ILIA aka Leigh Ann Edrich

ILIA aka Leigh Ann Edrich | Dream Waves | 2025

Your works feel both ethereal and grounded — where do your “dreamscapes” begin? In imagination, in music, or in emotion?

My Dreamscapes begin with inspiration. The inspiration starts with music, either classical or old time jazz. Then it goes out from there to my yard where there’s trees and plants growing in abundance, propagators, flocks of different birds that visit, squirrels, feral cats, possums, a bunny and a singing dog. As an aside, not only are the furry and feathered friends not bothering each other, they contribute to making the space chemical free. The other inspiration is the artists that I mentor – every success they have is also a success for me. The three items combined are the beginning of my “dreamscapes.”

ILIA aka Leigh Ann Edrich | Pocket Of Whishes | 2025

You mentioned that your art is always accompanied by music. How does sound influence the colors, shapes, or rhythm of your visual compositions?

Sound is always with us from the loud trains passing by to kids happily playing in a park to the crying that accompanies the loss of a loved one to the cheers of a magnificent achievement. Life around us is full of sounds. Sometimes, when life gets way too busy, sounds seem to blur together or become part of the background. Music evokes the full gamut of emotions. My choice of music is meant to lay a foundation of the beauty that can be found in the world.

Many of your pieces evoke a sense of serenity and inner light. What inner states or meditations lead you to these visual expressions?

My own journey in The Arts and The Art Book by L. Ron Hubbard are what I have utilized to accomplish my art. I applied the information in the Art Book and added my own natural talent to create it. Regarding my own journey, being in The Arts is sometimes very tough with the mocking, invalidation of one’s art, the “for your own good” comments about how you’ll never make it in The Arts, on and on. To be honest, I did stop a few times. I’m currently writing a book titled “I Became a Roofer” because one of the times I stopped, I did become one. However, an artist never truly stops. By persisting, working out what I want to communicate and finding out if I was successful in my attempts by asking others what they thought of my Dreamscapes, I realized that approximately 20% really don’t like my art and 80% really enjoy it. With all the data and practice as my foundation, I can happily create my dreamscapes knowing that my message is getting across and the majority of people really like it. This has created a firm foundation for me to reach higher ranges.

ILIA aka Leigh Ann Edrich | Serenity | 2025

Your story began with poetry and correspondence — do you still find poetry influencing your painting process today?

I believe it all works together. One time I wrote a poem because of being inspired by a painting. Another time I was inspired by the mountains and wide open spaces of the Arizona Desert and a poem was written. I create many dreamscapes while also writing books. When I’m writing, I’m describing the scenes that inspire me. While creating I’m working out what I’m going to write.

Your digital fine art has a very organic, almost living presence. How do you balance the technical and the spiritual aspects of digital creation?

That’s such a lovely compliment, thank you.

I’m sure that you have encountered AI or other digital manipulations. Not only are the images absolutely perfect and breaking many copyright laws, but they’re missing the spiritual and real side of life. When you view my dreamscapes which have a very organic, almost living presence, you are also viewing living, beautiful touches that I put into it. This is helped by the inspiration I surround myself with.

ILIA aka Leigh Ann Edrich | Saffire Embrace | 2025

You describe your goal as “inspiring others to create.” What has been the most fulfilling moment when you saw that inspiration reflected in others?

My most fulfilling moment was when I teamed up with another artist to deliver a workshop. My part of the workshop was called “How to Forget Everything You Were Taught About Art and Create Your Own Style.” My part of the workshop was very fun and laid down some tools to use in order to accomplish what was aimed for. Then during the second part, run by my friend, the artists created a painting that was their own unique style. My smile never went away! From watching the paintings in progress to answering questions to the final result, I smiled because each painting was created with its own style, beautiful in its own way.

ILIA aka Leigh Ann Edrich | Limitless | 2025

How do nature and the animals you share your space with — the birds, the bunny, the singing dog — shape your sense of connection and creativity?

Each one touches my heart! Pure joy when I see a bunny run up to me. Total happiness to be escorted from car to house by a feral cat. Amused beyond words when my four and a half pound dog breaks out in song. Extremely happy when the birds and squirrels will let me get so close to see how lovely they’re colors and markings are. Thankful to the birds and possums that take care of the bad bugs, eliminating the need for chemicals completely. Pleased to see so many pollinators working!

One of the above would produce a “how cute” or “that’s nice” from another. All together, for me, it’s nature right outside. Others notice the flocks of birds or huge numbers of squirrels arriving or departing which is also wonderfully inspiring to them, enough so that they mention it to me or ask questions in amazed disbelief.