The Art of LEONARD PAUL
View a short video produced by the National Film Board of Canada.
Mi’kmaq artist Leonard Paul says that he draws his inspiration from the places of his childhood. According to him, Native art is hard to define. It can take various shapes and be inspired not only by ancestors and traditions, but by everything around us.++
'Ross Brook' by Leonard Paul (Copyright)
Leonard Paul, a First Nation Mi’kmaq visual artist was born in Halifax in 1953 and currently resides in Calgary, Alberta. Leonard enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts at the College of Art and Design (1971 – 1974), and later graduated from Acadia University in Art History and Political Science (1991). A year earlier under the tutelage of Dr. Dennis Veinotte, Paul received his counseling certificate in Image Therapy from U. of Acadia. Mr. Paul is a full-time professional artist, although he spent time as acting Director of Indian Brook R.O.C.K.S., an arts/cultural program in Indian Brook First Nation, dedicated to promoting cultural arts among youth.
'Elbow River' by Leonard Paul (Copyright)
Since 1994 Leonard has been the owner/president of Fox Trail Editions Inc. and operated his own Fox Trail Art Gallery. From 1980 -1991, he served on the national First Nation art committee out of Ottawa, known as Society of Canadian Artists of Native Ancestry (SCANA). Since 1982 Paul’s artwork touched the lives of many dignitaries: Her Royal Highness, The Princess Anne of Great Britain opened an exhibition of his work at the Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan. Canada’s Governor General, Edward Schreyer, participated in Paul’s national group exhibition in Ottawa on three occasions. In 1983, the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, Gerard Pelletier, opened an international group exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, at which Mr. Paul’ s art was represented.
'Newspaper Boy' by Leonard Paul (Copyright)
In the fall of 1996, External Affairs and Industry Canada of Aboriginal Business selected Leonard's art business as a Canadian Representative at the World Trade Show ‘Tendence ‘93’ in Frankfurt, Germany. One of Canada’s top free-lance journalists, Harry Bruce, wrote an article for Atlantic Salmon Journal, international angling magazine, publishing an extensive photo-documentary feature on Leonard Paul and his art. In 1991 Leonard received national exposure on television where he was selected as one of the primary artists for a film by the National Film Board, entitled Kwa’nute. On his return from a trip to India in 1983, he was recognized for his painting of environmental landscapes. At that time, Leonard became the recipient of the prestigious Canada’s Governor General Medal, presented by Her Royal Highness’s Representative, The Governor General of Canada, Raymond Hnatyshyn. In April 1997, Leonard received a Canada Council Arts Grants of $17,000.00 for research of waterways of Nova Scotia.
'Too Close for Comfort' by Leonard Paul (Copyright)
On two celebratory occasions the province of Nova Scotia commissioned Mr. Paul to design and paint promotional themes for their 1997 and ‘98 campaigns, honouring Mi’kmaq Treaty Day. In 1992 and ‘93, CBC Teletvision chose and broadcasted the Life and Work of Leonard Paul as one their cultural themes for a unique project, Artspots. In this project Leonard was the focus of five separate one-minute art segments, which was broadcast to showcase the arts and cultural talents within the regio of Atlantic Canada. At that time Leonard was also honoured as the The Grand Marshall leading the historical Apple Blossom Parade Celebration.
In 1998 Leonard submitted a sampling of his art to the national wildlife art competition sponsored by Federal Ducks Unlimited. Paul’s watercolour, Too Close For Comfort, (above) was declared national art winner. His whimsical depiction of a pheasant fleeing out the other end of a rusty barrel as the fox was approaching too close became a year-long promotional showcase piece by Ducks Unlimited. That same year the Royal Canadian Mint commissioned Mr. Paul to submit a coin design concept for the 1999 ‘$200.00 Gold Coin’.
Leonard Paul has had numerous solo art exhibitions, national and international exposure since he first started painting for the public in 1976, the year his daughter Tayla was born. He is a master watercolorist and a consummate technician in mediums: drawing, oils and airbrushing. His artwork has been described as high-realism where careful attention is focused on art applications and arduous details. His favourite art is Baroque and he has often travelled to Europe to see first-hand the genre works of Jan Vermeer and still-life art of Wellum van Aelst. He is also deeply moved by the sensitivity of ‘atmospheric light’, which the epic landscape painters of the Hudson River School era employed.
In 1998 Leonard submitted a sampling of his art to the national wildlife art competition sponsored by Federal Ducks Unlimited. Paul’s watercolour, Too Close For Comfort, (above) was declared national art winner. His whimsical depiction of a pheasant fleeing out the other end of a rusty barrel as the fox was approaching too close became a year-long promotional showcase piece by Ducks Unlimited. That same year the Royal Canadian Mint commissioned Mr. Paul to submit a coin design concept for the 1999 ‘$200.00 Gold Coin’.
Leonard Paul has had numerous solo art exhibitions, national and international exposure since he first started painting for the public in 1976, the year his daughter Tayla was born. He is a master watercolorist and a consummate technician in mediums: drawing, oils and airbrushing. His artwork has been described as high-realism where careful attention is focused on art applications and arduous details. His favourite art is Baroque and he has often travelled to Europe to see first-hand the genre works of Jan Vermeer and still-life art of Wellum van Aelst. He is also deeply moved by the sensitivity of ‘atmospheric light’, which the epic landscape painters of the Hudson River School era employed.
'Dancer 1' by Leonard Paul (Copyright)
Leonard considers himself as having the better of two worlds: Mi’kmaq ancestry and Euro-centric values in mainsdtream art. Paul’s work is represented by: Zwicker’s Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Wadle Galleries, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Diane Paul Galleries, Calgary, Alberta. In 1996 his life and work was listed in the Canadian’s Who’s Who for the cultural arts. Leonard Paul has had the honour to sit on the Canada Council for the Arts Juried Committee in Ottawa, where he was one of the panel judges for the Emerging Artists Grants Competition for 1999. In 2007 Mr. Paul served on a committee for the Alberta Arts Council on a jury panel.
Leonard’s art is included in many prominent art institutions, private and corporate collections, university art galleries, and national and provincial government art galleries. In the last few years Leonard has received numerous government grants and financial assistance from various institutions in support and recognition for his artistic endeavours.
In 2002, Acadia University president, Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie, and Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Irving, honoured Mr. Paul by commissioning his artistic talent to paint a large acrylic showcase painting, Great Horned Owl, as part of the new Irving Botanical Science Building at Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia provincial government invited Mr. Paul to serve on an ad hoc cultural arts committee for the new Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Advisory Board under Tourism and Culture Minister, Rodney MacDonald.
Leonard’s art is included in many prominent art institutions, private and corporate collections, university art galleries, and national and provincial government art galleries. In the last few years Leonard has received numerous government grants and financial assistance from various institutions in support and recognition for his artistic endeavours.
In 2002, Acadia University president, Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie, and Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Irving, honoured Mr. Paul by commissioning his artistic talent to paint a large acrylic showcase painting, Great Horned Owl, as part of the new Irving Botanical Science Building at Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia provincial government invited Mr. Paul to serve on an ad hoc cultural arts committee for the new Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Advisory Board under Tourism and Culture Minister, Rodney MacDonald.
Recently, Leonard Paul, as illustrator, and international singer Buffy Sainte-Marie joined Canadian acclaimed writer, David Bouchard, in producing his children’s book, Long Powwow Nights. One book review offered by Gregory Bryan, wrote, “Leonard Paul’s wonderful artwork is the major strength of Long Powwow Nights. Paul’s paintings of powwow dancers in full regalia are likely to draw the attention of the panel of judges who determine the Governor General’s Literary Award for illustration of books for children.”
Leonard Paul is currently writing and illustrating his own Mi’kmaq Legends, about a young boy who listened to the wonderful stories told by his mother at bedtime. The young boy’s powerful imagination comes to life where super heroes and dark forces clash between reality and the spiritual world, to the point where the boy must challenge his own inner fears. Mr. Paul is interested in reviving the art of ‘story-telling’ for the children.
Mr. Paul briefly sat on the Board of Directors of QuickDraw Animation in Alberta. He admits that it would be fantastic to see his own 2D illustrations become alive through animation.
Mr. Paul is a full-time employee with Bearspaw First Nation Administration, Morley, Alberta, as Wellness Sport Programs Coordinator and Art Instructor. Leonard believes. and advocates, that a perfect spiritual harmony involves a connection between mental and physical body. Leonard Paul loves to roam the country sides and river banks with his family and two dogs, seeking inspiration.
“I paint with a pencil and draw with a brush”
Leonard Paul
Leonard Paul is currently writing and illustrating his own Mi’kmaq Legends, about a young boy who listened to the wonderful stories told by his mother at bedtime. The young boy’s powerful imagination comes to life where super heroes and dark forces clash between reality and the spiritual world, to the point where the boy must challenge his own inner fears. Mr. Paul is interested in reviving the art of ‘story-telling’ for the children.
Mr. Paul briefly sat on the Board of Directors of QuickDraw Animation in Alberta. He admits that it would be fantastic to see his own 2D illustrations become alive through animation.
Mr. Paul is a full-time employee with Bearspaw First Nation Administration, Morley, Alberta, as Wellness Sport Programs Coordinator and Art Instructor. Leonard believes. and advocates, that a perfect spiritual harmony involves a connection between mental and physical body. Leonard Paul loves to roam the country sides and river banks with his family and two dogs, seeking inspiration.
“I paint with a pencil and draw with a brush”
Leonard Paul
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++ Video is from Aboriginal Perspectives, a site for high school and upper elementary students and teachers that features National Film Board of Canada documentaries by and about Canada’s Aboriginal peoples.
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