“I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.”
— Nancie J. Carmody

In New Orleans with my bestie, Leah on the right and in the center, Devra Dedeaux, who took me to NOLA for the very first time, many years ago, with her team of restauranteurs from NYC’s Gulf Coast and Sugar Reef.

I just got back from New Orleans. I attended a family wedding. My bestie came along with me as my travel companion, and we had a great time. NOLA is a place filled with incredible food, fantastic music, beautiful architecture, wonderful people, and rich history and culture. It's one of my favorite cities in the United States. After many intense weeks of caring for my mother, it was a great reset.

Cassamento’s on Magazine Street serves up some of the best oysters in NOLA. I’m heading to Paris in a couple weeks and I will do a comparison oyster taste test and report back.

Now I'm back in the studio and preparing for the 2nd annual Warren Court Art Walk. It's going to be fantastic! We have 22 artists for 2022. I'm excited to exhibit and sell lots of new paintings and prints. I may even include some new pieces inspired by my most recent trips to Paris and NOLA pus a couple new cherries! In addition, this year, we have Latin street food purveyor, Miti Miti, offering their tasty eats, and I'll be serving up a delicious cocktail. So please mark your calendar and prepare to spend the weekend chatting with artists, starting or adding to your collection, enjoying our vibrant community, and party with me!

I look forward to seeing you in May. Tell all your friends and get ready for a great time.

Sending you lots and lotsa love,
Leslie
xo

“There’s no better exercise for strengthening the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
—Woman’s Home Companion (May 1954)

This is Ellie, my beautiful mother. She is the most kind and generous person I know. A gift.

Hi! I'm Leslie, a fine artist & owner of Wild Cherry Art. I'm on a mission to cultivate joy through art, music, and living in the spirit of appreciation. I've been off social media because my beautiful mother has taken ill, and I've been at her bedside. I’m praying that she makes a full recovery. Now she's in rehab where the visiting hours are much shorter. So, I'm back in the studio in the mornings, painting from pictures of my last trip to France. I'm returning to France at the end of April, and I will be painting all along the way. I'm so excited to be traveling again and experiencing new unforgettable adventures in this great big wonderful world. I've missed a couple of weeks with the blog, so I'm reintroducing myself to you with @JoanneHawker s #MarchMeetTheMakers challenge. You can follow my progress with the challenge on Instagram and Facebook. Come see me and my completed France Series, in person, at the Warren Court Art Walk on May 21st and 22nd.

“Poppies on Omaha” 18 x 18 inches acrylic on gallery wrapped archival canvas. Available for immediate purchase for delivery the week of May 22nd. Last time i visited France, I rented a car and drove through the countryside in search of beautiful vistas. I could do a thousand paintings, there was so much beauty.

March Meet The Makers Challenge

Day 1, You and Your Work:

At 7 years old, I painted with oils and played the piano. While other kids were partying in high school, I was home painting, drawing, and playing the piano. Also sneaking into the Fastlane in Asbury Park to see live bands. I wanted to be a painter and a rockstar when I grew up.

Graduating with a BFA from Parsons School of Design set me on an exciting course. I painted dozens of murals for Betsey Johnson, worked for multiple prestigious design firms, and held art director positions at major publishing houses. I've won awards for excellence in graphic design and illustration, working for top-shelf clientele. While living and working in NYC, I performed with my band Boom Box Barbie at CBGBs, Mercury Lounge, Brownies, and other well-known venues.

With my husband's sudden and untimely death in 2012, I abruptly became a single parent of two young children. Re-evaluating my purpose, I embarked on a journey of healing. My commitment to following my dreams strengthened. I had seen how fleeting life can be firsthand. It was time to get back to painting, music, and fulfilling that dream. I realized that I had been given a gift that I must share.

This is my beautiful friend and collector, Theresa with her Wild Cherry Art, “Sexy Sadie.” I love that this painting connects Theresa to her powerful and creative feminine spirit. “Sexy Sadie” was the first painting in the Inner Beings Series.

Now I use decades of painting, drawing, graphic design, music-making, and spiritual practices to inform my artistic process to delight and inspire you with exciting, vibrant works of art and song. My goal is to elevate the world's vibration through a joyful, divinely inspired journey, one painting at a time accompanied by an original soundtrack.

My art and spiritual practice along with some new blood pressure medication helps me when life delivers a new challenge.

Following my dreams has allowed me to maintain a sense of playful revelry in my approach to life. When you follow your heart, life is filled with meaning. It helps, when life presents its challenges, to spend your days doing something you love. I hope my story and artwork inspire you to freely express your creative nature, your inner radiance and explore your dreams and desires. It's never too late to start following your heart. Life is a bowl of cherries, enjoy all the good stuff and spit out the pits!

Sending you, and mom, loads of love and appreciation,
Leslie
xo