Meet Darlene Leiker

We were lucky to catch up with Darlene Leiker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Darlene, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

My purpose found me. Ten months after I painted my first Bouxbart™ for my husband, my mother had a mastectomy and I had a partial mastectomy. I decided at that time that I would use them (my breasts) for “good” and started painting more. My friends started wanting them and paying for them so I kept going. SInce we didn’t/don’t need the money, 100% that I receive for my paintings goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am retired. My husband and I just celebrated our 37th anniversary last week. He is retired too. I was a church worker most of my career until 2010 when we bought a winery. We were able to triple the profits of the winery in 2.5 years so we sold it in 2013. I retired from the North Texas Winery Association as Executive Director in 2021 where I now serve on the Board of Directors. As a volunteer, I have lots of free time and time to create and paint.
My husband and I travel a bit so I take a lot of photos, some of which inspire me to paint them or objects in them.
Since my paintbrushes are my breasts, that can be quite challenging at times. I have come up with about 5 techniques that I use. It’s almost always fun to see the end result. When it doesn’t come out as I envisioned, I just start over, or put it in front of me in my studio until I come up with a plan.
I do try to come up with something new each year. Last year I found candles in a ceramic pot at a thrift store and painted on them. They sold out quickly.
Each year I hold a Fundraising Gala in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I will announce the location of that event in August. New products will be revealed at that event as well.
I sometimes do the Arts in Bloom show in downtown McKinney, Texas (in April). My friends at 4R Ranch Winery lets me set up in there shop there on the square so I don’t have to pay a booth fee, since I make no money on my paintings I don’t pay booth fees.
I am considering doing a traveling show but have not worked on those details yet. That will roll out sometime next year.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Creative Vision & Authentic Expression
Why it mattered: My ability to stay true to my artistic voice shaped BouxbArt™’s identity and differentiated my work in a crowded space.
Advice:
• Explore relentlessly: Try different mediums, styles, and themes until you find what resonates.
• Stay grounded in your values: Build your work around what you care about deeply — that authenticity draws others in.
• Document everything: Your process, thoughts, and inspirations are part of your unique story.
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2. Resilience & Adaptability
Why it mattered: Challenges — creative blocks, slow growth periods, or changing platforms — required grit and flexibility to push through and evolve.
Advice:
• Detach from perfection: Done is better than perfect. Show your work and refine as you go.
• Build routines that support consistency: Show up regularly, even when motivation fades.
• Welcome feedback and failure: They’re fuel for growth, not signs to stop.
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3. Community Building & Storytelling
Why it mattered: BouxbArt™ thrived not just through art, but through the stories, connections, and values it shared with its audience.
Advice:
• Engage with intention: Respond to comments, support fellow creatives, and share your behind-the-scenes.
• Craft your narrative: People don’t just follow art — they follow why it’s made.
• Be generous: Share knowledge, uplift others, and the community will organically grow with you.
1. Authentic Creative Vision & Bold Expression
Why it mattered for BouxbArt™:
My art began as a deeply personal expression — a painting made for my husband. But ten months later, everything changed: my mother had a mastectomy, and I had a partial mastectomy. That moment gave my art a mission. I chose to use my breasts — and brushstrokes — for good. BouxbArt™ became a tribute, a protest, and a celebration all at once. Even my thrifted, painted candle pots — which sold out quickly — were part of that vision: turning ordinary objects into vessels for healing and impact.
Advice for others:
• Your purpose doesn’t always start loud. Let it evolve naturally.
• Embrace what makes your work unconventional — that’s where the magic lives.
• Art that comes from the body and the heart resonates in ways technique alone never can.
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2. Resilience & Resourcefulness
Why it mattered for BouxbArt™:
My journey reflects a lifetime of adaptation — from church service to winery success to art with a purpose. I don’t force my paintings; when one doesn’t turn out, I reflect, reposition, and try again. I have developed five distinct techniques, turning limitations into innovation. That same steady spirit led me and my husband to triple winery profits — and now fuels my studio practice.
Advice for others:
• Trust the detours — they may become your greatest stories.
• When a piece fails, keep it nearby. Let it speak to you over time.
• Develop a few techniques you love, then keep refining them.
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3. Community-Centered Creativity & Generosity
Why it mattered for BouxbArt™:
What began as a gift turned into a movement of generosity. Friends wanted my paintings, and since we didn’t need the money, I donated 100% of what I receive to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Every October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I host a fundraising gala to unveil new work. I can be seen at Arts in Bloom in downtown McKinney, with booth support from 4R Ranch Winery. It’s a circle of art, awareness, and shared purpose.
Advice for others:
• Let people support your work — they may help you support something greater.
• Align your art with a cause when it feels right; it adds heart and longevity.
• Find local allies (like my winery friends) who believe in your mission and make the journey easier.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Not only do I collaborate with 4R Ranch Winery, my other winery friends and musician friends have hosted or sponsored my annual galas. They are always great with much success raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
In 2023 I was introduced to the World Champion Jelly Maker, Donna Collins Yamini, who had a shop in downtown McKinney. She invited me to do a gallery show in her shop which I did. That led to our local abc affiliate to cover my story. Those two, reporter Jobin Paniker and photojournalist Brandon Mowry, were the first two people to ever see me paint AND they filmed it. My husband took photos of the filming. Those gentlemen won a Emmy© for that project in December 2024. They gave me the statue.
I still collaborate with Donna, The Jelly Queen, with our TArt, Tea + Art, once a month.
I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Art Club of McKinney, Texas, the oldest art club in Texas. Hanging around with creative people helps spark ideas for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.BouxbArt.com
• Instagram: Bouxbart
• Facebook: Bouxbart

Image Credits

I have taken all of these photos.