Chillon (Johnson) Leach was born in Minneapolis, MN, in 1960.  She grew up and flourished in the west central Minnesota town of Benson, an area to which many of her ancestors came from Norway and Sweden.  No doubt they were inspired by the prairie landscape and felt compelled to embellish everything with color, as did Chillon.

   Given lifelong creative encouragement and involvement, Chillon felt ready to pursue a career in art.  This confidence also grew from having had a steady supply of her dad’s dress shirt cardboard inserts on which to draw; and at an early age being taught her mother’s talent of crayon shadowing in coloring books. 

  With these skills and a few more art supplies, Chillon attended the University of Wisconsin Stout for two years as an art major.  She then transferred to the U of M/ Twin Cities to finish in 1983 with a BA in studio arts, with a concentration in painting and drawing, and a Commercial Illustration Certificate.    

   For over 20 years she has been a St. Paul, MN freelance artist working in many markets:  fine art, liturgical and religious art, greeting cards, rug design, children’s books, other illustrative work, and many public and private commissioned pieces.  Primary mediums used are:  pastel, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, color pencil, charcoal, and ink.

  Currently she is a member of CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts), mnartists.org, St. Paul Art Collective Board, Northeast Mpls. Artist Assoc. (nemaa.org) and teaches art and spirituality at Catholic Eldercare, NE Minneapolis.  Forum speaking development with thankfulness to Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, Mpls. MN.  Artist-in-Residence development with thankfulness to Northeast Community Lutheran Church, Mpls.,MN.   

     *Resume, exhibition history, awards, newspaper articles furnished upon request.