Biography

NOW...ABOUT THE ARTIST…

Who am I as a person?
I am Rodney, a usually cheerful but gifted and focused multimedia artist of 35 yrs, ex journalist, author, and part time personal coach / inventor / future philanthropist.. I enjoy creating order from chaos which probably comes being the only son of powerful parents (a professional boxer and a minister's daughter who later became a probation officer).

I was born very self aware (I could read at the age of two) and have always strived to learn and enhance my understanding of things around me by studying anything that caught my interest wherever that takes me. My life is always an interesting adventure.

My own ethnicity is a blend of African American and Native American (Choctaw Nation). I grew up in a small town of Jackson, Michigan in a friendly racially mixed neighborhood and basically get along with most reasonable people. My Choctaw/African blood gives me a strong appreciation for spiritual forces in motion and nature. I've retained some of that small town friendliness even though I love to be in Manhattan and Montreal.

Who am I as an artist?
I attended Michigan State University and the CDC School of Drafting and Design of Lansing, MI where I became an instructor after finishing the self paced coursework in record time as a gifted student and for my love of helping others to learn. I've also taught art from K-6 institutionally for the Lansing Public School System, and privately for teens and adults needing to upgrade their skills.

I'm self taught as well as a formally trained artist who has used my love for detail and deadlines producing studio (portrait/ interior design), architectural, mechanical engineering, and defense dept. ultra precise technical renderings or illustrations for 4 engineering companies.

While also known for my compelling realistic paintings and portraits of sensual women of varying ethnicities and peaceful environments; my other technical works have various elements gathered from worlds of science, architecture, anthropology, or whatever limitless details are needed for the specific works in question whether huge or tiny in size.

How did I begin?

In August 1972, I taught myself to draw on a dare after winning many consecutive chess games from a high school buddy who had grown up as an artist since we were two years old in Jackson, Michigan. He got tired of losing in chess and challenged me to an art contest that he knew he would win since he had been drawing his entire life!

(My chess skills were directly the result of learning checkers and strategy from my great grandfather who taught me how to think about many things in life.)

It was well known among our friends that I avoided art like a plague (because I stupidly assumed I couldn't draw). So much for the validity of doubts. eh?

But of course I wasn't backing down from a challenge from somebody I had just beaten for hours, so I said "let's do it!" In his snickering generosity he gave me 3 weeks to practise. Thru sheer willpower I permanently reduced my sleep from 8 to 3 hrs nightly because of extra time needed for drawing practise and art studies.

I chose to study photorealism as a primary style because of the difficulty factor. (A mistake done in abstract art is impossible to notice). So I began studying photographs, physics of optics, lighting, textures, shapes, etc and constantly practise my hand to eye coordination.

I also trained my eyes to see this reality as though it were drawings and paintings which truly alters your view of things.

Next I mentally subtracted the difference between drawings and photos and applied it to my drawings. I even sprayed them with varnish for that glossy photo look! And of course I whipped his butt again and easily won the contest...

Exotic Polynesian women from National Geographic in pencil were my first drawings ever!

Bardot in pencil was my first from magazine photos.

Nude Figures in pencil were next because of difficulty.

Sunset in Colored Pencil was next to break out of the fear of working in color.

Cartooning in realistic 3D in Charcoal pencil was next.

How do I create?
I most often use Films, Inks, Pastels, Oils, and combinations of multimedia.

I love to create pieces with definite measureable message effects without being overt in how they were executed.
I thrive on visual subtlety and powerfully healing creation whereby the viewer has a sensation of "Ahhhhh" and smiles brightly after seeing my work.

I also like to juxtapose sometimes incongruent elements but always in a way that is powerfully pleasing to the eye, heart, and soul. I'm not into shock art unless it clearly produces a clear new positive awareness.
I see all things as belonging to patterns. We all have things that enhance us. I try to create to enhance as many people at once as possible within each piece.

Sometimes I create using mechanical physics and make music from measured size and relative distances of elements in a room or living space, elements of star charts via things like relative synodic orbital periods, franhoffer spectral color lines in physics, or even a cursory analysis of the colors in a photograph converted to sound by frequency correlation. My future books will explain these and others in more detail. Check the poetry link to understand my thoughts more.

I enjoy converting from one sense to another to create what wasn't there before.

I also use the written word for composition and researching for 40 book titles .

Relax, I don't talk this much in person but on the internet you have to stand out among millions of people.

What am I looking for?
I am looking for collectors, dealers, galleries that appreciate and want to promote, buy, and sell my work for our mutual benefit.
I am looking for mid to high end commission work as well as outlets for prints of my created works.

Where can my pieces be found?

My pieces are in private collections in Atlanta GA, Chicago IL, Detroit MI, Portland OR, Houston TX, all over Michigan, Los Angeles CA, New York NY, Washington DC, Ottawa & Toronto Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Phillipines, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Taiwan, and others...

What things have I done?

Here's a partial list of accomplishments and major or popular created art pieces.

2006 Began Work on the "Shaddai Guide to Health and Nutrition", an interactive Excel based nutritional reference with an analysis of over 6000 foods. It is designed to show people how to eat properly according to their individual body types and circumstances by giving them daily and periodical readouts acording to their dietary choices and corrective automatic feedback.

2005 Sept 7 my son Ramses Shaddai Leon was born

"Master Shaddai in Lines" self portrait in colored pencil on board

July created new style Solarizations to show aura and energy views
"The Ultimate Ascension Solarized" Oil 16 x 20 on canvas
"Blessings from the Ancestors Solarized" oil 24 x 48 on canvas

June created dynamic new style Topographic Impressionism ( a cross between abstract topographic layering and photorealism is a new advanced offshoot of impressionism that bridges abstract and realistic imagery by using planes of color instead of dots.)

"Topographic Horsehead Nebulae" Layered Acrylic 16 x 20 on canvas
"Topographic Sunset at Sea" Layered Acrylic 30 x 40 on canvas
"Topographic The Pause" Layered Acrylic 16 x 20 on canvas
"Topographic Gorgeous in Pink" Layered Acrylic 16 x 20 on canvas
"Topographic Elephant w Candle" Layered Acrylic 16 x 20 on canvas
"Topographic Blue Warrior" Layered Acrylic 16 x 20 on canvas
"Topographic Brianda from Ghana" Layered Acrylic 16 x 20 on canvas
"Topographic Blessings from the Ancestors" Layered Acrylic 24 x 48 on canvas
“The Creation of Man hands detail ” Pastel 16 x 20
“The Creation of Man “ Pastel and Gold Marker 20 x 30
April retired from MSU after 11 yrs to and have time to create and sell art full time while watching my newborn son Ramses grow up..

2004 Commissions, online sales and logo designs while dealing with knee surgery.
“Sharon” pastel 16 x 20
“Lorna” Pastel 16 x 20

2003 Commissions, online sales and logo designs
Private shows in Toronto Ontario
“Geometric Composition Face in Butterfly Wing – Vonnie ” Pastel and 18k gold dust 18 x 24 on board

2002 Private art shows in Poughkeepsie NY, Silver Springs MD, and Cincinnati, OH
“Sight of Pain” WTC tribute piece Pastel 24 x 36
Sold many art pieces thru internet contacts where my site generated 1 commission every 3 days on average.
$10,000 portrait commission in Chicago, IL
One Man 20 piece Art show at MSU Case Hall's Barista Cafe
"Goddess of the Islands" Pastel 16 x 20
"The Kiss" Pastel 16 x 20

2001 Private art shows in Brooklyn, NY
Created online profiles 1_Fine_Artist, 1_Fine_Artist, Goldenrod@ www.Blackplanet.com
where I sold a lot of art.
Still unable to paint though due to recovering from 2nd wrist surgery.

2000 Created commercial site www.rodneysleon.com
Second wrist surgery because the surgeon used a clamp instead of sutures.
Created online profile Goldenrod@ www.Blackplanet.com

1999 Created online presence Goldenrod for art advice online.
Had 1st wrist surgery for work injury painted
"Blessings from the Ancestors" in Oils 24 x 48 on canvas painted with left hand while right hand was in a cast.
It was the only way I could deal with the intense pain and constant itching.

1998 Created MSU online gallery www.msu.edu/~leonr
Introduced to the wonders of the Internet

1997 "Love Poems for Black Women" Book in Calligraphy
"The Power Within "Lithograph Print First Edition Published
"Beauty Meets Love" Pastel Painting 32 X 40
"Naomi" Pastel Stereogram 32 X 40
"On To Completion" Pastel Diptych 32 X 40
"Strokes of Color" Poster Printed

1996 "Strokes of Color" (African American Pioneers of Golf) Illustration
"Mirror Chess " Mirrored Chess Board designed and executed
"THE Mirror Box" Interactive Visual Delight designd and executed

1995 "The Power Within" Pastel Painting 32 X 40
"Beauty Meets Beauty" Pastel Painting 32 X 40

1994 One man Exhibition in Lobby of Marriott, East Lansing, Michigan.
1993 "Malcolm X - One Man Can Make a Difference" Pastel Painting 32 X 40

1992 "Masked Muslim" Pastel Painting 32 X 40

1991 "The Ultimate Extension" Pastel Paining 32 X 40

1990 Daughter Yvette Dominique Leon born 5/2/90. (Art career throttled down for six years for her development).
DBI Billboard
Canady Law TV Show opening Logo/ Calligraphy & Credits

1989 United Phone Book Cover Design
DBI corporate identity logo design,signage for building, trucks, print ads
"Composition of Squares & Gold" Pastel 32 X 40
Graphic Design Projects & Large Paintings

1988 " Solarized Nude "Oil Painting 32 X 40
" The Swans " Prismacolor 32 X 40
" The Fractal Diver " Ink 32 X 40

1987 Art exhibition BOCG Oldsmobile/GM Complex in Lansing, Michigan
Michigan Library Carnegie Hall" 2 man show of 20 pieces Jackson Michigan
“ The Mask of King Tut" Oil 30 X40

1986 Named Art Director of Classics Productions.
R.E. Olds Automotive Museum Billboards.
“With Pride Regardless II" Pastel 32 X 40

1985 Part of Technical Illustration Team rendered machine parts for military General Dynamics/U.S. Government. (Detroit)
" Image in Butterfly Wing" Pastel 32 X 40

1984 Paintings comprised major portion of show at Wharton Center Performing Arts Michigan State University.
40 piece art exhibit to commemorate 40th Black History Program.

1984 " ParaChess" Chessboard with unique configuration
" Bennu" Cartoon Phoenix Published Strip

1983 Created "Bennu", published the cartoon Phoenix in Jackson Blazer.
" OLA LA" Pastel 32 X 40
Named to Graphic Arts Advisory Committee as consultant for computer graphics curriculum.
(Jackson Community College trade development program).
Co founded Master Strokes International (creative design firm).
40 piece one - man showing of paintings.
Television commercial featured artist for Bank of Lansing.
Performed with internationally traveled Pashami Dancers of Lansing, at Wharton Center for
Performing Arts.
Paintings and Poetry featured in 8 consecutive Black History Programs
Created technique of Biorhythm Analysis of Physical, Emotional, and Mental cycles of compatibility
between two people and wrote a program for same.
Manufactured prototype of "Parachess" a new chessboard design.

1982 " The Hands Of God Playing The Song Of Creation" Pastel 32 X 40

Created Decimal Harmonics Chart for color coded comparative analysis
patterns using 360 degrees of circle and decimal division
Phoenix Studio featured on Orwellian Live Cable Television interview.
Phoenix Studio featured in Lansing based Orwellian Magazine.
Focus on new poetry book and corresponding paintings

1981 Phoenix Studio featured in Blazer (Jackson Michigan paper).
Finished Poetry book of 180 Poems.

1980 TV NEWS Featured Artist on News Highlights on Arts Festival (Channel 6 Lansing).
Guest Speaker at Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts Washington D.C., Brooklyn New York
Illustrated 110 Floor Plans and Site revisions for Planning Division of Lansing School District.
R.E. Olds Automotive Museum Grand Opening Brochure.
R.E. Olds Automotive Museum Coloring Book.

1979 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority "Sweetheart of the Year Award for Outstanding contributions".
“With Pride Regardless II" Pastel 32 X 40

1978 Featured Artist Ujjama Awards-Michigan State University.
Featured Artist Ella Sharpe Museum Premier Jackson Open Invitational Exhibition.

1977 Comic Strip "TRUEBLOOD" Published in Jackson Blazer.
Featured Artist Ujjama Awards-Michigan State University.

1976 Featured Artist Bicentennial Artrain in Jackson Michigan.
Fine Arts Exhibit-Jackson County Fair (won most ribbons in Pastels Category).
I took places 1st - 7th. There was no need or desire to compete again after that.

1975 Featured artist Jackson Citizen Patriot Article on Accomplished Artists.
Taught self to draw left-handed while the right hand was in a cast after running thru a glass door.

1974 Quill and Scroll Award for Outstanding Achievement in High School Journalism.

1973 Join Seinstacke Journalism Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement at MSU Workshop for Accomplished Minority High School Journalists.

1972 Reduced sleep to two hours per night to have extra time to practice new found interest in drawing at age of 15.