Jas Leonard
Beach afternoons © Jas Leonard
Words & Images by Jas Leonard
Interview by Athena Abdien
Why did you pursue image-making?
Image-making has been so prevalent throughout my life with my mother being prolific in capturing my own childhood. My love of photography developed in high school where I would spend hours in the darkroom experimenting. When I had my own children I wanted to preserve their childhood as well and this is when I picked my camera up again and began documenting our life. I feel it’s important to keep the legacy going of being the memory keeper for my family.
’Not Without my Sister’ Series © Jas Leonard
On your website, you discuss how you wish to "preserve memories of motherhood, of love and the season of life you are in — can you elaborate on this a bit further?
I want to celebrate motherhood in all of its forms — the good and the not so good. Some days feel never ending and monotonous and to be honest often lonely, so by capturing the obscure and mundane little moments it helps me to preserve the memory of motherhood and childhood and connect with other mothers who might be feeling the same.
Hazel in the morning sun © Jas Leonard
What inspires you as an artist?
A lot of different things inspire me as an artist. Music, the landscape, my children, my home, photo books and other artists and people.
It you could teach a one-hour class on anything, what would it be?
Definitely anything film camera related. I love that more and more people want to venture in to the world of film.
Shadow Play on the clothesline © Jas Leonard
What was the last book you read that resonated with you?
The last book that resonated with me was the photo book by Judith Black called ‘Vacation’. The way she captured her family so intimately, from the beginnings of her children’s life all the way through to adulthood has inspired me to strip back to capturing the basics of my kids life and document what really matters to me and my memory.
Describe your creative process in one word.
Obsessed.
Isolated, captured during the pandemic when we were forced to stay home through a lockdown © Jas Leonard
What is the most played song in your music library?
Music inspires me everyday. It’s something me and my kids can’t live without and we often put on my playlist that I made called ‘Pancake Saturday’s’ and dance around the house. My most played song for there is ‘Coming Up’ by Paul McCartney.
How do you take your coffee?
I can’t live without coffee and drink almond lattes.
