Words Are Worth 1,000 Pictures for Cal Student
by Jose Negron
Imagine you have a hobby -- a fun, extracurricular activity that you enjoy doing in your spare time. This may not seem extraordinary because many people have hobbies. But imagine taking that hobby to the next level. You take it to the point where it could become something way bigger than you ever thought was possible.
This is exactly what Lindsey Leonard, a senior at California University of Pennsylvania, is trying to do. Leonard, 25, creates artistic canvases with quotes, song lyrics, and various words painted on them. Leonard began spray- painting backgrounds of canvases and painting creative lettering with her mother last summer. Her friends and family think Leonard is artistic.
“We usually do summer projects because my mom is a teacher and she’s off all summer,” Leonard said. “We usually get into artsy projects and we really got into this particular project.”
One thing Leonard, a public relations major, wasn’t quite expecting was that this simple canvas-making hobby would actually become a business. After making a canvas as a graduation present for a friend, Leonard posted some of her work on Pinterest. Leonard's work became an instant hit, and nine potential clients contacted the Cal U senior that day to possibly have canvases made for them.
“It was pretty cool,” she said, laughing. “I was really shocked to see how interested people were in buying them, but I was very excited to pursue it.”
See Leonard paint a canvas here.
Leonard also has gained a lot of attention and recognition for her artistic abilities from her friends and colleagues on campus. The recognition for the success that she has had, however, doesn’t quite come as a surprise to those closest to her.
“I think it’s really cool to see friends having success by expressing themselves and being artistic,” said senior Taylor Overly, a close friend of Leonard’s. “Lindsey is a very passionate person, so it really doesn’t surprise me that she has found success doing something that she loves.”
“I think that what she is doing is extremely creative and smart,” said Suzy Hart, best friend and roommate of Leonard’s. “Linds and her mom have amazing talent. I am not at all surprised that they have become so popular so fast.”
This past summer, Leonard and her mother began to take their canvas-making project to the next level. They began their own mini company, “Falling Apples.” The duo is looking at property where they might possibly own a store in which they would not only sell canvases, but also refurbish furniture.
Though these artistic endeavors have become a big part of Leonard’s life, it’s not exactly what she wants to do for a living.
“I definitely think it’s not my main career in mind because I think of it as something I just like to do for fun,” Leonard said. “I am interested in taking it to the next level and it has really opened up doors to eventually renting out property for the store.”
Aside from making these canvas projects for friends, family and random consumers, Leonard is also the student adviser for the Student Activities Board and Underground Café on campus. Working in the campus activities market is something that she is more interested in pursuing when it comes to a long-term career.
“I really want to work for an entertainment agency,” she said. “I would love to help musicians and other talented artists live out their dreams. I feel like I have a passion for being able to see other people’s talents and help them get to where they can showcase their abilities.”
Leonard has also used social media as well as a blog to get “Falling Apples” more followers and attention from a wide range of possible consumers. She has a blog on Tumblr which includes some of her canvas samples and many of her marketing and event-planning strategies that she uses while working with organizations on campus.
“I’ve always been very artsy, so this has been a fun way to express myself,” she said. “I feel like the creativity and the business ventures are only going to help me in the long term, no matter what I do in the future,” she said.
Jose Negron is a California University of Pennsylvania English major. See his website here.
Imagine you have a hobby -- a fun, extracurricular activity that you enjoy doing in your spare time. This may not seem extraordinary because many people have hobbies. But imagine taking that hobby to the next level. You take it to the point where it could become something way bigger than you ever thought was possible.
This is exactly what Lindsey Leonard, a senior at California University of Pennsylvania, is trying to do. Leonard, 25, creates artistic canvases with quotes, song lyrics, and various words painted on them. Leonard began spray- painting backgrounds of canvases and painting creative lettering with her mother last summer. Her friends and family think Leonard is artistic.
“We usually do summer projects because my mom is a teacher and she’s off all summer,” Leonard said. “We usually get into artsy projects and we really got into this particular project.”
One thing Leonard, a public relations major, wasn’t quite expecting was that this simple canvas-making hobby would actually become a business. After making a canvas as a graduation present for a friend, Leonard posted some of her work on Pinterest. Leonard's work became an instant hit, and nine potential clients contacted the Cal U senior that day to possibly have canvases made for them.
“It was pretty cool,” she said, laughing. “I was really shocked to see how interested people were in buying them, but I was very excited to pursue it.”
See Leonard paint a canvas here.
Leonard also has gained a lot of attention and recognition for her artistic abilities from her friends and colleagues on campus. The recognition for the success that she has had, however, doesn’t quite come as a surprise to those closest to her.
“I think it’s really cool to see friends having success by expressing themselves and being artistic,” said senior Taylor Overly, a close friend of Leonard’s. “Lindsey is a very passionate person, so it really doesn’t surprise me that she has found success doing something that she loves.”
“I think that what she is doing is extremely creative and smart,” said Suzy Hart, best friend and roommate of Leonard’s. “Linds and her mom have amazing talent. I am not at all surprised that they have become so popular so fast.”
This past summer, Leonard and her mother began to take their canvas-making project to the next level. They began their own mini company, “Falling Apples.” The duo is looking at property where they might possibly own a store in which they would not only sell canvases, but also refurbish furniture.
Though these artistic endeavors have become a big part of Leonard’s life, it’s not exactly what she wants to do for a living.
“I definitely think it’s not my main career in mind because I think of it as something I just like to do for fun,” Leonard said. “I am interested in taking it to the next level and it has really opened up doors to eventually renting out property for the store.”
Aside from making these canvas projects for friends, family and random consumers, Leonard is also the student adviser for the Student Activities Board and Underground Café on campus. Working in the campus activities market is something that she is more interested in pursuing when it comes to a long-term career.
“I really want to work for an entertainment agency,” she said. “I would love to help musicians and other talented artists live out their dreams. I feel like I have a passion for being able to see other people’s talents and help them get to where they can showcase their abilities.”
Leonard has also used social media as well as a blog to get “Falling Apples” more followers and attention from a wide range of possible consumers. She has a blog on Tumblr which includes some of her canvas samples and many of her marketing and event-planning strategies that she uses while working with organizations on campus.
“I’ve always been very artsy, so this has been a fun way to express myself,” she said. “I feel like the creativity and the business ventures are only going to help me in the long term, no matter what I do in the future,” she said.
Jose Negron is a California University of Pennsylvania English major. See his website here.