LEONARD BABY

When did you first become interested in art?

Art has been in my life for as long as I can remember. I was never fond of sports, so art was always my extracurricular.

How did you get to where you are today in your practice?

For college, I moved to New York City which is where I started taking my art more seriously. With all the resources available to me here, it's very easy to stay motivated. I paint out of my apartment on the Upper West Side and show mostly locally.

What has been the most challenging aspect of your art career?

I think the most challenging aspect of my career has been waiting for my big break. I'm not a very patient person, so I have to remind myself daily that the life of an artist is a marathon, not a sprint.

Where do you find inspiration?

I get most of my inspiration from movies. If I'm not painting, I'm probably watching a movie. There is a director called Angela Schanelec who frames her subjects in such an ordinary and melancholy way. Her films have been hugely influential to my work.

Which artist do you look up to? Any artists you're loving at the moment?

There are so many artists I currently look up to. Caleb Hahne is a Denverbased painter who I really love. Matt Bollinger is another painter whose work really excites me. His latest show is in London, and it features portraits of Walmart employees. Those paintings really break my heart.

What's one thing people should know about you?

Anything I think people should know about me can be found out by looking at my paintings.