Meet Catherine Leone | Artist Behind Leone the Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Catherine Leone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Catherine, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I think that a lot of people are under the assumption that art as a career is the “easy way out,” as if one could decide to do art and be living comfortably with minimal effort. I have met some of the hardest working individuals in the creative community. From an outside perspective it looks like you get to play with paint or clay and get paid, but realistically when you are an artist you are also a manager, social media influencer, budget master, marketing head, scheduler and event coordinator, sales associate, and designer, if not more.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began my artistic journey with acrylic and ink paintings and have branched out to other mediums such as digital illustration, resin, ceramics, and chalk. I like to focus on women, nature, pop culture and 90s anime aesthetics. These themes are very important to me because they allow me to reflect on my environment and community while putting into the world what I wish I saw as a child and aspiring artist. A lot of my work is dedicated to creating equal representation in the women I draw, whether that be through cultural representation, ethnic identities, physical attributes and much more. As a white woman with blonde hair and green eyes, I am lucky to be able to see myself and others like me represented in almost every form of media. As I have grown older I have started to realize the lack of representation in art, I don’t see people that look like my friends nearly as often as I see people that look like me. After becoming a Montessori preschool teacher and currently entering my 8th year in the classroom, I see the same thing happening to my students. There is not enough diversity in art, picture books, movies, etc. My goal is to create art that represents everyone, not just myself. Professionally, I got to where I am today by pushing myself to explore new mediums and styles while also sticking my foot in any open door. It has been difficult, no one enjoys being told no. However, I have found that for every 5 calls or emails I make, at least one will respond with an opportunity. Viewing marketing myself as a numbers game has helped me keep my head up when trying to get into galleries, shops, magazines and more. The biggest lesson I have learned in my journey is to make art for yourself. With the influence of social media and the idea of “likes”, it is easy to create things you think others will enjoy. However, if you don’t like what you are making, there is no point in making it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Colorado is a beautiful state so there is an endless list of hot spots! Red Rocks Amphitheater is a must see, either as a concert venue or on the weekends as a nice walk. This is an excellent place to take in nature and drive around in surrounding areas such as Golden, Boulder, and even Garden of the Gods. The RhiNo district in Denver is absolutely amazing and incredibly inspiring, every street has beautiful artwork either as murals or graffiti. There is a sense of magic in the air when exploring Denver, especially at night when the lights turn on and the stars are out. Some excellent places to eat are Hapa in Boulder for those who love sushi. Collision Brewing Company in Longmont is home to some wonderfully crafted sours and beers while also providing an incredibly inclusive menu that offers many vegetarian and vegan options. The recently built Meow Wolf in Denver is a truly unique experience that everyone of all ages can enjoy and definitely should!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people in my life have contributed to my success as an artist. First and foremost is my family and partner who always encourage me to step outside of my comfort zone and take risks with both my art and my marketing. These people have given me honest feedback that aided in my creative process as well as providing a support system for me to fall back on. I would also like to recognize all of the people at the Firehouse Art Gallery in Longmont. I have been a member there for a few years now and they do a wonderful job of networking, providing resources, and connecting you with other creatives in the community as well as artistic opportunities that may have gone unknown.

Website: linktr.ee/leonetheartist

Instagram: @leonetheartistofficial