Artist's inspiration is all around him

WHO: Leon W. LeBeau, 73, a self-taught potter and watercolorist, works out of his Colton studio at Higley Flow.

Mr. LeBeau — whose name is French for "beautiful" — started doing ceramics in the early 1970s and watercolors in the 1990s.

He taught English in the Potsdam Central School District for nine years and art in the Madrid-Waddington School District for two years. After teaching he worked for the state Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, now known as the office of Vocational Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, out of Ogdensburg and then Malone.

He exhibits and sells his work in the north country and teaches art.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? "I'm self-taught as a potter. It was sort of an avocational pursuit — I had a regular job.

"During my nine years of bachelorhood, there was a very talented ceramicist — a little old lady. She had a studio and allowed me to come in and use it. I wasn't under a teacher, so I developed my own approach. In December 1971, I started night classes out of a studio outside Parishville.

"I retired in 1990. I had known some of the faculty at Potsdam University, so I audited a drawing class, then figure drawing. I tried to learn as much as I could by reading, watching public television."

HOW DID YOU START TEACHING ART? "I heard a program on NPR about people interested in starting a continuing education program. It became SOAR — Stimulating Opportunities After Retirement. We started seven years ago with 100 members. Now we're over 350.

"They wanted it to be a sharing of experiences. The first year I thought I would just share what I knew about drawing. The art class that I teach has just sort of mushroomed. The people are just so lovable. I would pay to work with them."

WHAT ROLE DOES ART PLAY IN YOUR LIFE? "Now in my old age, I'm enjoying a career that I would have loved to have in my real career. It's been terribly cathartic for me, both because it's a creative outlet for me and people buy it. People respond to me and want more.

"You know, you get old and start to fall into disuse. This is a nice stroke for the ego. It's been a fabulous outlet for me. Even though I'm old, my brain doesn't think it is."

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION? "For the watercolors, you would not believe what we look out on. The pond is still and mirror-like, and even though we don't get the sunset, it's incredible. I tell my students not to overlook the design elements in weeds. I get a lot from nature. I think that sort of permeated even my early work in pottery without my even realizing it.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY CAN'T DO ART? "The one thing I say to my students — they say, 'I can't draw a straight line' and I say, 'Who would want to?' Some say they can't draw and I say, 'You can write your name. That's drawing.'"

If you would like to suggest someone to be featured in the Q&A, contact Times writer Lori Shull at lshull@wdt.net.