After graduating high school I married and hadfour children. During that time
while my children were young I began working withthe youth in the dance and drama department at our local
church.As the years went by I realized I had a God given abilityto work with students
of all ages.As my children grew I looked for other opportunities to grow my skills. Along with the work
I’ve accomplished with Community In Schools, I have been blessed to be able to work with several hundred students during
a month long enrichment program held each year during the month of June. In February
of 2007, I began creating hand made silks for dance teams and individuals.
The bulk of my work is with Christian groups that use them in dance celebrations.
I’ve enjoyed working with the Starkville High Theatre department where I create
silk billows; overlays; garments; ribbons; flags and much more.Dance has
always played a major role in my life as an artist. Each week I routinely go to a studio and practice the art
of "flag dance".I enjoy being able to share this part with others also. In all, I couldn’t dream of doing anything else.If you find your calling
in life, your very blessed and I would say, that I know for sure, I have.Charlotte Todd Leonard
`MY MANDATE TO EQUIP REQUIRES (COVENANT) `MY MANDATE TO MENTOR REQUIRES (RELATIONSHIP) `MY MANDATE TO INSTRUCT REQUIRES (SERVANT-HOOD) `MY MANDATE TO INFLUENCE REQUIRES (CONFIDENCE)
one of my students working on a silk scarf (communities in schools)
RELATIONSHIP
Outdoor festival with Jesus bannerflag (Arizonia)
COVENANT
CIS table covering created by students at Overst.
CONFIDENCE
workshop at River of LIfe community (painting flag
SERVANT- HOOD
Church dance teams with "Tools
of Praise."
Mentor: To mentor schools age children AND adults with the use of flags, silk billows, ribbons and silk garments.
Instruct: To instruct school age children, children's ministries
and adult Christian dance teams, in silk art, flag making and flag dance.
Influence: To influence "City Government and the family by implementing creative
arts in schools theatre programs, public school classrooms,
alternative centers and summer camp grant programs.
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
Psalm 90: 16,17
Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the Lord and God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.
Artist Statement
I remember those years that I went with my mom
to fabric stores.She would spend hours at a time,
in one store, looking at textures and designs. My mother loved making clothes for us. She made sure that my sister and I would
match each Sunday we attended Church.One memory juts
out to me, still today, I remember the hours I spend underneath the endless yards of fabric playing while my mother made her final decisions.Still to this
day, I’m humbled by the role my mother played in my life as a young girl.It wasn’t until
many years later that I began working with fabrics myself.There has been many turns and bends in my life over the years that have prepared me for this final adventure that I’m
walking in today.Textile design for me is taking the lightest fabric possible and creating unique, usable designs that encourage and enlighten the heart.Just as the earth moves and is in continual transformation,I never want to be at a place where I’m satisfied with my designs.I’m always looking
for a better way to transform the fabrics I use into something no one has ever seen before.I especially
love silk.Silk has just the right components that I need to be creative. Creatingone
of a kind pieces of art brings together passion and creativity in one place. Textile design has given
me a chance to release my God given abilities and talents like nothing else has.I’m thankful for
my mother’s inspiration in my life as a young girl.Even though she died while I was in my 20’s,
I can still remember those fond memories of her sitting at the sewing machine making clothes for us girls.
Charlotte Jean Todd Leonard
If you ever need help in understand how to use banner flags or any other items shown on this
site please feel free to contact me via the contact page.
Thanks you
Student tracing outline of image onto silk.
Later she will gutta the lines and then begin to silk paint.
