TITLE: MIDNIGHT ON THE BOULEVARD
ARTIST: TRICIA POULOS LEONARD

Tricia earned a B.A. in Studio Art from UCLA in 1968 and a Masters Degree in Counseling from the University of LaVerne in 1982. She served as a Counselor and School Administrator for the Pleasanton Unified School District for 30 years from 1977 to 2007. Since then, she has become a full-time artist and art teacher.

Awards:

• Tracy Art Association Expressions Show 2009 - Honorable Mention
• Livermore Spring Art Show 2007 - Honorable Mention
• Pleasanton Art League Show 2004 - Merit Award
• Livermore Spring Art Show 2004 - Honorable Mention

Artist's Statement:

I have been a fulltime artist since retiring in 2007. In the beginning, I enjoyed painting the landscapes around me in a neoimpressionist style. Recently, I have changed my direction to an abstract style. I find this new direction exhilarating! In this style, I can express my innermost emotions. I hope to reach the viewer through a deep understanding of the subconscious directions our minds take us. As I work on a piece, I find that thoughts and feelings that I have suppressed come through the painting as it progresses. I am also influenced by the jazz music that I listen to while creating. You will notice that many of my paintings reference that jazz influence. Abstracts are a visual representation of the abstract quality of music. My work expresses all of the emotions, from pure joy with life to the dark moments we all experience. The pain and pleasure that I have felt in my life is expressed through my art.