Leona Marie Turner was born and raised in West Texas, where she is well-known and her paintings are sought after. In Albuquerque, she taught classes to most every aspiring artist in New Mexico and many from Arizona, including Curt Walters.
She was proficient with oil paints, watercolor and pastels, and her works hang in numerous important places in the Southwest.
Many portraits were commissioned from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Amarillo, Dallas and El Paso, Texas. Internationally known artist Curt Walters commissioned a 40x60 oil portrait in 1990.
Ms. Turner was a member of many art societies, including the National Portrait Society, National Water Color Society, New Mexico Watercolor Society, NM Art League, Coppini Academy of Fine Art, and more. She and Walter Bambrook managed the New Mexico State Fair Art Gallery for many decades.
Source/Submitted by: Mark Hohnstreiter
Leona Turner made her home and studio in Albuquerque but traveled around New Mexico and the southwest for her plein aire landscapes. Turner studied with Ramon Froman Harold Roney, Olive Von Durff, Walter Bambrook (with whom she shared a close friendship), Julian Robles, Sergei Bongart, Bettina Steinke, William Moyers, Daniel Greene, Ben Konis, Donald Puttman, William Reese, Gregg Kreutz, Clair Fry and Valoy Eaton.
She was a member of the National Portrait Society, New Mexico Watercolor Society, New Mexico Art League and Coppini Academy of Fine Art. Her work is part of many museum, corporate and private collections.
She died in Albuquerque in 2004.
Source:
Ellen O'Donnell, whose source was personal information and literature from the artist.
