Rande Cook - artist and owner
Born in culture-rich Alert Bay BC, I was surrounded by the beauty of the land and groomed by the strong teachings of my grandparents. While growing up, my grandfather and I observed and discussed the traditional art forms of our Kwa’kwa’ka'wakw heritage. As I got older, my love for my culture never faded and my desire to be artistically creative continually evolved. I have many years of apprenticing with well known master carvers and traveled the world to developing my craft. More recently, I completed my Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Victoria with a MFA and continue to explore innovative ways in advancing my knowledge. My partner, Mona Elliott, and I developed Leaf Modern as another avenue for myself to explore and share new approaches to my works. In hopes to make a difference and be part of the solution in unifying our environment, people, and world. In supporting my works is supporting the environment, culture, love and unity. Most of all it’s supporting my love of being an artist!
Mona Elliott - marketing and owner
Born in the motherland Africa, I was raised in the beauty of Tanzania and many beautiful lands of this part of the world. With my father an English Canadian man and my mother Somalian, I was immersed in culture, family heritage, music, fashion, dance, and most of all the love of art. I am from my grandfather's tribe called Isakia, established from British Colony and Somaliland heritages. While growing up, I embellished in the fashion and sales industry. Managing, coaching, buying, marketing, and exceeding sales quotas, following a business career. In my early 20s, I enrolled into business school and graduated in 2010 with marketing communications but had a real passion for web design and digital creation. As I got older, my love for business never faded and my desire to be constantly evolving continued. My partner, Rande Cook, and I developed Leaf Modern to evolve my business skill sets and share his beautiful works. Today I continue to support the business and allow the artist to be the artist as I embrace the role of being the artist behind the evolution of Leaf Modern!