I support Big Bend Cares because HIV/Aids is a disease that can be eradicated with education. As a Rotarian, we have been working for 20 years to wipe out Polio world wide and that is a disease that education can’t cure…but HIV/Aids can be. It just needs money, compassion, and education.
When did you realize your love for creating art?
I have always been ‘artsy crafty’ but it was only about 11 years ago that I discovered I had an ability to capture the essence of a person with a pencil or a brush. I started out on a whim by picking up a pencil and drawing my deceased husband. Everyone (including me) was surprised at how much it looked like him. That was the beginning of Portraits By Leila. When I am not doing a portrait of a person or pet, I am painting beach scenes. I love the ocean.
Coca-Cola or Pepsi?
Either. Hey, I was raised by a Republican and a Democrat. Hellllooooo!
Who inspires you the most in life?
My parents, my 97 year old aunt and my sweetie. My parents believed and encouraged me in everything I did. They encouraged my art and I only pray now that they are gone that they know how I have become the artist they always hoped I would be. My 97 year old Aunt Ruth Kahler is a former Valdosta State art professor and a marvelous artist in her own right. She still occasionally teaches and was just selected the Woman of The Year by the Valdosta DAR. And…she’s a funny, sassy broad. My sweetie, is Austin Taylor, my life partner. He loves me and inspires me every day.
What is your favorite color?
Turquoise. The color of a tropical sea.
See more of Leila’s artwork, at her website: portraitsbyleila.com, or visit her on Facebook.
