Feeling gratitude for you because we can navigate anything better together.

 

“If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces.”
― Shane Koyczan

 

Everything is coming up oysters in my studio with the  “Jeweled Oysters” series.

 

Connecting with so many inspiring and kind souls during the Studio Tour SOMA was truly uplifting. In times when things can feel uncertain, it’s heartening to be reminded of the goodness and love that surrounds us. I’m rooting for your highest and happiest self, no matter what. A single bright, inspiring painting has the power to turn our hearts toward hope and new possibilities. We are more resilient than we often realize, and together, we can navigate anything. Hang in there—we’ve got this!

 

Thank you, Natalie Farrel, for being our platinum sponsor and for starting your Wild  Cherry Art collection!

 

I was honored to have guest artist Sandra Charlap showcasing her beautiful work in my home. Plus, on Warren Court in South Orange, seven of us came together to create a stunning studio tour enclave. What a wonderful gathering of talent and creativity!

 
 

Thank you so much to everyone who visited my studio during the Studio Tour SOMA. Your support truly means the world to me! It was such a rewarding experience to be part of this vibrant community of artists and art lovers. I had the pleasure of meeting new friends and reconnecting with so many familiar faces. The gallery and studio looked amazing, and I’m thrilled that so many new pieces of Wild Cherry Art are now out in the world! Isn't that exciting?

Email me if you’d like to come for a studio visit. I’d love to spend some time with you talking about hope and possibilities.

With gratitude and love,
Leslie
xo

 

Fantastic news, you didn't miss it. It's this Saturday and Sunday!

 

“Art opens the closets, airs out the cellars and attics. It brings healing.”
– Julia Cameron

November 2nd & 3rd,
Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 5pm

7 Artists on Warren Court in South Orange

Join me and guest artist Sandra Charlap for a fabulous weekend at the Studio Tour SOMA this Saturday and Sunday, November 2nd and 3rd, from 11 AM to 5 PM! Be a part of this vibrant annual community event and explore the creative magic happening inside local artists’ studios. It’s the perfect chance to find unique gifts and get a head start on your holiday shopping. Don’t miss out on the fun!

FIVE additional artists are showing on my small block, Warren Court, in South Orange. Make it your first stop, get a map of the tour, have a spiked cider, sip, shop, and socialize. I’m expecting you. It’ll be a party!

Artists on Warren Court:
Leslie Goldman, Wild Cherry Art
Sandra Charlap
Sybil Archibald
Wendy Bellermman
Elan Harris
Ben Salmon
Fred Courts

I’ll share the work I created in France inspired by my photographs taken at Les Antiquaires, my new favorite restaurant in Paris. Nestled in the St. Germain neighborhood, the scene is lively, with delightful servers and top-notch food. Just as I feel life is like a bowl of cherries with the pits, stems and sweet beautiful fruit—oysters, like life, can be challenging, and also offer amazing deliciousness.

The Preview pARTy was fantastic! IYKYK! The theme of the show, “The World is Your Oyster,” inspired the costumes for the band and me. New and old friends celebrated and enjoyed Art, Music, Halloween, and fun.

I’m super excited to see you this weekend at my studio on Warren Court in South Orange. We’ll have a blast!

Love,
Leslie

 

Save the party date and find out what happened in Paris

 

“Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate sourvenir is a broader perspective.”
― Rick Steves

 

Painting for two weeks at the NG Arts Creative Residency was a dream come true!

 

I’ll give you all the juicy details of my incredible month in France after you mark your calendar for the

Wild Cherry Halloween pARTy
October 26th, from 7pm till 11pm

Come celebrate with me, have a drink and a snack, and preview the work I created in France before the Studio Tour the following week. I’ll play a short set with my band, The Love Drops. A prize will be given for the best costume. It will be spooktacular. RSVP HERE for the rest of the info! It’s going to be so fun!

 

Sandra Charlap and I getting our drink on before our overnight flight to Paris.

 

Newark Airport was a great place to start my adventure and this epic tale. It’s a mere 20 minutes from my house. I headed out with the amazing artist Sandra Charlap to board our Premium Class French Bee flight to Paris. Oooh La La! I packed all my canvases in my large suitcase, with all my clothes nestled between them, popped in an Apple Airtag, and crossed my fingers that I’d see everything in Paris.

Arriving in Orly on Thursday, September 28th, went smoothly. Sandra and I, with the help of my longtime friend and show cohort, Andi Ipaktchi, spent the next four days buying paint, large paper, and some other art materials. We spent one afternoon visiting the Vuitton Foundation. We saw the most extraordinary Elseworth Kelley show and a smaller version of the Matisse show, “The Red Studio,” that I saw at MOMA last year. Sandra and I were on a mission and marched to the Sennelier shop, Chauvin, a Pearl Paint-esque art supply shop, and ultimately bought most of our materials at BVH, the giant French department store in Les Marais. You can buy your paint, canvas, wine, cheese, furniture, evening gowns, lingerie, makeup, and even stay the night with luxury accommodations in the penthouse hotel. The French are amazing.

Sandra and I spent a lovely evening on the left bank and stopped for a fantastic dinner with cocktails, oysters, shrimp, cockles, duck breast, roast chicken, wine, and so much fun. In fact, it was so magical and beautiful that I used the pictures I took that night at Les Antiquaires for all my inspiration at the artist residency. Here are a few of those pictures:

The High-speed train whisked us from Paris to Provence in two and a half hours to The NG Arts Creative Residency. Tucked away in a rural setting on private grounds, the Residency is a perfectly restored 17th-century olive mill steps from the picturesque village of Maussane. The homestead is enchanting, the studio is spacious and filled with possibilities, and the gardens are magical and inspiring. I just stepped into a Merchant Ivory film! Our lovely host, Nicky Ginsberg, filled the giant cook’s kitchen with a bounty of beautiful fruits and fresh vegetables. Gorgeous copper pots and terracotta bakeware were readily available for our cooking needs. We took short trips to the different markets and sampled the tastes and treasures of the region. The wine was flowing for lunch and dinner. I drank more delicious rosé that month than I had in my entire life! It was a total immersion in the wonders of Provence.  

The time spent painting was a joy. I was showing up to the easel with inspiration flowing like the wine at my previous meal, totally in the zone. Pushing myself to try something new, I accomplished what I had set out to do with relative ease. Although oysters are a magical, beautiful, and delicious delight, they offer some challenges when trying to capture them visually. After two weeks, I had figured it out.

Leaving the Residency I carried not only a new body of work but also a wealth of inspiration and newly forged relationships. This chapter of my artistic journey served as a reminder of the transformative power of art and community, encouraging me to embrace new challenges and opportunities ahead. I’m forever changed and endlessly grateful.

Tune in next time when I'll tell you all about my show!

Love,
Leslie