Learn More About Leo E. Osborne: Background and Career
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“To let it all flow through me…the mind and spirit goes and the tool walks alone, I become the simple vehicle within which the creative source conveys its sacred, inner being. To be in the constant flow and rhythm of the dance is my true ambition and desire. – LEO”
Born in 1947, Leo grew up in Marshfield and Pembroke, Massachusetts. Playing on his grandmother’s farm and behind his parents house on the shores of Big Sandy Pond, Leo came to love animals, be they wild mallards or the family chickens, horses or frogs. These adventures within the natural world sewed the seeds of a lifelong passion, which blossomed into a career spanning over four decades, thus far.
There was much support for Leo E. Osborne’s bourgeoning interest in art throughout his formative years. He won a scholarship to study art in high school, then trained at the New England School of Art in Boston, while also studying commercial illustration. In the early 70’s Leo moved to Coastal Maine, where he began to paint and carve signs to support his young family. At this point the sculptor, painter, poet began to come into focus and Leo’s career as an internationally acclaimed wildlife sculptor took root.
Leo proceeded to show his sculpture throughout North America, competing and receiving highest recognition in many prestigious exhibitions. Award highlights include: 1st Best In World, 2nd and 3rd Place Awards, The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, World Bird Carving Competition; Best of Show Awards: The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, International Bird Carving Annual Competition; 4 Don Miller Sculpture Awards, Society of Animal Artists; 9 Awards of Excellence, Society of Animal Artists; Silver Medal, National Sculpture Society; The John Cavanaugh Memorial Prize, National Sculpture Society; and this is just to mention a few accolades that he continues to receive to this day.
In 1990, Osborne moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest and furthered his interest in bronze sculpture. Many of Leo’s limited edition bronzes are cast from a mold of the original wood burl sculpture and some are created out of mixed media and clay, intended only as a bronze. These sculptures are noted for their extremely complex and beautiful patinas that have become a hallmark of Leo’s work.
In 2002, Leo E. Osborne and Jane Lane moved into a new location on Guemes Island, in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Together they transformed a troubled patch of land into their home, the living museum and veritable Shangri-la know as Milkwood Studios.
Perpetually creative, Leo also re-imagined the art of painting. Born out of one of the many happy accidents that has led him along the creative path, Leo developed a unique and instantly recognizable method. Leo paints a surface red, gilds it with gold-leaf and then layers on acrylic paint, various glazes and treatments until the painting crackles and shifts, playing with the surface until it is textured, deep, vibrant and illuminated.
According to Leo, each creation of our hands comes from the heart and mind and thus reflects the creative spirit and energy of the Universal Maker. We must honor it as sacred. As caretakers of this planet, we must, with consciousness, leave this life having given back something of beauty. Like so many artists prior, we are storytellers of our time. Painting and sculpture are rhythm, musical form, mood, feeling, the jazz and the energy within. Release that from wood or with paint and the story unfolds. The artist is the instrument for release. The mind moves and the tool walks on its own. Become one with the tool, one with the medium, blend, move together, feel the music and feel life.
Leo E. Osborne keeps the dream of possibility alive, allows for the mystery to unfold, embracing the ineffable and striving for excellence.
There was much support for Leo E. Osborne’s bourgeoning interest in art throughout his formative years. He won a scholarship to study art in high school, then trained at the New England School of Art in Boston, while also studying commercial illustration. In the early 70’s Leo moved to Coastal Maine, where he began to paint and carve signs to support his young family. At this point the sculptor, painter, poet began to come into focus and Leo’s career as an internationally acclaimed wildlife sculptor took root.
Leo proceeded to show his sculpture throughout North America, competing and receiving highest recognition in many prestigious exhibitions. Award highlights include: 1st Best In World, 2nd and 3rd Place Awards, The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, World Bird Carving Competition; Best of Show Awards: The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, International Bird Carving Annual Competition; 4 Don Miller Sculpture Awards, Society of Animal Artists; 9 Awards of Excellence, Society of Animal Artists; Silver Medal, National Sculpture Society; The John Cavanaugh Memorial Prize, National Sculpture Society; and this is just to mention a few accolades that he continues to receive to this day.
In 1990, Osborne moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest and furthered his interest in bronze sculpture. Many of Leo’s limited edition bronzes are cast from a mold of the original wood burl sculpture and some are created out of mixed media and clay, intended only as a bronze. These sculptures are noted for their extremely complex and beautiful patinas that have become a hallmark of Leo’s work.
In 2002, Leo E. Osborne and Jane Lane moved into a new location on Guemes Island, in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Together they transformed a troubled patch of land into their home, the living museum and veritable Shangri-la know as Milkwood Studios.
Perpetually creative, Leo also re-imagined the art of painting. Born out of one of the many happy accidents that has led him along the creative path, Leo developed a unique and instantly recognizable method. Leo paints a surface red, gilds it with gold-leaf and then layers on acrylic paint, various glazes and treatments until the painting crackles and shifts, playing with the surface until it is textured, deep, vibrant and illuminated.
According to Leo, each creation of our hands comes from the heart and mind and thus reflects the creative spirit and energy of the Universal Maker. We must honor it as sacred. As caretakers of this planet, we must, with consciousness, leave this life having given back something of beauty. Like so many artists prior, we are storytellers of our time. Painting and sculpture are rhythm, musical form, mood, feeling, the jazz and the energy within. Release that from wood or with paint and the story unfolds. The artist is the instrument for release. The mind moves and the tool walks on its own. Become one with the tool, one with the medium, blend, move together, feel the music and feel life.
Leo E. Osborne keeps the dream of possibility alive, allows for the mystery to unfold, embracing the ineffable and striving for excellence.
ACCOLADES, AWARDS AND COLLECTIONSHighlights
MEMBERSHIPS
• THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY, FELLOW
• SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS, MASTER SIGNATURE ARTIST
• ARTISTS FOR CONSERVATION
• BROOKGREEN GARDENS, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
• THE CITY OF PUYALLUP, Puyallup, WA
• THE CITY OF OLYMPIA, Olympia, 2014, Illuminated One
• THE CITY OF OLYMPIA, Olympia, 2013, Rainforest Dream
• THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE ART MUSEUM, Jackson Hole, WY
• THE LEO LAMBIEL MUSEUM, Orcas Island, WA
• ISLAND HOSPITAL, CANCER CARE UNIT, Anacortes, WA
• ROCKPORT ART CENTER, Rockport, TX
• BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, Burlington, WA
• CITY OF ANACORTES, WA
• CITY OF PORT ANGELES, WA
• THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF ANIMAL ART, The Worrell Collection, Virginia
• MAYO CLINIC, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• BROOKGREEN GARDENS, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
• CITY OF WENATCHEE, Wenatchee, WA
• LEIGH YAWKEY WOODSON ART MUSEUM, Wausau, WI
• GENESEE COUNTRY MUSEUM, Gallery of Sporting Art, Mumford, NY
• SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES MUSEUM OF ART, Loretto, PA,
• MAINE AUDUBON SOCIETY, Falmouth, Maine
• WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, Worcester, MA
• LOVELAND HIGH PLAINS ARTS COUNCIL, Loveland, CO
• NATURE CENTER AT SNAKE LAKE, Tacoma, WA
• MBNA CORPORATION, Camden, Maine
• FOREST HILLS CEMETERY, Boston, MA
• BELLEVUE REGIONAL LIBRARY, Bellevue, WA
• FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, Buffalo, NY
PUBLISHED
• POEMS SELECTED FOR: THE COLOR OF BEING BORN
• PACIFIC NORTHWEST ARTS
• AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE
• SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE, MY WORLD ARTICLE
• SCULPTURE REVIEW MAGAZINE, FEATURED ARTICLE
• PINTORES DE LA NATURALEZA, PUBLISHED BY SEO/BIRDLIFE, MADRID, SPAIN
• SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE, FEATURE ARTICLE, NATURE’S MAGIC
• INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION MAGAZINE
• WILDFOWL CARVING AND COLLECTING MAGAZINE
• WILDLIFE ART MAGAZINE
• EQUINE IMAGES MAGAZINE
• INTERNATIONAL FINE ART COLLECTING MAGAZINE
• TAOS MAGAZINE
• WILDFOWL CARVING (BOOK, INCLUDES ENTIRE CHAPTER)
• REVUE ART MAGAZINE
• INFORMART MAGAZINE
• WILDFOWL ART (THE WARD MUSEUM MAGAZINE)
AWARDS
(Selections from the complete list dating back to 1985 )
• Artists For Conservation (2016), Medal of Excellence
• The National Sculpture Society (2015), 82nd Annual Awards Exhibition, The Pietro & Alfrieda Montana Memoria Prize
• Artists For Conservation (2015), Environmental Statement Award
• People’s Choice Award, Percival Plinth Project, (2014) Illuminated One
• People’s Choice Award, Percival Plinth Project, (2013) Rainforest Dream
• Elected Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, 2011
• Appointed Master Signature Artist of The Society of Animal Artists 2009
• The People’s Choice Award, Art at the Port, Anacortes Arts Festival
• The Evelyn Haller Memorial Award for Interpretive Sculpture, The Society of Animal Artists
• Silver Medal, National Sculpture Society
• The John Cavanaugh Memorial Prize, National Sculpture Society
• 9 Awards of Excellence, Society of Animal Artists
• 4 Don Miller Sculpture Awards, Society of Animal Artists
• Margaret Hexter Prize, National Sculpture Society
• Best of Show Awards: The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, International Bird Carving Annual Competition
• Northwest Wildlife, Eastern Oregon State College
• Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show
• Dremel/DU Masters Carving Competition
• Minneapolis Western and Wildlife Art Show
• Southeastern Wildlife Art Exposition
• 1st Best In World, 2nd and 3rd Place Awards, The Ward Museum of
• Wildfowl Art, World Bird Carving Competition
• THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY, FELLOW
• SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS, MASTER SIGNATURE ARTIST
• ARTISTS FOR CONSERVATION
- NATIONAL SCULPTOR’S GUILD
• BROOKGREEN GARDENS, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
• THE CITY OF PUYALLUP, Puyallup, WA
• THE CITY OF OLYMPIA, Olympia, 2014, Illuminated One
• THE CITY OF OLYMPIA, Olympia, 2013, Rainforest Dream
• THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE ART MUSEUM, Jackson Hole, WY
• THE LEO LAMBIEL MUSEUM, Orcas Island, WA
• ISLAND HOSPITAL, CANCER CARE UNIT, Anacortes, WA
• ROCKPORT ART CENTER, Rockport, TX
• BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, Burlington, WA
• CITY OF ANACORTES, WA
• CITY OF PORT ANGELES, WA
• THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF ANIMAL ART, The Worrell Collection, Virginia
• MAYO CLINIC, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• BROOKGREEN GARDENS, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
• CITY OF WENATCHEE, Wenatchee, WA
• LEIGH YAWKEY WOODSON ART MUSEUM, Wausau, WI
• GENESEE COUNTRY MUSEUM, Gallery of Sporting Art, Mumford, NY
• SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES MUSEUM OF ART, Loretto, PA,
• MAINE AUDUBON SOCIETY, Falmouth, Maine
• WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, Worcester, MA
• LOVELAND HIGH PLAINS ARTS COUNCIL, Loveland, CO
• NATURE CENTER AT SNAKE LAKE, Tacoma, WA
• MBNA CORPORATION, Camden, Maine
• FOREST HILLS CEMETERY, Boston, MA
• BELLEVUE REGIONAL LIBRARY, Bellevue, WA
• FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, Buffalo, NY
- THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE ART MUSEUM, Jackson Hole, WY
PUBLISHED
• POEMS SELECTED FOR: THE COLOR OF BEING BORN
• PACIFIC NORTHWEST ARTS
• AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE
• SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE, MY WORLD ARTICLE
• SCULPTURE REVIEW MAGAZINE, FEATURED ARTICLE
• PINTORES DE LA NATURALEZA, PUBLISHED BY SEO/BIRDLIFE, MADRID, SPAIN
• SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE, FEATURE ARTICLE, NATURE’S MAGIC
• INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION MAGAZINE
• WILDFOWL CARVING AND COLLECTING MAGAZINE
• WILDLIFE ART MAGAZINE
• EQUINE IMAGES MAGAZINE
• INTERNATIONAL FINE ART COLLECTING MAGAZINE
• TAOS MAGAZINE
• WILDFOWL CARVING (BOOK, INCLUDES ENTIRE CHAPTER)
• REVUE ART MAGAZINE
• INFORMART MAGAZINE
• WILDFOWL ART (THE WARD MUSEUM MAGAZINE)
- BIRD CARVING BASICS (TWO BOOKS ON TECHNIQUES)
AWARDS
(Selections from the complete list dating back to 1985 )
• Artists For Conservation (2016), Medal of Excellence
• The National Sculpture Society (2015), 82nd Annual Awards Exhibition, The Pietro & Alfrieda Montana Memoria Prize
• Artists For Conservation (2015), Environmental Statement Award
• People’s Choice Award, Percival Plinth Project, (2014) Illuminated One
• People’s Choice Award, Percival Plinth Project, (2013) Rainforest Dream
• Elected Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, 2011
• Appointed Master Signature Artist of The Society of Animal Artists 2009
• The People’s Choice Award, Art at the Port, Anacortes Arts Festival
• The Evelyn Haller Memorial Award for Interpretive Sculpture, The Society of Animal Artists
• Silver Medal, National Sculpture Society
• The John Cavanaugh Memorial Prize, National Sculpture Society
• 9 Awards of Excellence, Society of Animal Artists
• 4 Don Miller Sculpture Awards, Society of Animal Artists
• Margaret Hexter Prize, National Sculpture Society
• Best of Show Awards: The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, International Bird Carving Annual Competition
• Northwest Wildlife, Eastern Oregon State College
• Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show
• Dremel/DU Masters Carving Competition
• Minneapolis Western and Wildlife Art Show
• Southeastern Wildlife Art Exposition
• 1st Best In World, 2nd and 3rd Place Awards, The Ward Museum of
• Wildfowl Art, World Bird Carving Competition