James Leonard has emerged as one of California’s leading abstract expressionist painters.
He works in acrylic on canvas and uses bold horizontal and vertical strokes with strong color to trigger the viewer’s emotions. His painting style includes pulling paint to create layers, or “history,” within the painting.
While primarily an abstract artist, his emotionally charged, vibrant canvases often portray backdrops for dramatically suspended figures.
“Art has always been the focus of my life,” he says. “Just as our lives unfold in unique and beautiful ways, so do my paintings have their own unique individual expression.”
Leonard grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and has always been drawn to the early expressionists of the 1930’s and 40’s.The German painter Gerhard Richer has had an influence on his style, approach and directness.
The work of James Leonard is exhibited in both Europe and the United States including the San Diego Museum of Art.
Numerous corporate collections feature his work, such as: NASA, Motorola, Lifoka Greafische in Holland and Sky Across Tokyo, Japan to name a few.
James Leonard is represented in New Mexico exclusively by Nussbaumer Fine Art in Santa Fe.
