Leo Plaw

Leo Plaw Australia


Born in Australia, Leo is a self taught artist who has worked in many artistic media. He has had studios in Brisbane and Sydney, London and Berlin. He has exhibited internationally, in Denmark, England, Germany, Japan, Portugal and the U.S.A. His artwork has been published in a number of magazines and books worldwide. Leo built, maintains and regularly contributes to the popular beinArt.org website. He is currently residing in Berlin and travels throughout Europe finding inspiration in both old and new artforms.



Art has always been a passion for me since my earliest years. When ever there was paper and pencil at hand, I was drawing, which resulted in me being sent our of the classroom several times. After learning the very basics that were offered in school, I went on to teach myself what I needed.

At present my favourite medium of choice is oils. "Oils! The Rolls Royce of painting"

In the beginning my paint technique was rather limiting. So when it came to luminous, glowing or energetic things, I was somewhat at a loss, and struggled for a time. Since being here in Europe, I have had the chance to see the Old Masters techniques first hand and talk to painters who practice it.

My themes are often shown to me. I often have no idea what the final painting will be until it starts to take shape. The detail of my artwork often leads me into a space  and  direction, it is an exploration. Its only by going through that process and finally considering what I've done, and perhaps quite a length of time later, do I come to realize what the journey was I have been engaged in and thereby divine the meaning of what I've created or been led to create. I have had to learn patience to allow things to unfold. This is what entertains me about my artwork and painting, is that quite often in the process I see the imagery or symbolism appearing repeatedly that others before me have created. It shows me there is an understanding beyond our personal selves that we can connect to, and arrive at point of greater understanding.

So planned or unplanned, my artwork always relates back to my inner life.

"The subjective reality of my work, is a je ne sais quoi, a de ja vu, a persistence of memory, that will strike me at the oddest of moments. It is the sensation that is familiar, and environment and situation that were until that moment familiar or real, but now unfamiliar or unreal. The moment is surreal. It is in that moment that we experience illumination, or if it eludes us, a nightmare."