I am an artist who practiced spine surgery. The serenity of nature inspires me, and I seek to express a healing presence and tranquility in my art. My work communicates a feeling of peace, harmony and a profound respect for nature and humanity.
Mom
I have been working on this glass panel for a while while caring for you as you transitioned.
I was touched by you in so many ways.
Some positive and others very challenging..
I love what you said on one of our last days together when I brought a new work to your bedside.
"That you finally understood why I choose to be an artist, and you could see
and feel it in my work"
May your journey in heaven be beautiful and comforting without pain.
Namaste
24x24
A Life passage
Fused glass
Leona Marie Heilman
Born September 21, 1929
Deceased October 14, 2019
Leona (Lee) Marie Heilman was born in Denver, Colorado to Marie and Richard Lawrence on September 21, 1929. She was introduced to the world as a surprise to her parents, 15 minutes after her twin brother, Earl. She also had an older brother James who had red hair. She also had copper red hair, and a passion to match. Lee celebrated her 90th birthday this September. Both of her brothers are deceased.
A loving husband, Don, survives her. They celebrated 68 years of marriage this year and had a special connection, which was, sealed every morning and night with a “smooch”. Family connections were important to her, and she lived near her son, Al and his wife, Elizabeth. She loved his art, and was surrounded by it in her home. She took great joy in her two granddaughters, and three great granddaughters: Rebecca and Daniel Davison and their daughters Eve and Hadley, and Elizabeth and Mark Greenburg and their daughter Frances. Frances unquestionably resembles her great-grandmother, including her red hair. Lee was excited to hear of a new grandson on the way this March. They had many wonderful times together as a family celebrating birthdays, and holidays and enjoying her granddaughter's sporting events. She always had a flair for fun, often surprising her granddaughters with silly outfits or singing toys. She loved collections, from tea sets to elephants to ceramic Christmas villages, and found joy in sharing her valued treasures with her family. In recent years, she collected stickers for her great-granddaughters' visits.
Lee graduated from South High School in Denver, where there were 23 sets of twins in her high school. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State University (formerly Colorado A&M) and a Masters degree in Home Economics from Northern Illinois University.
In college, she hosted her own radio show about campus happenings. She did research on Bisquick for the Betty Crocker Company, exploring on how high altitude changed its performance. She taught home economics at DeKalb High School for many years, where she pioneered a Food Service Curriculum. Later, Lee and Don taught together at Northern Illinois University. Her Alma Mater, Colorado State University, selected her to receive CSU’s Alumni Association “Outstanding 50 Year Club” in 2003 in recognition of her community service, and the successes she achieved in her industry.
Her community service was further illustrated by her commitment to the women's group P.E.O. This is a philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and support women’s friendship.
She was active in chapters located in Dekalb, Illinois and Sugarland, Texas.
She loved nature, and especially her flower gardens. She was an innovator who created Panoramic Easter Eggs from sugar to help fund Don’s education. Learning to needlepoint was a lifelong passion and it was where she met many close friends. Even into her late 80’s, she painted Disney pillows that she donated to The Children’s Hospital in the Woodlands. Her last craft creations were fabulous pink flamingo birdhouses.
She made close bonds wherever she went, and had a great community of friends in Windsor Hills, in the Woodlands, TX. Her mischievous sparkle, generosity of spirit, and sense of fun were ever present.
She will be missed.
A Memorial service will be held at 11 am on Friday October 25th, 2019 at the Conroe Funeral Directors Chapel located at 1504 N Thompson St, Conroe, TX 77301
A Celebration of life Luncheon will follow at Al and Elizabeth’s Lake House. All are invited. Instructions to their home will be provided at the chapel.
In lieu of flowers Don has asked that you may wish to make a donation to the P.E.O. Organization, thru their web page.
With a pallet from God..
Shimmering...
Soothing...
Calming...
A new day is born
Hanging Glass panel of Fused Glass powders, Cypress frame. 30x30 inches
Let the hidden magic flow into my senses
Let the colors light up my soul
Let the energy of the new seasons come from over the horizon
Let the memories begin
Four Seasons
Fused Glass on canvas covered wooden panel with acrylic
6x30x3
The air has a crispness
That rouses my soul
Leaves fall with rainbows of color
The days shorten, and home fires burn
All familiar rhythms
Enriching my soul
Silence awakens me from a deep slumber
Nudging me to worship at nature’s altar
A new day to savor...
The first glint of light escapes form the sleepy night sky
Pink hues drift over the horizon
Shimmering off the air and water
Expanding with such majesty and grace
Ethereal, mysterious
Nature’s symphony plays deft and bright
Sequestering my senses, flooding my mind
Engaging my soul with a lengthy embrace
A requisite homage from the night...
A new day is born out of the night
Fused glass mounted on canvas coved wood panel
48x30x3
New Murrini and Glass necklaces are available.
Murrini and Glass Necklaces
O keeper, swing open the door to life
Release the blackness of the night
Transition me to a new beginning
Savor the sensations of my dreams
From the Galaxy of my mind
Throw open the windows to my soul
Fused Glass mounted on canvas covered panel with acrylic 24x24x3
The international Morse code signal for distress is 3 long taps and 3 shorts. Our American society is in distress. How many more children and adult lives will be needlessly lost?
Please make sure you, and your friends are registered to vote. Let your vote speak loudly.
Mental health issues need to be recognized and treated and with insurance. We must find a way to protect our children in schools and at play, as well as ourselves. Appropriate and functional background checks when buying a gun are essential.
30 x 30 x 3 Fused glass on canvas covered panel with acrylic and colored pencil.
We need both the Yin and the Yang to make this process happen.
The way begot one,
And the one, two;
Then the two begot three
And three, all else.
Ref: Tao Te Ching
24x24x3 Fused Glass mounted on canvas covered panel with acrylic.
We're all made up of the same genetic building blocks. Their patterns control how we look, and how our bodies function.
It is the fabulous variations that are evidenced in the elegance of humanity.
30x30x3
Fused Glass mounted on a Canvas covered wooden panel, Acrylic.
The nerves in our bodies have a magical arrangement that allows information to flow back and forth.
30x30x3
Fused Glass mounted on a Canvas covered wood panel, Acrylic
Life is full of many different currents and tides
Fused Glass Powders mounted on a wooden panel
24x30x3
As we go thru life we all incur many injuries and scars. Some hidden and others require an operation and healing by a skilled surgeon and their team.
There is a higher power that touches us all and guides us and our souls thru these many passages together.
30x20x3
Glass, wood, stainless steel,and paper.
Healing vessel #3
Our bodies are so complex and yet so beautiful. This Murrini and color vessel represents how our spinal cord and nerves are encased and protected in our bodies. They are just a small part of the whole magnificant human vessel, yet they control the all the functions in our bodies. In the end they are also so vulnerable.
A majority of the proceeds will be donated to Spinal cord research.
Healing Vessel #2
Closing a wound in your body ( the vessel of our lives) after surgery requires sutures which are used to put tissues back together, but they and always leave healing traces.
8.5 x 4.25
A majority of the proceeds will be donated to Spinal cord research.
These elegant glass vessels reflect the flowers in our garden at the lake.
They are alive with divine color and a small bit of attitude.
Each vessel is custom made in different shapes and sizes, from 3 inches to 14 inches tall.
Feeling the sensual nature of warm breezes flowing thru the seagrass.
Large Murrini Vessel 17x10.5x14
Color Flow and Murrini drop ring Vessels
I share a gallery space with Patrick Palmer. Our gallery is at located in Winter Street Studios #B9. We are open on the second Saturday of every month from 5 pm to 9 pm and by appointment.
Custom commissions and design work are my speciality.
Get a behind the scenes view of the pieces I make, my artistic process & what inspires me to create art.
Visit My Blog
