Artist: Joy Leonardo
Joy is a HomeFront client in the WorkFirst Program (A HomeFront Program which moves individuals from Welfare into the work force) who served in the Navy for two and
a half years and then was employed in daycare centers. Before coming to HomeFront
she lost her job at the daycare, her apartment, and found herself pregnant. She came
to ArtSpace while she was staying at Huchet House, HomeFront’s shelter for first time
pregnant women who are homeless. Joy participated in a scheduled Friday morning art
class and discovered she enjoyed painting, and found it to be a great stress reliever
during her pregnancy.
Growing up she said she never really had the inclination to do art beyond doodling, but
she had written poetry and short stories in the past. In ArtSpace she has been able to learn new techniques and improve her skills as an artist. She has learned to focus on a project and see it through to the end, a problem she struggled with in the past. Now that Joy sees how good it feels to finish something, she wants to parlay that into other areas of her life.
In addition to enjoying ArtSpace’s colorful and nurturing environment, she believes that participating in the art classes improved her self-esteem; realizing the benefits of her accomplishments and appreciating the opportunity to collaborate with others. Joy hopes to enroll in art classes at MCCC in the near future.
a half years and then was employed in daycare centers. Before coming to HomeFront
she lost her job at the daycare, her apartment, and found herself pregnant. She came
to ArtSpace while she was staying at Huchet House, HomeFront’s shelter for first time
pregnant women who are homeless. Joy participated in a scheduled Friday morning art
class and discovered she enjoyed painting, and found it to be a great stress reliever
during her pregnancy.
Growing up she said she never really had the inclination to do art beyond doodling, but
she had written poetry and short stories in the past. In ArtSpace she has been able to learn new techniques and improve her skills as an artist. She has learned to focus on a project and see it through to the end, a problem she struggled with in the past. Now that Joy sees how good it feels to finish something, she wants to parlay that into other areas of her life.
In addition to enjoying ArtSpace’s colorful and nurturing environment, she believes that participating in the art classes improved her self-esteem; realizing the benefits of her accomplishments and appreciating the opportunity to collaborate with others. Joy hopes to enroll in art classes at MCCC in the near future.
