Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Leonard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a military brat that was born in Miami, FL to an Air Force family. I lived in Alaska, Maryland, and Biloxi, MS. I was evacuated from Biloxi to Atlanta due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but I didn’t move to Atlanta until 2014 because I attended the Art Institute of Atlanta. I graduated in 2018 with a 4.0 GPA, with a degree in Media Arts & Animation. I have been drawing since I was in kindergarten, so I have many years of illustration under my belt. I have done work for Nickelodeon, Netflix, Sony, Baobab Studios, Drake, Mila, and more. I am more known for my own creation of my cartoon, Team Supreme, which is about a group of kids who have a disability, but their disability is their superpower. I create characters and stories that are inclusive and diverse. I am also the Owner of Leonard Studios, specializing in pre-production for animation, film, and video games.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been pretty smooth for me because I started to brand myself very heavily while I was a student at the Art Institute. I was already doing work for studios, etc.… The animation industry was not as diverse as it is starting to push for, so having less than 4% of people of color was very difficult. I felt that it was my job to push the narrative to create a more diverse look, as it pertains to characters and storytelling.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an illustrator, character designer, and traditional 2D Animator. I specialize in inclusive, and diverse storytelling while creating characters who are not the “Norm.” I am known for my upcoming cartoon, Team Supreme. It is about a group of kids who have superpowers, and also have disabilities.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The most important quality and characteristics leading to my success are staying humble, and being a man of integrity. I’m not afraid to fail. I was always a tenacious person, so I would never give up.
Pricing:
- $50 an hour for Character Design
Contact Info:
- Email: Joshua@leonardstudios.com
- Website: www.LeonardStudios.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/imjoshualeonard
- Other: www.joshualeonardart.com
Image Credits
Alex Rogers Studios
