Celebrating Eldorado Artists in the Heart of New Mexico’s Creative Landscape
The Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association announces the 34th Annual Eldorado Studio Tour™, taking place September 19–20, 2026. A beloved New Mexico tradition, this not-to-miss event invites the public to visit local artists in their studios and experience an exceptional range of original art and fine craft throughout the Eldorado community.
A New Year. A Fresh Start. Join or Renew Today!
Kick off the new year by reconnecting with Eldorado’s vibrant arts community. Your EACA membership gives you access to Studio Tours, exhibitions, and special events while supporting local artists and programs. Join or renew now and start the year inspired.
Smartphone Photography Workshop Draws Big Crowd
Thirty-four EACA members gathered at the Vista Grande Public Library for an engaging workshop on smartphone photography—learning practical tips to better capture and present their artwork. It was an inspiring and skill-building evening. Read the full recap and see how EACA continues to support our creative community.
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FEATURED ARTIST
Tom Leech : Master of Paper, Ink, and Imagination
Leech served for two decades as curator and director of the Press at the Palace of the Governors, where he helped shape one of Santa Fe’s most beloved cultural institutions. During his tenure at the New Mexico History Museum from 2001 to 2021, he curated numerous celebrated exhibitions including Album Amicorum: Gems of Friendship in a Frightened World, The Saint John’s Bible, Jack Kerouac and the Writer’s Life, and Gustave Baumann and Friends: Artist Cards from Holidays Past. Most recently, he completed work curating the Gustave Baumann exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Art, continuing his longstanding role as a steward of New Mexico’s artistic heritage.
For nearly half a century, Tom Leech has explored the expressive possibilities of paper, ink, and the printed page. A master of book arts, marbled paper, and printmaking, Leech’s work bridges the worlds of fine art, literature, and craft. His richly layered papers—alive with swirling color and intricate patterns—transform a traditional decorative technique into a contemporary visual language.
The Art of the Handmade Page
Throughout his career, Leech has printed and published an impressive range of fine press books and broadsides. His projects include Doctor Franklin & Spain, Jack Thorp’s Songs of the Cowboys, O’Keeffe Stories, and the Word Art Poetry Portfolio. He has also produced limited editions for each of Santa Fe’s Poets Laureate—bringing together poetry, typography, and handcrafted materials in elegant printed works.
Beyond the pressroom, Leech’s personal artwork reveals a deeply imaginative visual voice. His drawings combine elements of storytelling, symbolism, and gentle satire, often populated with dreamlike characters and subtle social commentary. These works echo the spirit of the printed page—inviting viewers to read images the way one reads a poem.
Leech’s contributions to the arts extend far beyond Santa Fe. In 1994 he co-founded the Paper Road/Tibet Project, teaching traditional papermaking to disabled and orphaned children in Lhasa and rural Tibet. He also participated in the 1990 and 1992 Everest Environmental Expeditions. Closer to home, since 2010 he has facilitated events for the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project at the New Mexico History Museum, using art and language to foster connection and memory.
His achievements have earned wide recognition, including the Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (2013), the Carl Hertzog Award for Excellence in Book Design (2014), and the Edgar Lee Hewett Award (2015). Today, several of his marbled and handmade papers are held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Through decades of dedication to craft, creativity, and community, Tom Leech continues to demonstrate the enduring power of the handmade page—where art, history, and storytelling meet.