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The break from Blyth’s
After leaving Blyth`s, Leone had to work a one year restraint of trade outside the radius of 30 kilometers from Blyth’s Art Gallery.
This meant finding work outside Port Elizabeth. Being unable to afford legal help, Leone found herself with no choice but to bravely hand both children over to their father, while she traveled and struggled to find her feet again.
Despite her dedicated attempt at the Brett Kebble Art Awards, the Grahams Town festival and private teaching, Leone depleted her funds and was forced to return home.
With help from her mother and financial guidance from her Patron Mr. Paul Ward. Leone worked hard and as a result - one year later she stood proud with the announcement of having paid all her debt. As soon as her restraint of trade was complete Leone launched her studio-school namely, Tonkinson Fine Art. cc. Her famed painting “Inner Pride “ marks this major step forward in her life.
Photos: The exterior and interior of the studio.
The news spread like a wild fire and Students came from everywhere. Between 2004 -2006 Leone became recognized as an idependent Art Master, offering inspiration to all artists and also promoted many Eastern Cape artists.
To name a few:
Marie Breetzke, Lisa Emmett, Antoinette Meyer, Hermanus Havenga, Paul Smit, Reg Marshall, Carina van der Walt, Kinnie Minnaar, the Dutch lady - Gae Groenhof, Wendy Strijdom, Di Evans, Liz Pearson, Reana Nel, and many many more.
Leone offered workshops and demonstrations in oil painting styles and techniques. She developed personal styles and artists signatures and paved her way in her own oil painting technique , “the fossil marbling technique”.
Her fail-proof mixing ...colour wheel theory and glazing techniques have inspired many artsits and were the most popular courses amongst her students.
Although Leone’s studio-schools were successful, she required a security through affiliation with a recognized educational facilities in South Africa. So she worked day and night on a plan for a two year sabbatical in France.
Just 5 months before her departure to France...
In mid -2005, the Dutch lady Gae Groehof, introduced Leone to Mr. Ruud Oskam who offered Leone a sponsored Sabbatical in the Netherland. Needless to say, after little deliberation, Leone accepted.
This was a giant step forward, it also meant that she would have to leave her children behind in South Africa. However, Leone recognized that her studies in Europe would better secure a Art-Studio into an Art School or an Art Academy and so, secure not only her future in South African in Art Education, but also the future of her children.
It took 12 months of grueling administration between the South African Home Affairs and the I.N.D in the Netherlands...
Tonkinson Fine Art Expo 2006
On the 26th April 2006, Leone together with her student Artists hosted an exhibition in Port Elizabeth of over 500 oil paintings of artists who had studied under her Mastership.
The Tonkinson Expo 2006 featured a wide variety of oil painting techniques and subject matter ranging from landscapes, seascapes, portraiture, still-life and even wildlife - in modern, contemporary and abstract styles.
An excellent example of Leone’s flexibility and aptitude as an Art Master who specialized in developing individual the artists from within.
This exhibition was so large it had to be hosted at 3 different venues, namely :
The Cuyler Street Art gallery,
The Eastern Provence Society of Art & Culture and the
Rick Becker Gallery.
Photo: Invitation to the Tonkinson Fine Art Expo May 2006
In May of 2006 Leone closed her studio-school and left South Africa to study her sabbatical in Europe. Her home base would be a small town called Radio Kootwijk, in the heart of the Netherlands. In the heart of a Forest Reserve called the Hoge Veluwe.
The Netherlands ... Travelling from as far north as Groningen, as far South as Maastricht, Leone and her Patron Ruud Oskam visited and introduced themselves to Art and Artists throughout the Netherlands.
First solo exhibition ... Leone was invited by the residence of Radio Kootwijk to exhibit in the local Monument, namely “Gebouw A” on the 9th May 2007 on Monuments Day.
Photo: Gebouw A in Radio Kootwijk.
Boasting about 1 800 visitors, 6 News paper articles, an interview with Radio Gelderland and TV Omroep Gelderland all assisted in launching a platform for TonkinsonARTmasters.
Leone fell in love with Radio Kootwijk and it`s people and decided to make Radio Kootwijk her home. She now had the means to offer both her children an European education and to open....
Tonkinson Art Masters ... registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, Tonkinson Art Masters - de Centrum voor kunsteducatie, opened it’s doors to students on the 21st February 2008.
The School offers workshops to all levels of artists, in all 3 disciplines, namely, Drawing, Painting and Sculpture.
We also have a division for corporate and company workshops, namely Craft and Hobby courses, namely, Cartoon and Caricature drawing, Christmas themes and paint-outs in the forest on surrounding bicycle and nature trails.
Second Solo exhibition... Leone hosted her second solo-exhibition at the Hotel Oranjeoord in Hoog Soeren. From the 1st- January to the 1 st April 2008.
Photo: Invitation to the art Tonkinson Art expo at Hotel Oranjeoord. Her oil painting “Inner Pride” 150 x 100 cm” Oil on canvas.
Photo: Hotel Oranjeoord - Opening night of my 2nd solo exhibition.
Leone loves to travel... Leone has in the interim, been to a few neighboring countries, such as, Paris, Germany, Belgium on several occasions to establish Art ties. Seizing every opportunity to attend Festivals, seeking out the Art quarters, Galleries, Museums and local Artists.
Artists paradise like Rue de Matignon, Rue de Mazarine, Rue de Seine and almost everything in between.
Knowledge is power...Leone obtained her NT2 Certificate, on the 11th March 2008. Distinction in all subjects, in Dutch and 80% for MO. ( Orientation of the Dutch Social Structure. )
Thank you for visiting my web site and reading my story. I look forward to meeting you one day.
Until then, take care.
Leone
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