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Q&A: Stephanie Leonard

Emerging artist Stephanie Leonard has been creating vibrant paintings in her home studio — a.k.a. on the dining room table in her Preston Hollow condo — for the past several years as a relaxing reprieve from her busy, 9-to-5 day job. Now, she’s getting serious about her craft.

How did you get into painting?

I’ve been doing art for myself for eight years. Mostly commissioned >> pieces for my friends and family. I’m new to shows. My goal this year was to get myself out there and be part of the arts scene in Dallas. I applied for Etsy and did the spring show. I’m doing some shows with Piranha Bear in Fort Worth. I’m trying to meet different artists and learn from them. I hate creating stuff and having no place to put it. I have stacks of canvases against the wall in my house.

Did you go to school for art?

I went to Baylor and got a degree in graphic design, but I’ve never held a graphic design job. I got burned out. I don’t enjoy it when it’s my job. But then, I realized I missed art and being creative. I love it so much. My day job is so different. I’m an executive assistant for a very busy man. I have to use a different part of my brain and be very organized. [With art] I just let it flow. I go in lulls. You can’t force creativity. I’ve been in a place where I won’t paint for two months. I want to be happy with what I’m putting on the canvas. It sounds cliché, but I do it when it speaks to me.

How do you describe your work?

I love circles and dots and motion and energy in paintings. Everything I do has dots on it. I started out just using different kinds of buttons. I also love color and texture and using different layers of paper and sandpaper. I use stencils and stamping to create that depth. I’ve used chicken wire. I get inspiration from other artists. I love art blogs. I never paint without listening to music — old U2 or Phoenix.

How long have you lived in Preston Hollow?

I’ve lived here for seven years. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived most of my life in Wichita, Kan. My parents moved to Texas when I was a junior in high school, so I spent the last two years of high school in Arlington. Then, I went to Baylor, and then I moved to Southern California for six years. That’s a great place for art — anything and everything. I miss that about California. I moved back because I wanted to be closer to my friends and family. Dallas is a great city for art. The most disappointing change was Deep Ellum. I was there every weekend in high school listening to bands and going to art shows.

Are you married, or do you have any kids?

I just turned 40. I’m single. I’m focused on being happy and doing what I love to do. I appreciate life, and I want to get as much as I can out of it.

What are you working on now?

There’s an opportunity with Parkland Hospital where a group is inviting local artists to hang their work in the building. That excites me. Hospitals are seen as a negative thing, they’re sterile. I think art can be a healer. So, I’m submitting to that. I have a show at the Kettle in July in Deep Ellum. —Emily Toman

LEARN MORE about Stephanie Leonard’s art at artbystephanieleonard.com.