Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigh Alfredson
Leigh, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always loved art, and my father instilled this in me at a young age. He was an oil painter in his free time, and always brought art supplies home for me to dabble in.
I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and loved all my art classes from elementary school, through High School. One of the neighbors older brother attended a local technical college for Commercial Art (now know as Graphic Design) and I was inspired by this. My high school had a Commercial Art class which I took for a couple of years. My teacher recommended me for the college program at the tech school, and I was one of 42 accepted.
This degree covered ALL areas of art – drawing, painting, pastels, life drawing, photography, airbrush, as well as classes directly pertaining to Commercial Art. I tell people I have an art degree with an emphasis in graphic design.
Straight out of college I did free lance work for area businesses for a few years. Then I moved to the Orlando area, worked for advertising agencies and printing companies before opening my own design studio. My business thrived and a few years later I was introduced to street painting (soft pastel murals on the pavement). As time went on I sent less time designing and more time on the ground creating art with soft pastels. I travelled around the country being a consultant for street painting festivals, which included teaching the new artists how to “chalk”, and being the event’s featured artist. I still teach this art form, and do a lot of chalking for major Orlando attractions.
Teaching the chalk art brought out a new passion in me. I discovered LOVE to teach (both of my parents have teaching degrees)! I took a job with the Central Florida Boys and Girls Club teaching Fine Art and really enjoyed it. A year later, I started another business teaching private fine art lessons – both in person and via Zoom, and individually or to small groups. I started teaching lessons from my home, and in February 2022 I moved into the Neighborhood Co-op in Sanford. This is when Alfredson Academy of Art was established – a great studio with lots of light and lots of space!
I continue to use my graphic design skills for my own business marketing. I continue to teach street painting (chalk on the pavement) to my students, and for street painting events. I continue to chalk myself for festivals and attractions. Teaching day to day, however, is when I am most content.
Misc. Info
I have students from 5 to 86 years old
Most of my students are taught individually, but I have siblings I teach and a family of 4
I have students all over the country I teach via Zoom
I teach drawing: pencil, colored pencil, markers, charcoal, soft pastels, & oil pastels
I teach painting: acrylic, watercolors, and enamel (when doing murals)
I teach sculpture: wood, wire, paper mache, paper, cardboard, and more!
I teach collage, mixed media and assemblage.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part all of my business ventures have been relatively smooth. There were “dry” periods in the beginning where not much work was coming in. I increased my networking efforts and did more marketing and sales increased. My father ran successful businesses, so I had my own personal consultant for guidance. My mother was a marketing director, so this was helpful as well.
I remember year 4 of my graphics business. I was working about 60 hours a week, but I was very successful that year, both growing the business and financially. Being self employed is wonderful, but a lot of work. With my new academy of art endeavor, I teach 6 days a week, but have a great work/life balance. It helps when what you are doing doesn’t really feel like work!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I teach art, but I am also an artist. I have been street painting for almost 30 years. When I started in 1995 I was in love with this art form. I loved being outside, creating amazing pieces of art on the pavement. I never missed and event. For 30 years I was known as Lee Jones (my previous name) and did lots of events all over the country, taught in lots of schools, taught lots of teens and adults who are now professional street painters, and am well know at an Annual event at one of the attractions.
I am most proud of how well my students progress when I am teaching them. When they create a drawing, or painting that is just utterly amazing, or when they are super creative when building something.
A student’s father was trying to change the time slot for his son but all of my afterschool students were staying the following year: “Everyone kept their slots because they value you. It’s much more that art. It’s the relationships you form.” I think this is what sets me apart. I love to teach and love my students. I deeply care about them. I do form relationships. I am always positive and focus on encouragement rather than being critical. In my mind there are no “mistakes” in art. I teach my students to love the process of getting better and better every lesson.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My dad, Ed Baranowski, deserves a LOT of credit. He wanted to be a fine artist but knew he and his family would most likely starve, so he got a teaching degree, then a Masters in Business Administration, and then ran 2 very successful financials for 45 years. NOW he is an artist in Melbourne, Florida. We did a lot of art together when I was growing up. His Rotary Club was having the first street painting event in Orlando in 1995, so he got me into this art form. He was always available for advice, and positive encouragement in all my business and art endeavors. He is one of the most positive people I know and this has helped me be this way as well.
My mom, Marlowe Baranowski, was my biggest cheerleader. Always supportive and always willing to chat.
Bob Smith, a former business owner in Winter Park, was a great business mentor. I leased space from him when I opened my graphics studio, and he was always available to chat or give me advice when I had challenges. He was wonderfully positive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alfredsonaoa.com
- Instagram: alfredsonaoa
- Facebook: Alfredson Academy of Art
- Youtube: The Chalk Teacher
