Of Allen’s artistic skill, New Orleans art critic Doug MacCash wrote: “Although many people think of watercolor as the genteel choice of Sunday painters, it may actually be the most difficult artistic technique to master. A great watercolorist is able to create a painting with such economy and deftness that the hand of the artist is almost unnoticeable – a feat akin to walking across a snowy field without leaving footprints. (Leroy) Allen and (Dean) Mitchell can do just that.
Kansas City Star – “Love Of Life In Every Brush Stroke”. “His studio and other rooms in his home display the emotionally resonant realist style he has evolved. The award-winning “Sundrops” displays all the hallmarks of the artist’s figurative style, capturing both the inner and the outer beauty of its little-girl subject, her shyness and individuality. “He has the time to work and it shows” said Melissa Rountree, curator of the Hallmark Fine Art Collection. “His figures are more alive. He’s tackling subject matter in a more thoughtful way.” – Star Chief Art Critic Alice Thorson, 5/4/03
