Meet Our Artist: Leah Barranco

If you've been into Four Quarters lately, you've probably noticed some fish on the wall 🐠

One of the changes we've made recently was repainting the interior walls. Part of the reason for that was to create space for local artists to show their work.

We have been collaborating with local artists on recent beer labels, so extending that into the taproom felt like a pretty natural next step.

Our first exhibition comes from Leah Barranco, a Vermont-based artist behind Peak and Birch Designs. Leah works across acrylic, oil, gouache and watercolor, with much of her work focused on the small details in nature.

"Color & Scale" takes that idea underwater, focusing on the fish and aquatic life found in Vermont's waterways through vivid color, pattern and texture.

We asked Leah a few questions about where the work came from, why fish have taken over her paintings, and what she hopes people notice when they look at them.

Where are you from? Are you a native Vermonter?

I am originally from Delaware, but Vermont has become my home. My family and I have lived here for the past seven years, and it’s where my husband and I are raising our two boys.

When did you start painting, and what drew you to it?

I began painting as soon as I could stick my fingers into paint, and the love grew as I learned how to hold a paintbrush.

I’ve been told by my parents that when I was three years old, I used to bring my little plastic easel outside and paint for hours. The endless possibilities of vibrant colors, different textures and opacities have kept me coming back to paint. I have always found peace in creative moments. It is when I feel most like myself.

What inspired the pieces hanging at Four Quarters?

It all began about a year ago. I was inspired by a rainbow trout my husband caught while he was fly fishing, as my two boys and I were climbing on rocks by a local river.

The way the light shined on the scales was mesmerizing, and I have been hooked on fish ever since. 

I created a series of trout paintings as part of the "Color & Scale" show at BCA. After completing that series, I knew fish still had a strong place in my work, but I wanted to play around with the background. 

I was intrigued by a squeegee technique I had seen used by another artist, so I decided to give it a shot. After playing around, it became the perfect background for this new series, combining my current loves: color and fish. 

Are there any themes, places or ideas you find yourself returning to?

I have always been inspired by the colors, shapes and forms found in nature.

In my past work, I looked to landscapes for inspiration. Now, I’m looking at a part of nature that isn’t as obvious as the landscapes we see every day. Instead, I’m interested in the places that are often overlooked, flowing water and the aquatic creatures that live beneath the surface.

What do you hope people notice or feel when they see your work?

It is my hope that my work brings to light often forgotten details in the world around us.

Water is incredible and mysterious, and so are the creatures that live within it. Sadly, they often get overlooked.

For me, it’s all about noticing little moments. The moment one color overlaps another. The shapes created by water flowing around a small rock. The colors within the shimmer on the scale of a fish in the bright morning light.

As we begin to take time to notice these little moments, maybe we can take time to notice them in our everyday lives, too. It is those little moments that can bring so much curiosity and joy.

Where can people find more of your work or follow along?

This summer, I’ve been lucky enough to have my fish swim along walls in spaces throughout Burlington and Winooski.

I currently have a show at BCA "Color & Scale," which has been up since July and ends September 12. For Art Hop this weekend, my work is displayed at the Space Gallery, and I will personally be at the Outdoor Artist Market on Sunday, September 13. 

Although those shows will be coming to an end, Golden Hour in Burlington and Pingala on North Ave will both continue to have prints available. Any pieces displayed in the Four Quarters taproom can be purchased by scanning a QR code, and will be displayed through October.

Online, you can see and purchase paintings on my website www.peakandbirchdesigns.com as well as check out the process behind the work and upcoming events on Instagram @peakandbirchdesigns.