talents are also transferred to residential applications where she transforms rooms into whatever a client can dream of. “I employ a magical-realism style most often, but playing with paint in an abstract approach is a lot of fun, too. The different approaches allow me to be playful and expressive and bring the other elements of a room or space together,” explains van Leeuwen. For the pictured project, the homeowner approached van Leeuwen with a photograph she wanted recreated to help connect the living room to the kitchen. Using acrylic paints with specialized tips, van Leeuwen created an abstract interpretation full of texture and depth, reflecting the birch trees that inspired the client to customize the space. “Often some inspiration is what makes clients connect with me, but some need a vision from me to move the project forward; every project is unique,” she says, adding she’s created art for nurseries, theme rooms, man caves, accent walls and more. To view van Leeuwen’s interior and exterior art, visit mandyvanleeuwen.com
Heirloom
CABINETRY LTD.
Unit 11 Terracon Place Tel. 204 237 8480 Fax. 204 237 8659 E-mail: barry@heirloomcabinetry.ca Website: www.heirloomcabinetry.ca
82 | STYLE MANITOBA | SPRING 2018
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