Please will you join me? We have so much to celebrate.

 

“Instead of hate, celebrate.”
–Prince

The Monster Lies Within Limited Edition Giclee print will be awarded to the best costume at the Wild Cherry Art pARTy.

 
 

You're an A-Lister, so I'm expecting to see you at one, if not all, of the following exciting events!

SAturday, October, 28th

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SAturday, October, 28th 〰️

Wild Cherry Art Preview pARTy

Saturday, October, 28, 2023
7pm – 11pm
36 Warren Court, South Orange, NJ

Come celebrate with me! I'll be showing new work, performing with a live band, judging the costume contest, partying like a rockstar, and enjoying your sparkling company! We’ll have drinks, food, and fun. You needn’t wear a costume, but you'll have more fun if you do! You can win this limited edition fine art Giclee print if you win the costume contest. It’s a celebration of Halloween and our friendship along with a preview of the studio and new work before the public shows up next week for the 2oth anniversary of the SOMA Artists Studio Tour. RSVP to save your spot. Space is limited!


THursday, November, 2nd

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THursday, November, 2nd 〰️

 
 

Mark your calendar for Unveiled: the opening reception and show highlighting 50 artists participating in the tour. You can check out their work and plan whose studio you want to see.



Sat & Sun, November 4 & 5

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Sat & Sun, November 4 & 5 〰️

 
 

Start the 20th Annual SOMA Artist Studio Tour at Wild Cherry Art!

See Leslie's new work alongside visiting artist, the fantastic Sandra Charlap at 36 Warren Court. Start with a drink, a nosh, great conversation, and lotsa fun. Buy some art to start or grow your collection. Then, see the six other artists showing on the same block! You can visit more than 90 artists as they open their doors and share their unique brand of creativity and art during this beloved community event. Talk to artists in their studios, view beautiful works of art, and gain a unique and personal view of the life of an artist.

I’m so looking forward to seeing you. Life comes with so many ups and downs. Let’s choose to be up and celebrate these events together. I’m grateful for our connections and I want to share a little sunshine or maybe even a bowlful of cherries with you.

See you real soon,
Leslie
xo

 

See how to navigate new frontiers with inspired fun, and magical growth

 

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”
—Lady Bird Johnson

 
 

Inspired Landscape

Opening reception Friday, July 29th, 5 pm – 7:30 pm

July 16th through August 27th
West Orange Arts Council
551 Valley Road, West Orange

When you come to the opening for “Inspired Landscape,” you’ll see some of my recent European landscape work alongside work presented by six other artists. We came together as strangers from different backgrounds, working in various media and with different practices. We’ve met monthly for six years to critique each other’s work and support our artistic growth. During our meetings, we present work and discuss composition, value, subject matter, color, technique, inspiration, and the joy of the creative process. Having ongoing support and consistent accountability helps on the road to mastery. The mastery and the magic are evident when you view the show. I’ll be there for the opening. Meet me there, and we’ll celebrate like it’s 1999!

Participating artists:

Dan Epstein
Leslie Goldman
Marlene Hendrian
Ann Kraus
Fernando Mariscal
Denis Orloff
Katy Repka

 

I used the photographs I took in Monet’s garden to create my recent series of art using my new jumbo Sennelier Oil Sticks. In 1887, Gustave Sennelier, a devoted chemist, established the Sennelier palette as the ultimate standard of quality for Oil Pastels.

 

Navigating unknown mediums creates new neural pathways. Texture, viscosity, pigmentation, and substrate play a role, as do attitude, beliefs, and goals. Using new materials forces us to explore new ways of doing things. My Sennelier Oil Pastels are pushing me into unforeseen frontiers. I have to put on my thinking cap. More importantly, I put on my feeling cap. I approach the process with positivity and creative abandon. My studio is a great place to play and investigate without judgment. I play great music, infuse some delicious essential oils, dance around a bit, and have at it. The bottom line is when you try something new, you can’t help but grow. So much joy comes with exploring fully in the moment with childlike wonder. When I have fun with it and enjoy the ride, magic happens. See and feel the magic at my latest show!

I’ll be at the gallery all day this Saturday, July 23rd from 11am – 4pm. Come for a special tour of the show and I’ll share some of the observations from our critique sessions. People really love hearing about how the artist sees things and I’m happy to share. See you soon!

Love,
Leslie

 

The heat only added steam to a fantastic weekend of Art and fun!

 

“Art is our memory of love. The most an artist can do through their work is say, let me show you what I have seen, what I have loved, and perhaps you will see it and love it too.”
— Annie Beva

 
 
 

During the Warren Court Art Walk I set up on the porch. Despite the heat I was able to share my love of travel with my new works inspired by my recent trip to Europe.

 

The Warren Court Art Walk was a tremendous success. The heat only added steam to a weekend of talented artists connecting with a vibrant community of art-loving fans. I’m very grateful to the people who showed up in droves. It was wonderful to make new friends, and it felt like a blessing to get reacquainted with old friends, all in person! I put the Sennelier Oil Pastels I bought in Paris to the test. I was slightly concerned that it might have been a weekend of performance art with melting colors, but fortunately, the impasto pigments held firm at 97 degrees. These small paintings based on my recent trip to France and Austria were a big hit. I’ve got loads more new photos and inspiration, and I look forward to sharing more of my journey with you through my art. Look for the ones left on the website soon.

 
 

Suburban Essex Magazine published this article before the Art Walk. Written and with photos by the masterful Dan Epstein, I'm excited to share it with you.

As seen in the May 2022 issue of Suburban Essex Magazine.

The winner of the free raffle of the print, “Bourbon Ice Cap,” during the Warren Court Art Walk is…

Amy Campione

 

“Bourbon Ice Cap” was the prize for the Wild Cherry Art Raffle this year during the Warren Court Art Walk. We all needed a little frosty inspiration during this steamy weekend. Congratulations, Amy. Come over for a Bourbon on the rocks and pick up your print!

 

Now I’m back in the studio, working to spark joy and inspire you with my art, music, and zest for life. Please make a studio visit so I can share with you in person. This weekend you’ll find me painting Plein Aire at the Crawfishfest in Augusta, NJ. It’s a great time, like a mini NOLA Jazzfest. Look for me upfront to the left of the main stage.

Love,
Leslie
xo

 

Why don't you skip your usual routine and party with me!

 
 

“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

 

Find Out How To Conquer Difficult Times By Embracing Passion.

 
 

“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