Celebration of the Journey

Portraits of the Soul 
The Art of Leroy Roper Jr. 

 

Top Photo: Model Brandy

 

AJ Crowell, Publisher of Dallas Yoga Magazine, and Leroy Roper have been long time friends and is honored to celebrate his journey of being an artist for over 30 years now.  As you can see from the photos Leroy is an extremely talented artist and photographer. Leroy’s poems are spiritually centered expressing his true feeling from his soul. There will be several exhibitions of his work throughout this year of celebration including one hosted by Dallas Yoga Magazine. He also has a soon to be released coffee table book, his sixth book: ” Retrospective-Perspective “. 

Please join Dallas Yoga Magazine in celebrating the 30 year creative journey of this masterful artist. There will be several exhibitions of his work throughout this year of celebration as well as a soon to be released coffee table book, his sixth book: ” Retrospective-Perspective “.

 

DYM: You are such a uniquely talented person. Tell our readers about yourself.

 

Leroy: I am an artist, body artist, backdrop painter and writer and I’m based in Dallas Texas. I was born on December 30^th, 1957 at noon. My works are internationally known as “Portraits of the Soul”, because I speak to my clients, models and subjects about what is happening in their lives and then I interpret their current reality through my world of fantasy. In order to create that world of fantasy I incorporate my hand painted backgrounds, body art and photography.  It is like taking a page out of the diary of your life and turning it into a fairy tale.

DYM: Tell us why 2018 is the year to you are calling “A Celebration of the Journey”.

 

Leory: I have been a published artist for over 30 years now. 2018 is the 30 year anniversary of the first article written about my work in the international New York City photography publication “Photo-District News.” It was in their December 1988 issue.

 

DYM: Explain how your first article…decades ago…(laughing and teasingly) came to fruition?

 

Leroy: As I remember, the publishers contacted me and said, “we saw your cards, is this a painting, a photograph or what?” I explained how I body painted the women usually with an airbrush, create backdrops to match the fantasy, and then take photos.

 

DYM: It is difficult on many of your photos to distinguish if it’s a painting a photograph or exactly how you created it.

 

Leroy: Yes… the publishers saw 3 of my promotional post cards for mine and my brother Charles Roper’s backdrop company called “Inkworks Backdrops.” One featured a snow covered mountain backdrop with one of the models body painted as a snow leopard, another featured a model as a butterfly on giant wings I painted and the third card featured two models as mermaids on one of my beach backdrops, all being 9 x 10 feet and larger.

 

DYM: Your work has been featured on HBO, ACB, The Style Network, The Learning Chanel, The Veria Satellite Network, among many others. But you have to share with us your experience with the Jerry Springer Show.

 

Leroy: That was quite an experience and actually fun. (smiling) It was in the mid 90’s and Jerry picked a model out of the audience and body painted her during the show. In 45 minutes I had painted her as a leopard and near the end of the show she was brought out and sat her on a fake rock in front of a 9×10 foot jungle backdrops he had painted.

 

DYM: I bet the audience went crazy!

 

Leroy: They did, so did Jerry.

 

DYM: You have had such an interesting journey. Your art work has been featured on so many magazine covers, movies and you have international recognition. And it all started 30 years ago.

 

Leroy: Yes, I have been very fortunate with living my career as a creative artist doing what I love.

DYM: Nowadays, many artists using digital manipulation such as Photoshop on their work. Do you use anything like that?

 

Leroy: No. My work is all done by hand and it stays exactly as portrayed in the photograph.

 

DYM: Your wife involved in your artwork. Tell us about her.

 

Leroy: Her name is Tiffany Diamond and she is featured in many of my works. Since 2007, she has been doing the hair and make-up for most of my sessions.

 

DYM: We love Tiffany. She is a fairy in one of my favorite pieces of yours. She is so versatile and creative.  She is a yogi…

 

Leroy: Tiffany practices Aerial Yoga. She uses the silks and does her poses in mid-air.

 

DYM: Do you do Aerial Yoga with her?

 

Leroy: No! I’m a bystander with the Aerial Yoga…I leave that up to her. (Smiling)

More About Leroy Roper:

You can find his books and writing by Clicking Here.

His works can be viewed on his website: www.leroyroper.com

Like his Face Book page https://www.facebook.com/leroy.roper.1

 

Gallery: