Hello there! I'm CJ Leonard. I got a fancy B.F.A. in Illustration and Design and a box full of art supplies from the Illinois Institute of Art. Now I use both those things to illustrate my way around Chicago. But mostly the box of art supplies.
Being raised in Catholic school, I developed a strong sense of story-telling. Because of my need to make my religious studies a bit more exciting and thinking up creative excuses for being out of uniform, I was quickly used to thinking in terms of conceptual solutions. My parents were long-time workers of the Detroit auto industry, both analytically minded and forever students. They pushed me to question everything in a way that searches for solutions rather than just naming the problem. Along my journey, I've found that humor really is the best medicine, especially for the questions you can't fully answer. Well-placed humor is a beautiful thing.
In most of my work, ink is used to create loosely detailed but carefully chosen areas. I use this method because I like the clean, crisp lines all coming together to create a fully rendered image. It satisfies my need for finality. My work uses digital color as well as traditional paint with mixed media collage methods to create a balance; texture when needed and digital flatness when it's not. Moderation is best.
I illustrate because I love translating messages in the best and most simple way possible: through colorful pictures that make you smile. A picture is worth a thousand words, and I hope I execute my work well enough that you read every single one of them.
What are you still reading this for? Go look at some illustration!
Illustratively yours,
-CJ Leonard
Past clients include: Chicago T-shirt Guy, Redmoon Theater, Ronald McDonald House Charities, 1st Amendment Printing, Werkspace, The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago, Veracitix, Transformative Justice Law Project, Mujeres Latinas En Accion, Masala Indian and Thai Cuisine, Depaul Women's Acapella Chorus, I.N.C.H. Mania, and VanFantom.
Being raised in Catholic school, I developed a strong sense of story-telling. Because of my need to make my religious studies a bit more exciting and thinking up creative excuses for being out of uniform, I was quickly used to thinking in terms of conceptual solutions. My parents were long-time workers of the Detroit auto industry, both analytically minded and forever students. They pushed me to question everything in a way that searches for solutions rather than just naming the problem. Along my journey, I've found that humor really is the best medicine, especially for the questions you can't fully answer. Well-placed humor is a beautiful thing.
In most of my work, ink is used to create loosely detailed but carefully chosen areas. I use this method because I like the clean, crisp lines all coming together to create a fully rendered image. It satisfies my need for finality. My work uses digital color as well as traditional paint with mixed media collage methods to create a balance; texture when needed and digital flatness when it's not. Moderation is best.
I illustrate because I love translating messages in the best and most simple way possible: through colorful pictures that make you smile. A picture is worth a thousand words, and I hope I execute my work well enough that you read every single one of them.
What are you still reading this for? Go look at some illustration!
Illustratively yours,
-CJ Leonard
Past clients include: Chicago T-shirt Guy, Redmoon Theater, Ronald McDonald House Charities, 1st Amendment Printing, Werkspace, The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago, Veracitix, Transformative Justice Law Project, Mujeres Latinas En Accion, Masala Indian and Thai Cuisine, Depaul Women's Acapella Chorus, I.N.C.H. Mania, and VanFantom.
