Leanne Lee Inspires the Next Generation with Marble Sculpting Classes

Leanne Lee further enriched the legacy of Yule marble in art with her recent “Marble Icicles” lesson at West Sedona School. This session was conducted in art teacher Sara Horton’s kindergarten class on November 21.

The Artist in the Classroom program, supported by the City of Sedona, employs 24 local artists to share their techniques in both public and private schools. Lee’s approach engaged students through a discussion of her artistic process, followed by a hands-on experience where they painted on marble slabs they could later take home.

About 320 million years ago, marine organisms once thrived in the Panthalassic Ocean, comprising what we now know as Yule marble. As these organisms died, their calcite shells settled to the ocean floor, eventually metamorphosing into limestone and then marble, mined near the town of Marble, Colorado. Today, Yule marble is a favored material among sculptors and has been used in significant monuments like the Lincoln Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“As an artist, I paint directly on the raw marble, sealing each piece with a protective Demar varnish,” Lee explained, demonstrating her technique using examples featuring wildlife motifs. Her students would have the unique opportunity to work with marble slices just like hers.

Lee affectionately described her tools, his craftsmanship inspiring her work. A wet saw, hand sander, diamond saw, and heirloom tools from her grandfather—a shoemaker—are integral to her artistic process.

Originally from a Chicago suburb, Lee spent decades in Gunnison, Colorado, where she raised three sons. While appraising properties at the assessor’s office, she explored the Yule Marble Quarry, igniting her passion for oil painting on marble. “I wanted to showcase the beautiful, pure white of the stone,” she reflected, emphasizing that her vibrant colors contrast beautifully against the marble’s brightness.

Having moved to Sedona six years ago, Lee has participated in the Artist in the Classroom program for two years. “I love introducing art to kids,” she shared. “I was meant to be a teacher, and this allows me to combine my two passions.” During the lesson, Horton announced to her students, “Each of you will receive a piece of marble for your Christmas tree. We’ll spend about five minutes sanding, and we might even sketch our designs today for painting next time.”