Lee Asta
Leona Asta (Lee) retired as a NYC Special Education Teacher and
moved to The Villages in 1996. Just before doing so, she took a 6
week watercolor course in a local library so she could have a hobby
and keep from getting bored in her retirement. After moving into The
Villages, she took a beginners watercolor course with Kemis Rogers
and joined the Villages Art League and the Visual Arts Association.
In 1999 Lee took a workshop with Marilynn Roland in mixed media.
Marilynn encouraged her to complete her painting and enter them in
the upcoming VAA art show where she took an Honorable Mention. Still
unsure of her direction, Lee entered 3 paintings in the next show,
all 3 were done in different
media. 2 won Honorable Mention and the third sold and her art career
was off and running.
Lee has taken from Tom Jones and Terry Madden. She was visited by
Maria Lawton, then the Curator of Arts & Cultural Affairs for Lake
County, who encouraged her to paint in the abstract style she was
developing.
To expand her opportunities, Lee has been a member of Mount Dora,
Leesburg, Ocala & Brick City art groups as well as the VAL and VAA
in the Villages. She has won several awards in group shows with her
proudest being Best of Show in 2003 at the Ocala Art Group Show in
the Appleton Museum.
Lee is a past President of the Visual Arts Association from
2003-2005.
During her term she lists the start of the Scholarship Fund, a web site
and the Advisory Board as some of her proudest achievements.
Leona says, “ I am thoroughly enjoying this new phase of my life, I
never knew I was an Artist until I moved to the Villages. I am so
grateful for this opportunity”.
| Cirkiss Ole | Jungle Feeva |
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| Tequila Sunrise | Tiggerr Lileez |
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Nana's Vase Appleton Best of Show |
Tutti Fruitti |
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