Keith Leitner

Keith Leitner during his exhibition at Cerulean Arts “Simply trying to make it work”
Elizabeth Murray

“The beauty of nature re-forms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creation.”
Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson

First, the important thing is the work….the artist’s work is the key to discovery. Secondly, it’s a good idea for the artist to find a place of trust and then try trusting it for a while. I put my trust in the program and components of a painting. The support and the paint, along with the maker, combine to create works that are statements of partnership. Materials lead me through my painting. I like to see where they can take me.

If art is a reaction, then my painting is a response. It wants to be about how I take in the world around me: texture, color, light and surface. Nature, the force around us, the “not me”, as Emerson calls it, is a catalyst. There is a wholeness in nature which never fails to cause some move on my part. By struggling to interpret my environment with paint, I am forced to look deeply. I paint alla prima so my creation is fast and unplanned. While I look at nature, my painting becomes something very much different, and according to the quote above, becomes a new creation. While inspired, it becomes something of and unto itself. As the work progresses, it creates its own logic. What does the work want or need? What happens when you put two or three colors together? From the initial move, I don’t know how each work will evolve; the struggle is getting to the end.

When you declare yourself a painter, you enter into the history of the discipline. What does my work say about painting today? Paintings importance for me is that it is not of the digital noise we are all exposed to on a daily basis. I find it a healthy experience today to stare at a static, non-digital image. A painting is quiet. I hope people would be caught by color and then enter into the work to find texture and subtle marks. A painting wants to be looked at and good painting wants to be looked at for a long time.

So all these things, for me, are what make a painting. They all come together and how it turns out can be the best part. You never know and there’s a lot of doubt along the way. The important thing is to keep going. In “Ten Rules for Art Students and Teachers, John Cage and Sister Corita Kent tell us, “it’s the people who do all of the work all of the time who eventually catch on to things” Those “things” are what make painting worth the while.

Keith Leitner Resume

Keith Leitner's most recent solo exhibition was on view April 9 - May 4, 2025. A selection of his work is currently available at the gallery as indicated. For inquiries on all other works shown, please Contact Us.
Tour & Talk with Keith Leitner, 2025

Interior Lighting, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Interior Lighting, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Menemsha Bight, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Menemsha Bight, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Menemsha Bight, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Menemsha Erratic, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Menemsha Erratic, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Menemsha Erratic, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" Available

Menemsha Riprap, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Menemsha Riprap, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Menemsha Riprap, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

May Redbud, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

May Redbud, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

May Redbud, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" Available

Butterflies, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Butterflies, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Butterflies, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Complements, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Complements, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Complements, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" Available

Crystal Clear, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Crystal Clear, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Crystal Clear, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Crum Creek March, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Crum Creek March, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" Available

Early March, The Laurels,watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Early March, The Laurels,watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Early March, The Laurels, watercolor on paper, 10" x 10"

Morris's Wedge, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Morris's Wedge, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

October Memorials, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

October Memorials, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Orange Glow, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Orange Glow, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Orange Glow, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Poly Hill Far Barn, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Poly Hill Far Barn, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Roses of May, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Roses of May, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Roses of May, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" Available

Stroud Hillside, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Stroud Hillside, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Swarthmore Lodges, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Swarthmore Lodges, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Swarthmore Sunken Garden, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Ultramarine Shade, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Ultramarine Shade, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" SOLD

Verdant May, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Verdant May, watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper painting by Cerulean Arts Collective Member Keith Leitner

Verdant May, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Lemon Hill March, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" Available

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Keith Leitner's previous solo exhibition was held December 6, 2023 - January 14, 2024.
Tour & Talk with Keith Leitner 2024
For inquiries on works shown, please Contact Us.

Autumn - Cheslen, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" SOLD

Buckrun Winter, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" SOLD

Cheslen February, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Crum Woods May, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" SOLD

Evening Field - The Laurels, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Fire Island - Cherry Grove, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Holly Afternoon - Swarthmore, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" SOLD

Holly Shade - Swarthmore, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Ormiston Copse, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

Swarthmore October, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12"

The Laurels January, watercolor on paper, 12" x 12" SOLD

Twilight, oil on paper, 10" x 11"

Chestnut, oil on paper, 10" x 11"

Linden, oil on paper, 10" x 11"

Burl, oil on paper, 12" x 12"

Fragment, oil on paper, 12" x 12"

Stars, Moonlight and Shadows, oil on paper, 12" x 12"

Autumn Fire, oil on paper, 14" x 14"

Hornets Nest, oil on paper, 10" x 11"

September Glory II, watercolor, 12" x 12"

A selection of works from Keith Leitner's previous exhibitions is available at the gallery as indicated below. For inquiries on works shown, please Contact Us.
Virtual Tour & Talk with Keith Leitner, December 21, 2022.