Miller Branch Library Artist of the Month – Leslie StewART (January 2 - January 31)

Leslie Stewart is a three dimensional painter who lives and works in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Her colorful paintings and use of newsprint pay homage to her childhood growing up in a newspaper family in Central Arkansas. Her distinctive style jumps off the canvas highlighting shape, dimension, and color.

Flowers are a favorite subject matter, as it links her to her mother’s love of gardening. Her ideas are inspired by life and allow her to show the world through her eyes. As the artist explains, “we all have a story and my art is an opportunity to tell my life’s story. It's not political, but meant to inspire and bring joy to the viewer."

As a child, Stewart could be found creating her own style of art through imagination and repurposing items. As an adult, Stewart has shared her creativity with thousands of children through her career as an elementary educator. She has worked as a classroom teacher and now as an art teacher for the last 23 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Art education fell into her lap and as she describes, “teaching art is a prayer I never knew I had.”