Mônica Elston Leitão

My best memories about my childhood are of the moments I spent with my color pencils, paper and with my grandmother, who taught me how to make jewelry out of straws, noodles and seeds. My life changed when at the age of seven, my great-aunt gave me a box full of seed beads and broken necklaces. Art, theater and music classes were always my favorite. I went to IU in Indiana to become an art and theater teacher for children, but I had to give it up. I am not an artist, but my soul thinks I am, so, there is a constant fight between what I feel, want and what my brain and hands are able to do. I am into paper mache, plastic ceramics, ceramics and now I am giving a chance to drawing and painting again. I've been an English teacher in Brazil for 41 years and whenever I can I use art with my students of all ages. I don't show my work to people outside friends and family circles and I don't really have a style. That devastes me.