Description:

Juanita Leonard (American/Louisiana, 20th c.), "Cotton Picking", acrylic on masonite, signed mid-right, 16 1/8 in. x 48 1/8 in., unframed. Condition: Overall fair condition. Note: “My painting is a gift from God, I can’t very well draw, so I don’t sketch anything out and try to stay in the lines. I just put gobs of paint on there. I never know what a painting is going to look like until after it’s done.” ~Juanita Leonard Leonard began painting at the age of seventeen when she decorated her mother’s car. Rather than punishing the young artist, her mother noticed the quality of her work and allowed her to paint murals on the interior and exterior of their house, covering every available surface. Despite the early encouragement, Juanita opted not to pursue a career in the arts. Instead, after a calling from God, she became a preacher. She built her own church out of a mobile home and covered it in her murals. Eventually with the encouragement from her friends, she decided to recommit herself to her art and try to sell it professionally. The painting offered here is one of many scenes focused on farm life, specifically cotton picking. The cotton picking scenes she paints are all in tribute to her mother who picked cotton her entire life to provide for her family. The memory of her mother’s hard work and the conditions in which the family grew up have been a continuing source of inspiration in Leornard's work. Ref.: Day, Margaret. "The Inspired Art of Juanita Leonard.” The Folk Art Society of America. www.folkart.org. Accessed Jan. 29, 2023. Scruton, Fred. "Juanita Leornard - Part 1." Fred Scruton Photography. www.fredscruton.com. Accessed Jan. 29, 2023.

  • Condition: When available condition information is included with lot description. Estimates are commensurate with condition of item. It is the responsibility of the prospective buyer to inquire as to the condition of a specific lot PRIOR to bidding. Condition WILL NOT be given over the phone under any circumstances. All potential buyers should be sure they have read and agree to the Conditions of Sale. All items sold AS IS. NO RETURNS ARE ACCEPTED ON THE BASIS OF CONDITION. ALL SALES ARE FINAL SALES. Bid Accordingly

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February 28, 2023 1:00 PM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

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