Born and raised in Hampton Virginia, Buckroe Beach area, on the Chesapeake Bay. When I was 21 I moved to Asbury Park NJ, 'CULTURE SHOCK'...... I started with watercolors when I was 30. My brother who at the time was living in New York city invited me to the city and signed me up for an a nude drawing class at the Arts Student League one summer, thus an artist was born. From art class I went to a year long technical school and got a certification in engineering and graphic drafting. I loved working with the technical pens and got into do doing architectural renderings and pen & ink drawings and I did well at it. I entered my ink drawings in three art shows and won a ribbon at each show. I was 'THRILLED'. I worked for an architect doing floor plans/secretary. Then I signed up for art classes when ever I had time to do it. I modeled for some art groups in the Red Bank, Asbury Park and Monmouth College, Long Branch, NJ. Then I married a great guy from New York City. Moved back to the Hampton Roads area had my daughter and retired. I was lucky enough to to be able to stay home with my daughter and continued to dabble with my art. Got into to watercolors and I love it. Hooked up with an area artist and take class once a week in downtown Smithfield 'The Ham Capitol of the World'. Some of my paintings now hang at HAP-N-STANCE HUT, 3511 E Ocean View Ave, Norfolk VA. I have sold many paintings over the years. 'That's my story and I'm sticking to it' !!!!
Mary Ann Leake joined Fine Art America on December 16th, 2012.
