What really holds the most interest for me is what is underneath the surface. Art makes seen the unseen. That's where abstract work captured me. The feeling, the emotion, the ability to intuitively interpret takes one to a deeper level of understanding. Great art is a surprise. It's so enchanting, so delightfully unexpected and unpredictable. In order to create that, you have to drop the concept of imposing what you think it should be, and allow the work to evolve in its own way. That requires all the skills of listening, allowing, learning to quiet that part of our mind that is constantly telling us how things should be. For me, that's the essence of creativity.

 

Leonard does not work with brushes, he uses an extended palette knife.

 

I'm pulling paint, layering one layer at a time, which creates a sense of history in the painting. It's like looking at a fence post that's been repainted over a period of time. You can see the different colors and layers.

 

Leonard resides in California with his wife, Gabriella, and their two dogs.