An original member of the Workhouse, Leesa Woodard creates in acrylic, oil, photography and mixed media. Part of her Featured Artist for August 2011 collection, reflects her passion for wildlife and is evident in her series, "Vanishing Point: Endangered Species." These large-scale paintings depict endangered predators. One edge of the canvas is painted black to signify the critical state of their populations. Her "Bloody-minded BP" series portrays Florida's despoiled beaches, some with oil-soaked young pelicans. To contrast those images, her unmarred beach landscapes are a reflection of an earlier ecosystem untouched. Also in the collection are abstracts, some with hints of color living in the shadows. Other abstracts look for positive and negative conflict in the shade and light taking on a new, transfigured persona.

Ms. Woodard has over 20 years experience in oils, acrylics photography and mixed media. She s a Northern Virginia native, and has a MFA in Visual Information Technology with a major in Painting from George Mason University.

She still finds inspiration in her own back yard and follows a unique path exploring the rich diverse suburbs of Washington.