Daily Inspiration: Meet Joshua

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua.

Hi Joshua, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Miami, Florida to a military family, and after Hurricane Andrew devastated the area, we relocated. From Miami, I lived in Alaska for several years before moving to Washington, D.C., and later to Biloxi, Mississippi. When Hurricane Katrina struck, I was evacuated to Atlanta, where I ultimately lost my home. Just one week later, my daughter was born.

In Atlanta, I enrolled at the Art Institute of Atlanta to study Media Arts and Animation. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA and had the honor of serving as Commencement Speaker alongside Rep. John Lewis. During my time in school, I founded Leonard Studios, an animation and production company dedicated to advancing diversity and inclusion across film, media, gaming, and entertainment.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many of the major animation studios—as well as several gaming studios—but the project closest to my heart is my original IP, Team Supreme. The series centers on a group of children who each have a disability and a unique superpower. This project has opened countless doors and has also served as a platform to highlight the disparities in how disabled individuals are represented in mainstream media.

The disabled community is the largest minority group in the United States—over 60 million people, or roughly one in four Americans—yet it remains the least represented in film and entertainment. I believe I’m here to help change that.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has definitely not been smooth, but it has been worth it. The challenges are normal challenges, like finances, losing loved ones, etc. Unfortunately, it’s life and we push through. I have a great support system around me, so I can’t complain.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As mentioned earlier, I’m a professional Character Designer, Animator, Art Director, and more.

I’m known for my project, Team Supreme. It went viral a few years ago and I haven’t looked back since, and I’m very proud of the support it has gotten from around the world. It has opened up many doors for me, like TV interviews, panels, and several other speaking engagements.

What sets me apart from others would have to be my push for representation as it pertains to Animation, gaming, and film. That can be from character design, to creating a world that is diverse and inclusive to all people, like having wheelchair ramps that are shown in these different storytelling formats. As an artist, it’s my job to create the things that I want to see, but I also create the things that need to be seen.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m big on networking, so I’m always on LinkedIn. I’m a huge sports fan, so I listen to sports podcasts when I draw, or music. I have a lot of anatomy books and I’m always trying to learn things off of YouTube.

Pricing:

• Email your Inquiry

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Joshualeonardart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imjoshualeonard?igsh=Mmt1Mmx6eGh0OHk5&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshualeonardart?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@joshualeonardart?si=V2bvxEGvrO84zJfb
• Other: https://www.leonardstudios.com

Image Credits
Headshot taken by Brooklyn Lowe
For Your Consideration – Black Man Black Man Created by Frank Abney – Watch the Short Film here: https://youtu.be/8pW8mWBygf4