Explore The Captivating Art of Italian Marbler Jennifer Leo

Last year we received an email from a woman in Florence. We recognized her name because we had been following her painting page on Instagram. She had started a new venture and wanted to know if we were interested in working together. Her new project sparked our interest. Her products were beautiful and different than anything we had seen before.

We set up a meeting and travelled to Florence to meet her over coffee. Immediately we were excited by the quality of her products, her vision for future projects and her deep love for her Italian heritage. We also felt a warmth from her and a joy that we loved.

This Italian artisan is Jennifer Leo. An Italian who was born and raised in Canada and then discovered her roots in Florence were pulling her back to her heritage. She has made her home in Florence for decades where she has found her artistic side flourishes under the shadow of the great Italian artists who roamed the Florentine streets before her.

We knew instantly that Jennifer would make a great addition to our artisans at Artful Italia and that you would love her gorgeous products as much as we do.

This is our interview with Italian Marbler Jennifer Leo where we try our best to share with you the delightful, fun and bubbly artisan it is our pleasure to work with.

1. What drew you back to your heritage in Italy?

I've always felt a close connection to my heritage through my family, but when I moved to Florence for the first time in 2005 pursuing my art degree, I experienced a deeper connection with the culture and in particular the region of Tuscany. I can only say there was a profound feeling of being in the right place and having the opportunity to explore both my personal and professional growth in Italy at that time was very influential. 

2. Why did you choose Florence as your home?

I was granted the chance to complete my thesis in Florence in collaboration with my university at the time so that's what brought me here specifically. As a student of drawing and painting the city offered a perfect backdrop to both be influenced by the rich artisan culture and work alongside other students and professionals to explore my identity as a modern artist. It was a great balance and I was fortunate enough to learn from great mentors and develop strong friendships.

3. What do you miss most about Canada?

Family and close friends is always #1; It's the biggest challenge moving to another country. But I also miss living by the lake and escaping into nature. It's a beautiful country and I always hope to visit when I can. Oh and maybe Gingerale and some good Canadian craft beer ;) 

4. What is your favorite thing about living in Italy?

It's very hard to put into words, but I think living in Italy just comes with that special feeling. It's a place I've been able to grow into my true self, even with its challenges; and that's what's kept it feeling like home all these years. 

5. What is your favorite dish to eat in Italy?

I'm a pizza Lover! A good Marinara or Margherita always hits the spot

6. If someone could only visit one place in Italy, where would you tell them to go?

Wow that's almost an impossible answer. For the sake of not stating the obvious tourist destinations, I always recommend Lucca. It's a great town in Tuscany that's well preserved the culture and history, and in the background of the Tuscan hills can't go wrong. 

7. Have you always been a creator?

Absolutely! I definitely had a passion for the arts as long as I can remember. As a kid I was in love with colouring, creating stories and learning about art. Even at a young age I knew I wanted creativity as part of my future career, and spent a lot of time researching, exploring materials and practicing my skills; I've always been a maker of things. There's never been a part of my life when art wasn't a significant part of it, it's always been a facet of my identity. 

8. What type of art do you create?

I've been painting professionally for nearly 20 years. and while I explore different styles and media in my work, there are certainly constants. I always lean towards bright saturated colours and often approach my work in a very expressive manner. I often focus on abstract work, that has feelings of immediacy and emotion. 

9. How did you get started with marbling?

Living in Florence as an artist it's almost impossible not to be influenced by the artisan traditions. It's a special place because there is a lot of pride in artisan crafts that have been around for generations.  Marbling was a process that caught my interest a while ago and became something I wanted to learn more seriously for myself. It really began as a passion project, I spent a couple of years researching, practicing, reading and really mastering the technique and skill. I discovered that I really love the process of marbling; like painting, the experience of the creation process is very fulfilling and almost meditative. So it's really grown from there, and now it's become a more significant part of my practice as an artist and teacher. 

10. Can you tell us about your workshops?

For the last few years I have been leading workshops in the technique of paper marbling. It's a session of about 2 hours and I take guests through the history, materials and process of the craft. The technique of marbling still has a lot of mystery around it, so I give insight to the tricks and secrets of the tradition and how it's practiced in Italy. It's a very hands-on experience, and after a short demo, guests are allowed to play and create their own marbled designs on paper. You don't need any experience or background in the arts, I find that absolutely everyone can get excited with the magic of marbling! I also welcome families and kids, who bring a great imagination and fun to the workshop. 

11. What are your dreams for the future of Florentine Fibers?

Ah big dreams! I'll start by saying I've always had a fascination with fabrics, in fact my grandmother was a seamstress and our family in Italy comes from the textile industry. I also spent a number of years working in interior design, so developing Florentine Fibers felt like a natural step for me. It's important for me to share the idea of artisan craft and fine art into the everyday; so I want to continue growing my collection of patterns and product in home decor. I would love to partner with other brands and designers to work on larger projects, custom work or specialty lines. And I would like the brand to travel across borders, to be featured, of course throughout Italy, but also Europe and worldwide. 

Discover all of Italian Marbler Jennifer Leo's Beautiful Products:

Jennifer Leo's Florentine Fiber products can be found on our website where we proudly sell her beautiful marble table linens and linens for your home decor. Add some of these stunning pieces to your home decor for summer and fall in love with them like we have.

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