Hello!

I’m Leana Fischer, the artist behind May We Fly. My artwork is made to celebrate the wonder of the little things in everyday life, and to encourage others to notice the beauty in their own stories. The name May We Fly comes from my wish for all of us: that we’ll live in alignment with our deepest values, and share our gifts with the world.

May We Fly took root in 2013 after leaving a job in architecture to move from Virginia to Fayetteville, Arkansas with my husband, Dan. With a bit of extra time on my hands during this period of transition, I began to realize that painting wasn’t just a hobby. Little by little, one piece at a time, I began the long, winding journey towards becoming a full-time artist. 

Painting remains my true calling: it’s my expression of joy, my sincere offering, and my enthusiastic invitation. I work mainly with watercolor because it feels most natural in my hand. It has a language all its own, one that I am certain I will be learning for a lifetime. The elements behind it—pigment, water, movement—all point directly to my deep love of the natural world. When I paint, I’m connected to my own nature: present, peaceful, and reverent.

After a decade as a painter, I can see how profoundly my art has enriched my life—not only through the joy it brings me, but because of the connections I’ve made with so many kindred spirits. May We Fly has grown from a tiny website into a business that has allowed me to share my artwork with people around the world, teach hundreds of students through in-person and online watercolor workshops, and partner with wonderful brands like Terrain, Trader Joe’s, and Hallmark.

In 2022, Dan and I (and our pup, Buford) made the bittersweet decision to move back to the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, where I now work and paint out of my home studio. On Easter morning in 2024, my littlest studio assistant arrived, our baby daughter Wilomene Dawn.

Wherever I am, May We Fly keeps me connected to a growing community of creators, sharing and celebrating our collective gifts.

A Few Fun Facts:

+ This was the first piece I ever made for May We Fly

+ This is my most popular piece

+ This is the piece that challenged me the most (so far)

+ This is a song I can listen to on repeat

+ This is my favorite cookie recipe

+ This is where I go for gardening inspiration

+ This is one of my favorite artists

+ This is my Enneagram number

+ This is my Myers-Briggs type