Leonie Poole BEd, MEd
Leonie Poole, a native of Alberta grew up in a community that nurtured in her the love of nature. At a very young age, she showed interest in recreating in her paintings the beauty of the prairie landscapes and the many flowers she found in her parent's gardens. Later, as an art teacher, she continued to instill in her students this admiration for all the beauty that can be found everywhere in nature. Today, as a retired teacher and a grandmother, she continues to teach others to appreciate and respect the environment and its fleeting beauty.
Leonie's paintings are mainly representational with impressionistic touches. She paints in watercolour, acrylic or oils, with a preference for watercolour. Her development as an artist was influenced by many. Her first formal classes in art were at The University of Alberta where she majored in visual arts in conjunction with her education degree. She taught art during her teaching years and would paint occasionally during that period of time. However as a mother and a teacher, there was very little time to paint. Today, retirement allows her to paint much more. Having taken a few classes and workshops with renown artists she feels better equiped and challenged to pursue her art more seriously.
Leonie is a member of a number of art societies and has shown her paintings in many different group shows along with some solo shows. She is represented by Le Centre d'Art Visuel de l'Alberta in Edmonton and her own studio, Sunset Studio in Bonnyville. Her paintings are mostly found in friend's and families's homes but a few have made their way into corporate places.
Leonie teaches art classes to adults and youths in her studio and gives occasional workshops to groups. She hopes others will also find pleasure in expressing themselves through their art.
Artist Statement
The driving force that keeps me wanting to paint is the reward I get in expressing myself through my art. I hope my paintings help others see the incredible fleeting beauty that surrouds us and maybe see the world through different eyes.
Some of my paintings can be viewed on my personal website at
www.leonie.poole.com