Leila
The feet can walk; let them walk.  The hands can hold; let them hold.  Hear what is heard by your ears; see what is seen by your eyes. - Taoist Verse

Leila is a fourth generation Phoenician, growing up in the small town of Waddell on the far side of the Valley.   Living her childhood surrounded by farms, animals and the desert, the artist formed a strong connection with nature and the cycle of life.  "I learn from having people, animals and nature around me; they give me so much for which to be thankful," reveals Leila.  Annual camping trips in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona, begun by the artist's family before her mother was born, evoke wonderful memories of being surrounded by nature and her loving family.

The artist graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Fine Art in 2005 from Arizona State University.  During her studies, Leila concentrated on painting and credits the French master Cezanne for "opening the door to a whole new world of interpretation."  She was inspired by Francis Bacon for his ability to evoke emotion through his austere imagery, as well as Willem de Kooning, a New York School artist whose freedom and rawness struck a chord with Leila.  She also found herself drawn to the balance and harmony found in the sculptures of American abstract kinetic artist Alexander Calder.

A yearly trip to the beaches of Mexico, reveling in the myriad of colors and tranquility of the ocean, inspires creativity in Leila.  She shares a "nice little home" in Tempe, Arizona, with her husband, two dogs and two cats, where she finds gardening to be a huge source of inspiration.