Rachelle Leon Bio:
Rachelle Leon was born in Boston, Massachusetts
and raised in the surrounding town of Winthrop. She shortly attended the Museum
of Fine Arts School, Boston. While there she discovered her passion for the pen
and she earned a BFA in Professional Writing at Salem State University. While
at Salem State she combined her photography and writing into a photo blog for
her university e-zine, Red Skies. After moving to Maine she attended Southern
Maine Community College, where she earned an AS in Marine Biology and Oceanography.
Rachelle is a mostly self-taught multimedia
artist who works in jewelry making, fashion design and photography.
In 2011, Rachelle was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Because
of her brain lesions she developed poor memory and facial recognition, along
with a myriad of other symptoms. She began to look at photos she had taken and
she'd write whatever came to mind. One emotion would lead to another and
eventually she'd remember something once long forgotten. Immediately she'd
leave the room she was in and envision the memory as if it were yesterday. No
matter how many times she looked at the same photo, she'd never get sick of
that feeling. That feeling of appreciating something so fleeting is such a
gift. The photos made her realize that her memories weren't gone. They were
just deep within her soul and needed help pushing through the darkness.
Whether photographing nature, an object, or person Rachelle's only
hope is for others to be able to feel. She wants her photography to be used as
a tool to help the viewer remember his own personal memories; pieces to his
story that may have been missing. Memories are precious and powerful and
fleeting.
Some of Rachelle’s influences include Frida Kahlo, Alphonse Mucha,
Sire John Tenniel, Lewis Carroll, Ansel Adams, Jerry Uelsmann, and Annie
Leibovitz.
Rachelle currently resides in Gorham Maine with her husband, Max and their three cats, Ichabod, Pumpkin, and Moriarty and their two potbelly pigs, Barnabas Jayne and Igor Von Porkenstein.
Rachelle currently resides in Gorham Maine with her husband, Max and their three cats, Ichabod, Pumpkin, and Moriarty and their two potbelly pigs, Barnabas Jayne and Igor Von Porkenstein.
Max Leon Artist Bio:
Born in 1975 in North Texas, relocated to South Jersey, and once
again to Maine - I have been fortunate to enjoy a career in the arts for over
20 years. I am essentially self taught, save for a few helpful editors,
instructors, and friends who helped me hone my skills, and oddly enough - I am
somewhat red/green colorblind. A fact most of my closest friends find
hilarious.
I was first published in 1992 by Underworld Publishing for a
gaming supplement and from there entered the world of comic books. My first
title came when i was just 18 years old for Polyventura Comics located then in
Portland, Maine. The comic was called The Scorpion and I remember that I was
given just 48 hours to have the entire 22 page book completed and ready for
inking. I don't think I slept but more than an a few hours and survived on two
boxes of donuts and about a gallon of coffee. It was an exciting time for a
young artist!
A few years later I moved on from comics to advertising, graphic
design, and book/CD covers. I worked with a lot of local and national bands to
design the look of their albums and merchandise. This put me on the guest list
to many concerts, which was a perk I was particularly fond of.
Currently I maintain my own graphics lab and sling my skills as a
freelance artist for nearly any project that I find fun & challenging. I
have been a part of three movies to date and on several levels; from
storyboards, DVD packaging & design, illustrating posters, working in the
props department, & special effects. Working in the production of film on
any level is a true joy!
My latest project is a horror comic called Escape From Jesus Island. You can find more information at http://jesusisland.com/.
