Email:tricialeonard@comcast.net

Art was a part of my childhood…there were always paints, pastels, pencils, and paper available. The first memory I have of wanting to be an artist was in junior high school when I was put in charge of posters and displays for school events. I continued to be the ‘class artist’ through high school, then enrolled at UCLA as an art major. At UCLA, I had the privilege of having Richard Diebenkorn as an instructor for two of my painting classes. I moved to Livermore in 1972 and became active in LAA in those early years. I taught adult education art classes in Livermore, which led me to pursue a teaching credential. I taught art for four years at Dublin High School. While teaching, I added a MS degree in counseling to my credentials. When art programs were reduced, my art position was eliminated and I was reassigned to counseling which I continued for the next eighteen years. I spent my last nine years in education as a school administrator in Pleasanton. During my years in education, I continued to work at my art…entering shows and occasionally winning awards. I retired in 2007 and have since been pursuing my interest in art full time. I have been certified as a Creativity Coach by Eric Maisel and am teaching a course in creativity as well as a beginning drawing course through Amador Adult Education starting this February. I am also a workshop presenter for Atelier Acrylics. I travel over northern California to demonstrate and promote their paints. Creating art is my first true love. I feel blessed to have the time to spend working at my art and associating with other similarly ‘obsessed’ artists