The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.
—Steve Jobs
Mardi Gras Crawfish on Gold. When I first went to New Orleans I was introduced to the crawfish boil after a day at Jazzfest. This painting is of a crawfish sitting on a purple potato. I ate them both and they were delicious! New Orleans is beautiful magical, decadent city that speaks to my soul.
I want to share with you why I do what I do and why I paint what I paint. When I was very little I started my art journey by drawing and painting things that I loved. I was kind of a natural artist. It was a place where I felt free to focus on things that made me happy. I did lots of paintings of the Beatles and classic cars. As a matter of fact, my very first car was a Cherry Red, 1965, Mustang convertible. My tastes in subject matter have changed as I’ve grown, although I still love the Beatles and classic cars!
Left Me, at 15 years old, in my childhood bedroom creating a color wheel. Right My 1965 Cherry Red Mustang Convertibe.
Now I paint things that connect me to celebratory experiences and beautiful inspiration, things that make my heart sing. I paint images from nature, the human figure, vibrant abstracts, food, and cocktails! My travels have taken me to many amazing places including New Orleans, France, California, and my own backyard. Every adventure has been filled with wondrous beauty and soulful connections. These themes are present in my work. I like to use vibrant color and bold brushstrokes so the positive energy is palpable.
Be The Light is a painting inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Prints are available on my website. For every print sold I will make a $25 donation to the NAACP. Supporting causes important to me makes my work more meaningful.
There are so many upsetting images on the news and in our world now. It’s important to acknowledge these things and do our best to support the causes we feel are important. I also believe it’s important to counteract all the negative input with positive input. I like to fill my field of vision with things that inspire and uplift me. The subconscious mind is so powerful it’s important to control what goes in as best we can and focus on what we want, not what we are given. I want to help you fill your vision with images that uplift and inspire you too, now more than ever. What images inspire and uplift you?
I encourage you to do something you love, that lights up your soul, every single day. This is your one wild and precious life. Make it count!
So much love to you,
Leslie
xo