We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Phil Leonard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Phil below.
Phil, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project to date had to have been the, “Mural Renaissance – Encino Mural Gallery”, created by fate, during America, and the world’s most devastating Pandemic on January 10th, 2021. On that day, friend and fellow Artist Oscar Pelayo. and I were taking pictures at our Kobe Bryant tribute Mural for new business cards, on our way to measure our upcoming Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee Mural, both in Reseda CA. I saw some guys eating near the wall and passed out the last 3, old business cards, while asking what they were eating. Simple, right? One of them tells us about a guy who just bought a carwash in Encino on Ventura Blvd., who might be interested in a Mural. We say, “Thanks” and move on to the Ali/Lee site, then off to check out the lead.
It turns out that the new owner in fact did want a Mural on an 85 foot long, and 25 foot tall, 2,000 sq. ft. wall on a building facing his football field sized carwash! Gave him a price, and we were off to design, what he wanted to be a tribute to Encino and its history. I researched the history and teamed up with the incredible graphic designer and friend, Jason Van Winkle. Four drafts later we had our Mural design. Following the suggestions of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs new Mural process, we reached out to the Encino community groups and residents to build awareness and support.
During the design phase we saw that had thousands of square feet of wall space to paint, so I asked if we could paint it. The owners said yes! We started recruiting artist to build the anticipation for the Encino history Mural. From March 2021 – May 2022, we created 18 Murals from 15 sq. ft. to 150 sq. ft by 16 Artists covering over 1,500 sq. ft. of wall space for a whopping total of 3,500 of painted Murals! Why this was so important was because at this time, the Pandemic Death Toll ran on television 24/7. People stopped touching, talking, going out, working at their livelihoods, going to school, etc. We all lived it, and it was depressing! This Mural Gallery, one of the first and few in the Valley was a focal point for the Arts as a Healing movement to help people feel good and bring light as we were emerging out of dark times, It, became the catalyst and venue for a half dozen Art and Music Community Festivals and pop-ups in Encino that was devoid of public art and community events on Ventura Blvd. and Encino, aside from the Farmers Market.
We created a landmark at a historic location, for the San Fernando Valley’s first European settlement, while enriching lives through Arts, even creating an actual Art Gallery at the location which lasted 6 weeks, until the carwash was eventually sold after 18 months. But for that year and half, several dozen Artists, Artisans and small businesses and musicians got to bring beauty and joy in a time and space when people needed it. This is how we Triumph over Trauma, as I like to say and live.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Filled with humility and pride from my triumph over trauma, that ignited the Phoenix, of a Renaissance Man, within, nearly done in by an addiction to alcohol. As a decades long amateur Art collector I was determined to get Artists’ work seen, be it on large walls, or in non-traditional art spaces. Armed with a mindset that Art Heals, and we/society need healing, desperately, right?! Artists create something out of nothing, and it’s meant to be seen and not in garages or stacks on floors, or leaning against walls. But in full view for a greater impact.
Writing on the Walls, LLC has produced about 30 Murals with dozens of Artists’ and produced several Art Shows in the San Fernando Valley, featuring over 100 local 818, and Valley adjacent Artists and small businesses.
This love for community Art is fun, because it can inspire peopIe in ways, I’ll never know. I get to see our Murals throughout the Valley, almost daily. Blending Arts, and Entertainment with Mental Health as an indirect/direct focus also feels good. Preserving histories moments and figures is an honor as we continue the ancient art of writing on the walls.
Have you ever had to pivot?
June 2019, after a series a life events, smacking me upside the head, Like the day I woke up from a concussion, with my dog staring at me, on a slate floor, with an empty glass in my hand, a golf ball sized knot on the back of my head. With Luna, the love dogs look of concern, I thought, ‘”Well it doesn’t look like I’m gonna make it to band practice tonight.”
Trying to piece together the events that led me to the floor. an internal voice says, “You need to find something to be passionate about, because clearly, music is not enough.” The sense of urgency was deafening. “When was the last time I was passionate?”. After a few minutes… “Murals! I used to love doing Murals! Painting them, finding others who wanted to paint them, writing proposals for them, how they transform communities and the people in and around them.” Well, that was in 2000 – 2003. Rip Van Winkle type of slumber.
The next day, I decided to ask a local business owner, near where I lived during that time if I could paint a Mural on his wall. He said, “Okay, just make it look nice.” That’s when “2020 – The Year of HIndsight” Mural concept took shape. Multiple languages reflecting Love, of family, friends, community, and Self. The trauma didn’t stop. The end of September of 2019, my Dad went to go play music in Heaven’s band. With $1,000, from a portion of the insurance, and help from LegalZoom, I created Writing on the Walls, LLC, built a GoDaddy website and opened P.O. Box for my new small/tiny business.
Fast forward to 2020, 10 days in the hospital and emerging back into society during the George Floyd protests, and the daily death count on the nightly news and a deeply polarized USA in March of 2020, I was never looking back! Living my life with the purpose of creating as much Art as possible was plan! I also began to try and heal my life, to heal my personal relationships, past, present and anew.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Remember to inhale often and slowly to give the brain, body, blood that fresh air it needs and deserves. Listen the way you want to be listened too.
Facilitate the rapport without controlling it.
Speak with honesty and tact.
Protect yourself with a mantra, phrase or prayer.
Express your personal issues to the person and not others.
Embrace the differences, while striving to find the commonalities.
Proper planning prevents piss poor performance.
Eat something, don’t let that blood sugar get low, to lead to, “undesirable personality disease”..
Music and humor are good too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.writingonthewalls-la.com
- Instagram: @writingonthewalls_la
Image Credits
Photographs by Phil Leonard