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

Do you need to know, like, and trust someone before you sleep with them?

"A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love."
—Mother Teresa

“Return To Love” This is the commissioned series I worked on last year that created a shift in my beliefs around love. Set up a free 15 minute Discovery Call with me to discuss manifesting your vision. Discovery Call

My friends and family helped me through the most challenging experience of my life, losing my husband. They've also been with me to celebrate my great joys; connections, art, music, travel, and all my milestones. It has been nine and a half years since Chris is gone. Recently my peeps have been encouraging me to date.

I believed that my days of romance were behind me. Then last year, I worked on a commission for a client who wanted to manifest love. My commission process goes far deeper than putting paint on a canvas. For many weeks, I listened to guided meditations for opening to love every day before working on her pieces. A few of those days, I found myself sobbing when I experienced all the available love. I listened to love songs and love frequencies, surrounded myself with rose quartz, journaled, used essential oils, and read about love. I noticed a shift in myself after completing "Return To Love." My collector loved the process, adores her pieces, and has them hanging in a prominent space in her gorgeous apartment. I know she's experiencing more love.

I'm drawn to paint with pink and red. Pink represents friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and approachability. Both red and pink represent love. So I'm already on the right track!

I realized on Monday that it's been 9 years since I had a Valentine. I now think I deserve love just as much as the next guy. So I put myself on a few dating sites, and I'm putting it out there to the Universe. I'm available. And because I'm living as my authentic self, I will make decisions and take actions that support my own values. For me, this means that I'm interested in making friends first because I need to know, like, and trust someone before I sleep with them! Lol! I've been this way forever; it's how I am. I would always be the one back at the hotel on vacations when my friends would find romance for the evening. I'd often go home alone and meet my friends for brunch to hear about their evening's escapades. People often thought I was the "wildest one" because, as my son says, "Mom, why did you dress so slutty?" I wasn't slutty! I was Rock'n'roll. Anyway, there is no such thing as slutty. And while casual sex has never been my bag, I know that sexual pleasure is our birthright, and consenting adults are entitled to do whatever they want behind closed doors and sometimes discretely in public spaces. I'm all for it.

This is the photo that made my son ask why I dressed so slutty!

So at 57, I'm on a few online dating sites. My life is already very rich and filled with so much love. When I find the right person, I hope to get invitations to dinner parties, travel, and outings again from my couple friends. It will be nice to have a companion and more physical affection. I'm open to meeting someone who will love, appreciate and respect me. Someone kind, compassionate, fun, intelligent, engaging, inspiring, open-minded, adventurous, passionate, optimistic, that I'm wildly attracted to, and we have fantastic sex. I know as long as I am being my authentic self, they will see the real me, and the people who will love me will see me from a mile away. I expect to make many new, wonderful friends and find my next greatest love.

Cheers to love, intimacy, passion and great sex!
Love,
Leslie

Five things you can do to shift negative thoughts to positive.

“If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough.”
—Oprah Winfrey

Field of Possibilities is an acrylic painting that connects you to the powerful beauty found in nature. Connecting to nature fills you with ease and joy. This is a painting of Wightman’s farm in Morristown, New Jersey.

What do you want out of life? Focusing on what you want your life to be rather than what it isn’t, has the power to release a lot of negative thoughts. It shifts your thinking from stress, anxiety, sadness, worry, guilt, resentment, blame, frustration, dread, or lack to possibility, hope, ease, and happiness. 

We live in strange times, and it’s easy to get caught up in all the negativity flying around. Gaining clarity can help us shift from fear back to ease and joy. First, we must remember that negative thoughts aren’t facts. They’re just thoughts, and thoughts don’t exist outside of your mind. By accepting them as thoughts, you’re telling yourself that they’re not real and that you don’t have to act on them. That helps you to stop obsessing over them.

What else can help you release negative thoughts? Try these tips:

1. AWARENESS The best way to understand our feelings is to feel them once we’re aware of them. The first step towards changing any behavior is becoming aware of it. Acknowledge your emotions and make mental shifts over time. A meditation practice can be super helpful to become aware of your inner dialogue. 

2. TAKE CHARGE Emotions don’t just happen – they originate from thoughts, beliefs, memories, and experiences. Tell yourself a different story concerning those events if you want to change your emotional state. You get to remember things any way you want. Remember it from a positive point of view, one that uplifts or gives you hope. A belief happens when you tell it to yourself repeatedly. Tell yourself something good and create positive affirmations

3. NO JUDGEMENT Let go of judgments. It’s easy for us to judge others and ourselves. Instead of comparing yourself to your peers, list the good things about yourself and your life. Replace the negative thoughts with positive ones from your list. Think of the positive traits you or the other person may have.

4. GRATITUDE For me, the best way to move from negative thoughts to positive ones is by practicing gratitude. I use a technique called the "Gratitude Formula" from the book by May McCarthy with the same name. This helps me conquer anxiety, move through procrastination or blocks, release fear and sadness, and embrace possibility and hope. The Gratitude Formula is a practice that makes way for joy. Read about it in this article, Strengthen Your Ability To Perceive More Joy.

5. ART! Lastly, to stay in that place of gratitude, place visual reminders in your home to help you stay uplifted and inspired. Beautiful and meaningful art on your wall has the power to move you emotionally. It helps keep the focus on beauty in your world and in your life. The more you see beauty, the more beauty you’ll see, and that’ll kick negativities ass!

Commissioning a piece of art adds a meaningful focal point in your home to connect you to uplifting and joyful emotions. I created this piece in 2021 for my collector's stunning home.

How do you deal with negativity? What helps you to banish negative thoughts? Please share your tips in the comments. That way we can help each other to shine.

Stay positive and enjoy all your days, whatever comes.
Love,
Leslie

White and gray can't beat vibrant color. It's time to mix it up!

 “Color is a power which directly influences the soul.”
–Wassily Kandinsky.

DaVinci’s Dahlia With Ant #1 is yellow, blue, orange, purple, and so many more beautiful colors.

This time of change is challenging our courageous hearts. It's a time to shine as our resilient selves and stand boldly in our power. We can step into the uncertain future bravely and fiercely. What color does bravery look like to you? Does it look white and gray or does it look like a vibrant rainbow?

While at the Short Hills Mall last week with my daughter, I noticed that the home stores were filled with white and gray on the showroom floor. The lack of color and warmth felt startling and sterile. "Where's all the color?!" I wailed. Later, while discussing with my artist friends the new Pantone Color Of The Year, I was thrilled to learn that the trends are embracing bold and vibrant color again! In addition, the January 2022 issue of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine cover is filled with friendly, inviting, dynamic hues. Those whites and grays just aren't cutting it. It's time to bring color back!

This is the purple wall in my kitchen with my painting, Metamorphosis, hanging on it.

This year's Pantone Color Of The Year is "Very Peri." It's a unique shade of purple that combines cool blue with warm violet-red undertones. "It's the first time Pantone created a new color for the color of the year," stated Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, "It reflects the global innovation and transformation taking place." Using purple has always been a courageous choice; it encourages personal inventiveness and creativity. As a result, it often feels joyous and dynamic. The walls in my teenage bedroom were deep purple, and now I have an accent wall in my kitchen that's purple. I'm on trend! Yay! Many of us have felt caged in these last couple of years, and whites and grays don't do anything to make us feel inspired or lively. It's time to make our homes cheerful and optimistic by injecting new life into them with color, patterns, and textures. Bold is back in style, and I love it!

White and gray furnishings come alive with the addition of colorful art like Manhattan Mondays.

Color has always been my jam. The walls in my home are filled with color, and my paintings add additional bright, vibrant colors. People often comment on how happy my house feels upon entering. Don't get me wrong, I do like white and gray furnishings and walls, but I love how they look modern and fresh when bold pops of color are added to liven things up. It's time for you to explore your own color sensibility with courage and creativity. Make it fun and take a chance; maybe add something purple.

If you'd like my guidance, I'd be happy to help. So click the link above and set up a Zoom meeting with me. We’ll talk about embracing the colors of the rainbow. Then we’ll find our pot of gold together.

Love,
Leslie

Wanna conquer the challenges and get more wins this year?

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.”
–Erma Bombeck

I did a lot of painting, performing, and writing for you! I also volunteered, made contributions and always had a lot of fun. I’m leaving everything on the table. That’s my jam. 🥳

Happy 2022, beautiful friend! I'm wishing you and yours a wonderful year ahead with an abundance of blessings. So many people were eager to say good riddance to 2021. Of course, it had its ups and downs like every other year, but all along the way, I always found so many things for which I'm thankful. 

Towards the end of every December, I do a formal year-end review and set goals for the year to come. If you want something to grow it helps to measure it. I did this last week with two partners. We took inventory and evaluated our progress. First, we wrote everything down, and then we shared it. These were our categories:

• wins

• challenges

• gratitude

• eliminate stress

• dream

I had a significant challenge this year with the loss of my father. Although, I feel so incredibly grateful to have had him in my life for so long. Sadly, my children don't have this gift. But they have so many other blessings in their full and exciting lives. All of us survived another year of the pandemic. We were resilient, resourceful and remained connected. I painted, performed, socialized, volunteered, and celebrated! Exercising, enjoying nature, making music, and art helped me eliminate stress. And honestly, I've just begun to dream! So stick around; we're going to have a lot more fun!!!

I’m grateful I had my dad present for so many milestones in my life, like walking me down the aisle.

After our evaluating exercise, I write my goals down in the form of a positive Life Statement, as if they've already happened, and give thanks for my abundant life. I create one statement for each of these areas:

• Health

• Spirituality

• Personal Development

• Relationships

• Business

• Finances

• Recreation and Fun

I use these same statements in my daily gratitude practice. If you’d like to create your own gratitude practice, or want to do a year end review, let's set up a Zoom call. Just click the button and I'll help you.

Things keep getting better. Evaluating my progress and setting goals helps me feel more purpose and meaning in my life. I move forward with the intention of serving in the most joyful way I can. Life really can be a bowl of cherries. It's all in the way you look at things. As an artist, I look for beauty in all things. I'm grateful that I can always find it.

A modern metric is our Social media stats. I'm astounded that I have over 11K followers on Facebook and Instagram, and I received almost 53K likes in 2021. That freaking amazes me! Thank you for being on this incredible journey with me. I count you as one of my blessings. If I've inspired you along the way, please tell your friends. If you have any questions about why or how I do anything, ask. I'm here to share. 

Let’s crush 2022! This year can be the best yet. Unward and upward!
Love,
Leslie
xo

We can spread the love in twenty-two, me and you.

“My advice for life: dance and sing your song while the party is still on.”
— Rasheed Ogunla

The Wild Cherry Art Holiday Open House kicked ass, and it was all because of you. You made it a marvelous evening for Annie Issa Ceramics and me. I enjoyed singing and playing for you. It was a super fun night of getting together with friends old and new. We can't miss an opportunity to celebrate our one wild and precious life!

My original art shopping bags were a big hit, so I've reordered a limited supply. They are manufactured in England and arrived yesterday morning. Two are already spoken for, so click the link and get yours now! You can pick one up at the studio, we can share a coffee, and I'll show you around the place.

We've made it through another strange year. I'm taking time to reflect and honor all my wins and losses. This way, I can move forward with intention and hopefully experience more joy and meaning. I wish you and yours the most beautiful holiday and an abundance of blessings in 2022. Things will be new in twenty-two. Don't wait for life to come to you. Go out and get it, do it, be it! If I can do it, you can. I'll help you!

Let's spread the love in 22. Come to my events, commission a piece of art, tell your friends what a fantastic experience Wild Cherry Art delivers.

Beat the holiday supply chain challenges by shopping local with me!

Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.
–Jim Rohn

Don’t you want everyone to be this excited about your gift this year?

There are only 35 days left till Christmas and only 10 days till Hanukkah! The world keeps telling you you will not get your holiday presents in time because of supply chain issues. But have no fear; help is on the way! Artists like myself have been busy working in our studios since March 2020, and we have loads of inventory for you. There are no supply chain issues here! You can buy locally, support the arts and give a truly meaningful gift.

Come to the Wild Cherry Art Holiday Spectacular, a specially curated night at my studio. Browse my latest collections and find the perfect present for your holiday gifting. I've asked the delightful ceramicist, Annie Issa, to join me so you'll have her beautiful wares to peruse as well. The first hour will be exclusive for people on my list, so come early and shop effortlessly. I will be serving up festive drinks, snacks, and joyful conversation. At some point, I will pick up the guitar and perform my original holiday classic, Ho Ho Ho!

Shop for your favorite Wild Cherry Art paintings and prints. They make the best gifts for your special person or for yourself.

Wild Cherry Art
Holiday Spectacular

December 11th, 2021
4 pm–8 pm
36 Warren Court
South Orange, NJ

Come and shop Annie Issa’s beautiful ceramic offerings.

If you are not fully vaccinated, please wear a mask or face covering. Thank you.

If you missed the SOMA Artists Studio Tour this is your opportunity to party with me! If you can't make it on the 11th or need your gifts sooner, set up a private studio visit in advance by clicking the button.

Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your family, friends and food. See you in December!

Love,
Leslie

Invest in yourself, buy a cherry painting, and fall in love with life.

Here’s an idea: let’s get over ourselves, buy a cherry pie, and go fall in love with life.”
– Tom Robbins

Life gives you lemons. I’m giving you cherries. Cherries are the prefect symbol for our human experience. You get the pits and the stems and the sweet, juicy, delicious, vibrantly colored fruit. Don’t focus on the sour but concentrate on the sweet bits of life.

Cherries have always had a red thread of connection to my life. My parents lived in Cherry Hill, New Jersey when I was born. So I guess it all started there. Cherry was one of my first words along with, church, cookie, and Coca-Cola. That tells you something! My first car was a cherry red mustang convertible, and for a while, my hair was cherry red. When my hair was red, my friend, Zeet Peabody, gave me the nickname Cherrio, and it stuck. I’ve always loved cherries, all the different kinds. So when it was time to start a business, I couldn’t think of a better name. Also, it couldn’t just be a plain cherry but rather its own unique type, a wild cherry, kind of like me.

Back in the day with my cherry red hair.

Recently I have gone back to my roots and continued my devotion to the cherry by creating more cherry paintings—they make me feel good! They are so happy and celebratory. Come see them in person this weekend and see how good they make you feel!

Celebrate every moment, no matter what’s happening. When you put something on your wall, I want it to fill you with delight! Wild Cherry Art is packed with bright colors, bold imagery, and a burst of positive energy, to delight and inspire you. Drawing from my lifelong training in artistic craftsmanship, along with my meditation and gratitude practices, I create acrylic paintings in service to your happiness.

The 18th Annual SOMA Artists Studio Tour is this weekend! Visit 36 Warren Court in South Orange and have a hot apple cider with me, spiked or virgin! We’ll talk about art, life, and all things wonderful. There will be five other artists on the block and sixty artists participating in the tour this year. So come out, get a map, start your art collection or add to it, support artists, and buy local. I’ll be waiting for you on my front porch!

So excited to see you!
Love,
Leslie

Find out about two great opportunities to get out and party with me.

“One love, one heart . . . Let’s get together and feel all right”
—Bob Marley

The creation of Golden Cherries. Come see it, in person at the show before it’s gone. Maybe you’ll be the one to take it home with you.

After all this time working in my studio, I'm feeling at the top of my game. I've been creating the most exciting artwork I've ever made. So come see it and me in person. I'll be waiting for you at these two events. It's an excellent opportunity to come out, have some fun and take home a piece of happiness of your own.

 A Return To Art 

This weekend, the Montgomery Arts Council is sharing art created by 28 local and regional NJ artists during the pandemic over the past two years.

Saturday, October 23rd and Sunday 24th, 
10:00am to 4:00pm
1060 State Road /Route 206
Princeton, NJ 08540

Opening Reception
Sneak peek with live music, wine, and hors-d'oeuvres
Friday, October 22nd, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
$25.00 for one / $40.00 for two

The SOMA Artists Studio Tour

In two weeks, I'll be celebrating outside of my own studio with artwork that will light your fire! See it in person, find your favorite, and start your collection. Join me for a sip of a quarantini during the 18th year of this annual favorite event. Artists will set up on porches, yards, and studios of the historic homes. It's a celebration of community, creating camaraderie among the artists, homeowners, local businesses and customers. It's a big party, you don't want to miss it! 

Saturday & Sunday
November 6th & 7th
11 am — 5 pm
36 Warren Court
South Orange, NJ 07079

If you can’t make it to either event, make an appointment for a personal studio tour. I’d love to show you around. It’s a good time to get your holiday shopping started. See you soon.

Love,
Leslie

Do you enjoy doing it once in a while or consistently?

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”
– Anthony Robbins

Orange Cherry Pop I’ve been painting cherries for a while. I’ve also started being much more expressive with the drips and splatters. I used to paint this way consistently back in my art school days. Now drips and splatters are the new black!

When you do something consistently over time, you learn things. I've published this blog bi-monthly for just over a year. So my blog and newsletter have become another practice of self-awareness. I'm humbled to share my journey with you—a creative one of resilience and commitment to living a life filled with joy and appreciation.

You, here; reading along fills me with gratitude. It's been quite a year. I've experienced lots of growth with my work, had loads of fun with my friends and family, and suffered loss along with other challenges. In reviewing the year's worth of blog posts, I've learned that life shows up in all the ways it can; good, bad, and ugly. We don't need to be reminded of our pain but encouraged to connect to our joy.

I've shared a lot of my artwork with you. In this post, I'm sharing an original song I wrote last year. It reminds me that all the challenges are temporary, like the weather. We choose how we react to every situation and the approach we want to cultivate. The song gets rocking by the end. Click the image twice to get it started. I hope you enjoy it.

Be The Still Water
music and lyrics by Leslie Goldman

Be the still water in the glass
Don’t get agitated
When life knocks you on your ass
And you didn’t anticipate it.
Let the crap all fall to the bottom
Don’t let it be a problem
When life knocks you on your ass
Let it pass

Be the crisp clear blue of the sky
No matter the weather
Let the clouds float on by
You’ll feel a whole lot better
When the storms come blowing in
Don’t let ‘em under your skin
If thunder makes you want to cry
Let it roll on by

Approach every situation
with a positive vibration
The truth is you get to choose
Look out for inspiration
Mix in a little imagination
And honestly, you can’t lose

Be the change you want to see in the world
When things start getting hazy
You don’t have to find the cure
Don’t let it make you crazy
When the world starts going to shite
You gotta be the light
When things are going down the drain sing this refrain

Approach every situation
with a positive vibration
The truth is you get to choose
Look out for inspiration
Mix in a little appreciation
And honestly, you can’t lose

Be the still water in the glass
Don’t get agitated
When life knocks you on your ass
And you didn’t anticipate it.
Let the crap all fall to the bottom
Don’t let it be a problem
When life knocks you on your ass
Let it pass
Let it pass
Yeah, let it pass

Enjoy all your days as best you can. Your life is what you make it. Make it great!

Lotsa love,
Leslie

When the water rises either get in a boat or start swimming!

Water is the driving force of all nature.
–Leonardo Da Vinci

This is only a small portion of the destruction in my home from Hurricane Ida.

My basement filled up with a foot of water during hurricane Ida. I lost all my vinyl and thousands of CDs and boxed sets. A lovely leather sleeper sofa, one vintage guitar, so many clothes, my father's tools, and many pairs of Peter Fox shoes found their way to a dumpster.

It's all just stuff. No one was hurt and, we never lost power. But it was utterly overwhelming, and I am still cleaning up the mess. My dear friends, John and John, came to my rescue and invited me to join them on a trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was exactly what I needed.

I love oysters. I’ve been taking pictures of them for years. I am going to start working on “The World is Your Oyster” Series for Spring of 2022. It’s going to be juicy!

The weather was glorious the entire time. We went out on a large boat that took us out of the harbor and into the ocean, and we saw seven very active whales and two schools of giant sunfish. The water was beautiful and calm as a lake. One day we went to a vineyard, and another day we went to the beach. Wellfleet oysters were local, so I made sure to eat at least a dozen a day. We strolled through town and visited many of the fine art galleries. I enjoyed good food, good friends, and tons of fun.

This commission is in progress. I’m so grateful for my wonderful collectors and the opportunity to cultivate joy with them and for them.

After almost a week in Glocca Morra, I returned to Tobacco Road. Surprisingly no one cleaned up the mess while I was away. So now I'm back to mucking out the basement. I'm also meditating, painting, playing my guitar, going for long walks, and practicing gratitude. Work is exciting and busy with commissions and planning the SOMA Studio Tour on November 6th and 7th. Life is always going to be throwing us curve balls. We can let them sink us or learn to navigate the storms. It’s much more fun when we learn how to ride the waves. The sun always finds its way back to us if we are looking for it. I'm wearing my sunglasses in anticipation.

Happy Autumn.
Love,
Leslie

Do you want to be the hero of this year's SOMA Studio Tour?

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
– Helen Keller

This was one of my tables during the 2020 SOMA Studio Tour outside set up last year.

The eighteenth annual SOMA Studio Tour planning is underway. It’s an eagerly anticipated event that provides a vibrant and exciting view into the artists' atelier. With any luck, it'll take place as planned, on the first weekend in November with nearly 75 other artists in South Orange and Maplewood. In 2020 the Tour was outside on front lawns, driveways, and sidewalks. And then, the election results came out, and people were so happy they were dancing in the streets.

Here is a view of the cork wall inside my studio. You can see my trusty cuckoo clock on the right. It helps to keep me focused!

This year I hope to be participating from inside my studio and sharing where the actual magic happens. When you walk through the door, the party starts. Right away, you can tell the Wild Cherry Art studio is a happy place. It's bright, colorful, and fun. The vibe is always high, the artwork is eye-popping, and I'm a hoot! I love gabbing with collectors old and new and sharing a personal connection.

I look forward to welcoming you into my creative sanctuary!

The South Orange Director of Cultural Affairs managed and executed most of the studio tour tasks. Surprisingly, two years ago, the town eliminated this position and, with it, all support for the Studio Tour. As a result, the 2020 tour was accomplished by 100% volunteers and one leadership role. This year, unfortunately, we have no leader and no support. We are a small handful of artists, and we need your help with: 

• planning and organizing

• publicizing

• graphic design

• fundraising

• artist relations

• town relations

• website maintenance and troubleshooting;

• and a few other items.

If you or anyone you know can help, please contact me. You’ll be a hero!

This was the set up, inside, two years ago during the Studio Tour. You can see where the drums were set up for the band’s performance.

In connection with the Tour, I'll be hosting a private party for my collectors the week before. Because you're on the Wild Cherry Art A-List, you can make an appointment to see the studio and put dibs on any piece of artwork before the tour dates by setting up an appointment.

Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend. Have lotsa fun!

Love,
Leslie

Want to learn why fighting leads to conflict and fun leads to success?

“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”
– Dale Carnegie

A beautiful day to paint a lovely path in New York City’s Central Park. This was a super fun day.

Which route are you choosing for your life and ambitions? I used to select the uphill path. I felt that I had to fight for what I believed in. Fighting made life feel hard and led to more conflict. It seemed like I could never do enough. This thinking created tons of stress. It just made things crappy.

Let's choose the path of least resistance. Take the road that looks fun, beautiful, or exciting. With my work, I select the approach that's the most enjoyable and meaningful for my collectors. I love sharing the process. It feels like a gift to both of us. Every time one of my collectors looks at their piece, they recall the exciting process they experienced while it was being created. I help them connect to feelings of joy. As a result, their artwork becomes a connection to their happiness.

Bow Bridge in May was painted Plein Aire, outside, on a beautiful Spring day. It was a great way for me to connect with the ever present beauty of nature. I hope you feel the freedom and vibrant energy coming through.

Why struggle? Both the hard way and the fun way can lead to the same destination. Why invite the stress and angst? Why walk in anger or fear? Working harder doesn't get you there faster. It's just harder! Why not look for a path of ease and joy? Now I focus on what I want to accomplish, not the bumps in the road. The fantastic thing is we have this choice.

Alliums by the Fountain was painted Plein Aire in my garden. Every path in my garden leads to wonder.

I know life isn't always wine and roses. But, I urge you to feel all the feelings. Don't stuff em down because they will only rise up to bite you in the ass. So work it out. Sit with the unpleasant feelings and let 'em flow. It's the only way to let 'em go, then you can get back to accentuating the positive!

Why not try cultivating what Mary Morrissey, author of "Building Your Field of Dreams," calls an E.L.F. Life — Easy Lucrative and Fun. I’m all for it! You can keep fighting the uphill battle or ride the rollercoaster of life, holding on tight and enjoying every minute of the wild ride. We are all on life's rollercoaster. Will you ride kicking and screaming or laughing and loving it?

Buckle up and have lotsa fun!
Love,
Leslie

How to manifest success by counting your blessings not your failures

“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.”
― Oprah Winfrey

My cousin Tracey and I at her daughter, Kathryn’s, college graduation party. We rejoiced with lots of family and friends. It was a beautiful night and wonderful to be celebrating together.

I'm so happy I've taken time this summer to reconnect in person with lots of friends and family 'cause it looks like we might be in for another solitary winter. If you have a similar concern, I'm sharing how I accomplished so many things this year to inspire you. You have the choice to embrace every day as an opportunity and create habits to ensure your success. Make sure you have fun along the way too!

Because I have ADD, the first couple of months in lockdown, I was completely swamped accomplishing nothing. I knew if I didn't start figuring things out, it was gonna get ugly! So early on, I decided to come out of this period better than when I went in. I am learning how to support myself in the best way possible with the help of my friend and ADHD coach, Diane Thomson. To create success, I set up some healthy routines, goals, and means of being accountable. 

Above is a glimpse of a few of the pieces that have found new homes during this past year.

With overwhelming support from my collectors and my artist mastermind group, Wild Cherry Art had the best year yet! The mastermind group has been meeting via Zoom, from all parts of the globe, for almost three years. We hold each other accountable with strategies and ideas. I also have a few great nearby artist friends with whom I've successfully collaborated locally. Doing things together makes things easier and so much more fun! Check out what my friends have helped me do since February 2020:

• 60+ new pieces of artwork

• 4 new series

• 10 commissioned pieces

• A new logo

• New business cards and greeting cards

• An outdoor studio tour event

• An outdoor art walk

• Proceeds donated to the NAACP, WConnection, Sierra Club, and the Rent Party Pantry

• Twice monthly blog and newsletter

• Monthly critique group via zoom

Above are a handful of the commissions delivered this past year.

I've kept my music and songwriting alive and going strong. Lucky for me, my friend and voice coach, Tim Welch, pivoted to Zoom quickly. My weekly lessons continued, and I signed up for songwriting classes. I also took a couple of songwriting workshops with my friend, Jill Sobule. As a result I:

• Wrote a dozen new songs

• Hosted a holiday pARTy via Zoom, where I performed the new material

• Participated in online and outdoor TWVS singing parties

• Started recording and learning how to produce

Along with donating a portion of my art sales to organizations that make the world better and kinder, I wanted to do more hands-on volunteering for WConnection, a nonprofit for widows. It was unbearable for me when I lost my husband. I couldn't imagine how widows dealt with the tremendous loss of a spouse during the lockdown. The monthly in-person meeting that I co-hosted went virtual. I also jumped in to host a monthly chat group and a monthly trial meeting for this incredible national organization. I'm grateful I've made some lifelong friendships and supported so many women in their time of need. It feels good to do good.

I took the opportunity, in lockdown, to make my health a priority. I cooked healthy foods, walked several miles weekly, and joined a nutrition program called Wildfit with a friend. As a result, I've lost 21 pounds, lowered my cholesterol, blood pressure, and sugar levels. I've got more to go, but I'm confident with support and perseverance, I'll get there!

Here I was at the Spring, outdoor, Tim Welch Vocal Studio singing party.

The common thread in all of these things is support and connection. I wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much without several great groups of people who helped me achieve my goals. I didn't purge any closets or organize my pantry, and my garden needs weeding something awful, but nobody's perfect! Writing all of my successes in this blog post helped me see how much I actually accomplished this year, and I feel pretty great about it. I encourage you to write down all your accomplishments from the past year too. You'll probably be surprised to see how much you achieved.

Thank you for reading and following my journey here and on social media. I sincerely value your time and our connection. If you're interested in any of the resources I mentioned, email me, and I'll happily share them with you. I want to support you in achieving your goals. I'm still holding out hope that we'll all be able to move forward with more in-person festivities, but I know, no matter what comes our way, we can accomplish anything together.

Be well and have fun!
Love,
Leslie

Happiness is figuring out how to create tears of joy, then sharing it!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
—Mahatma Gandhi

Anniversary Rickenbacker was created in service to my collectors’ love of music and love of each other.

For many years I was an art director and graphic designer. I worked for a few sexy design studios and some very prestigious publishing houses. I enjoyed what I did and was always grateful to go to work. But it lacked the emotional connection I craved.

The above are a handful of book covers I designed for Farrar Straus & Giroux, Little Brown & Company, and Scribner.

Fast forward to today. I work for myself as a fine artist. I work creating art to fill my collectors and myself with delight. I also do commissions for individuals, and I focus on creating a piece filled with meaning for them. So when one of my collectors is moved to tears of joy upon seeing their newly created painting, my heart soars.

I was thrilled to experience this outpouring of emotion with my most recent commission. A friend came to me and wanted to surprise her husband with a special anniversary present. He saw the sketches for my Quarantune series and commented that the Rickenbacker Bass was his very first guitar. She wanted to commission the painting for him and was excited to hear about my ideas to customize it.

The note to her husband was so special and personal I asked her to come and sign it herself before I panted over it.

She wrote a special note to him that I painted into the body of the guitar. I took a picture of it so he could see it because, ultimately, I painted over it. It is a personal and private message between them. Surrounding the guitar, for all to see, are the names of all the bands he has been in. So as not to overwhelm the guitar, I painted the type in a subtle iridescent orange that looks like an ashen gray until the light shines on it in just the right way. Then it lights up beautifully for all to see.

You can see here, in the bottom right corner, how the iridescent painted lettering glows in the light.

I used my years of graphic design skills to create a type solution for the band names inspired by Pentagram's Public Theater posters. In the end I was so pleased with the outcome that I plan on incorporating type into my next Quarantune as well. Perhaps it will be a song title recorded with the instrument or names of artists who famously play the instrument. I love how the creative process grows and evolves. It's always exciting and new. Mostly I love moving people to overwhelming emotions of joy. When I see those tears, I know I have done my job.

I hope you’re experiencing overwhelming emotions of joy. If you would like me to help you with a meaningful piece of art, email me here and we’ll start the process.

Thanks for reading.
Rock on,
Leslie
xo

Are you bringing love or fear to the world?

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
— Nelson Mandela

Colorful Coneflowers is a monotype that was inspired by my garden. Nature provides so much beauty, joy, and inspiration. This image was used on a series of greeting cards for the WConnection

In my last article, I mentioned that I don't process pain through my artwork. People often ask me if I used my art to process my husband's death. I didn't. I didn't paint or write new songs for several years. It never felt right for me to go down that road. I knew every time I looked at that piece of art, I would be reconnected to the pain. Instead, I chose to process my grief through counseling sessions, journaling, meditating, hiking in nature, and talking with friends. I wasn't able to find a support group for several years.

Finally, my therapist found the WConnection–a national nonprofit organization of widows helping widows rebuild their lives. This organization changed everything for me. It was remarkably healing to be in a room with other widows who knew precisely what I was struggling with. I didn't want to wallow in grief. After three years, I needed to find a way to move forward. The WConnection is not a bereavement group; it's a group that focuses on growth and rebuilding lives. It was perfect for me.

This drawing is available for purchase. With every purchase of artwork devoted to the figure, I make a donation to WConnection. I also do quite a bit of volunteering for this wonderful organization.

With my art, I choose to focus on joy and building a life of my choosing. I always meditate and ask the universe for guidance before I create. I also ask the universe to direct me to create a piece that someone needs to see to find joy and inspiration in their lives.

I started by meditating with Citrine gemstones and a sound bath. After smudging the canvas with Palo Santos to clear the energy I performed Reiki on the canvas. Then I put on my “Happy” playlist and began painting the Quarantinies.

I smudge the canvas. I do a little Reiki and spray some Find Your Flojo Elixir on the canvas and into the water. I incorporate positive words in the underpainting. I always listen to uplifting music when I paint. Crystals, sound baths, EFT, and other practices come into play. I get my energy and vibration up so high it's exhilarating to create.

This is the label of the elixir that Theresa Pettersen-Chu and I created for our Find Your Flojo Woman’s Retreat. I spray it on the canvas and in the water I paint with.

This kind of art and energy is what I want to bring to the world. Art can be remarkably transformative. It can be heartbreaking or heart-opening. It makes me feel better to focus on heart-opening. My goal is to help you feel better too. I believe we don't need to be reminded of our pain but encouraged to reconnect to our joy. My collectors will tell you that Wild Cherry Art has brought them immense delight and happiness. This is why I do what I do. I create in service to your joy.

Here is a gift to you for reading, my “Happy” playlist on Spotify:

I hope you enjoy it.
Love,
Leslie

How to use Abracadabra to create your dream life like magic

“Words have a magical power. They can either bring the greatest happiness or the deepest despair.”
—Sigmund Freud

“Memorial Park in May” was created recently in Memorial Park in Maolewood, New Jersey. Painting Plein Air, (outside) is a wonderful way to tap into the uplifting and beautiful energies in nature. It’s easy to be positive on a beautiful day in my lovely town.

Abracadabra is from the Aramaic phrase avra kehdabra, meaning “I will create as I speak.” Our words are very powerful, and our thoughts are incredibly mighty. We create our world with both. It’s important to observe our thoughts and to be impeccable with our words. If our inner voice is encouraging and loving, we can create a life that we love. 

When I began a consistent meditation practice, I was able to witness the thoughts in my head. They weren’t very kind or supportive. I realized that the voice in my head was against me. And it was my voice. Once I became aware of this, I was horrified and also determined to change. It took some time, but now the voice in my head is my biggest cheerleader! I am so careful about the words I say out loud or to myself. No self-deprecating, no humor at my expense, nothing but positive words come through. Why would I choose to be any other way?

When I write song lyrics, I choose words that are uplifting and positive. When I learn a tune written by another artist, I always select happy numbers. When learning a song, I have to practice it hundreds of times. So it becomes a mantra of sorts. I make sure that I am supporting my highest ideals, not cutting myself down.

“Memorial Park Perfection” I enjoyed it so much I painted the same view again on a larger panel. I loved chatting with passersby. Many wonderful connections and creations were made thanks to Lara Tomlin and the Maplewood Memorial Park Conservancy who organized the event.

I choose not to process my pain when I create art. I like to encourage my happiness to come forward. That’s what I want to share with the world, my light and my joy. When we put things in our field of vision, they contribute to our belief system. You get to choose the items in your home. Do you want to support a happy, joyful life? Have you chosen objects and artwork that inspire and delight you? 

The following quote is from one of my favorite books. This book helped me to evaluate my inner and outer language. I highly recommend it.

“Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”
― Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements 

Here I am in my bathroom, first thing in the morning. I take Louise Hay’s guidance everyday and look into the mirror and say loudly with emotion, “Life Loves You! The Universe supports all of your dreams! You got this girl, you’re amazing!”

I urge you to speak to yourself as you would to someone you love dearly. Encourage yourself, motivate yourself, and uplift yourself with your thoughts and your words. Fill your mind, your home, and your world with things that support the life you desire, and abracadabra, magic happens.

Thank you for taking your precious time to read my musings. Life loves you and so do I.
Leslie
xo

Do you want to know how to successfully pull off a big event?

“If you build it they will come.”
–Field of Dreams

Setting up on day one was exciting. Seeing all the hard work come together up and down the block was exhilarating!

Have you ever worked steadily towards a goal, and then it comes to fruition, and it's incredible? That's what happened last weekend at the Warren Court Art Walk. Sybil Archibald, Wendy Bellermman, and I built a field of dreams on my street. There were artist's booths lined up and down my entire block with a steady and comfortable crowd of happy, delighted, and engaged attendees. The artists had a fantastic time. The weather was beautiful, and the feeling of excitement was palpable. I am fully vaccinated and enjoyed some delicious hugs after a long time of no hugs. 

I met many friendly new people, saw my social media peeps old and new, reconnected with many I hadn't seen in over a year and some I hadn't seen in many years. I'm grateful my dear friend, Glenn Healy, who I met back in art school, came to help me for the weekend. He has also been my drummer for years. If you've been to one of my shows, you've probably seen him behind the kit. My cousin, Geoff Kraus, was visiting from Seattle and generously played live music on Sunday. I feel overwhelming appreciation that my friends and family are so supportive. I was grateful to share my work and connect with so many people. I know those that took a piece of my work home with them will continue to feel the joy and connectedness of that day every time they look at their artwork. 

Several new Wild Cherry Art pieces were created for the Art Walk.

A woman who subscribes to my newsletter told me how much she enjoys reading my blog. She said it came one dreary day and lifted her spirits so much she wanted to bring me flowers to thank me. This warmed my heart and made all the work I put into my blog posts worthwhile. I appreciate you taking the time to read, and I hope you're enjoying it too.

I do like to share tidbits of wisdom with you that I've gained along my journey. Here is how to pull off an art show on your block:

• Start before you're ready

• Assemble a great team

• Check with the town regarding permits and regulations

• Create a task list and assign the tasks

• Select the date

• Kindly ask your neighbors to donate their front lawns

• Curate the artists

• Create some snazzy graphics

• Set up an FAQ and some forms for the artists

• Write a press release and distribute it to news outlets

• Promote on social media and mailing lists

• Create and prepare next-level artwork and booth

• Set up, have a great event, offer work to excited customers

• Deliver paintings to new collectors

• Deliver gifts to neighbors who provided their front yards

• Have fun doing every bit of it and own it when it's a success!

• Practice gratitude for yourself, your community and for fellow artists.

If you missed the Art Walk, please book a studio visit. I’d love to connect with you and share.

Thank you very much for coming to those who attended the Art Walk and made it so awesome. If you didn't make it, schedule a studio visit. I'd love to see you and show you what you missed and if you'd like I'll give you a big hug.

Have a fantastic couple of weeks!
Love,
Leslie

Do you need some help finding motivation this month?

“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
– Lao Tzu

“Orange You Loving These Cherries” The original sold just in time for me to have prints made for the art walk. Make sure to sign up for the raffle to win a copy of this print!

Motivation is different for everyone. As an artist and entrepreneur, it's essential to continue to create. I can't wait for inspiration to strike; I have to make it. It has been a little challenging this year because I haven't had the opportunity to show my art in person or host an event for my fans and collectors. I get so much more work done when I have a deadline. So in January, I reached out to my friend and artist, Sybil Archibald, and told her I wanted to do an event with her. And that became the motive for my new body of work. I also have accountability partners, and recently I used a service called Focusmate for additional accountability. I scheduled an appointment for 8 am Saturday, and a nice man from South Africa showed up for a 50-minute session. He worked on a complicated email while I worked on a painting. I have been finding new and innovative ways to motivate myself. I'm eager to share my art and music to delight and inspire you–to help you experience a better quality of life. When someone feels tremendously moved by a piece of my work, it is a gift for both of us. It’s very motivating.

Quarantinis and Quarantunes —available in 18 x 24 or 24 x 36 inches. I show them above in colored mattes but you can frame them however you like

During a very unusual year, I've managed to do a lot of good work. I am so excited to see you in person and share with you this coming weekend at the Warren Court Art Walk. It’s going to feel so good to be together! I'll be offering a limited edition Giclee print run of my concept drawings of Quarantinis and Quarantunes. They look amazing. I'm taking orders now. Get yours while they last. I've also got a bowlful of new wild cherry paintings to show you. If you can't make the Art Walk, schedule a private studio tour. If you're fully vaccinated, like me, I'd love to give you a big hug!

Seeing Double Wild Cherries. Acrylic on 30 x 30 Gallery Wrapped Canvas.

If you missed the information about the Art Walk, click the link. See you Saturday.

Have a delightful and inspired week.
Love,
Leslie

Don't miss the first in person, live event of the year!

“The old saying is that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I say forget that. When life gives you lemons, make margaritas.”
– Kristin Neff

Lemonade Parade Acrylic and Mica on 10 x 10 x 2.5 inches on gallery wrapped archival canvas. Remind yourself to always make lemonade when life gives you lemons. Original painting as well as prints will be available during the Warren Court Art Walk.

Once again, it’s time to make lemonade out of lemons. People still aren’t going to galleries, so it’s time to bring Art to the people. My first two events of the year are this month and I’m so excited to see you in real life! Come and we’ll catch up. Tell all your friends. It’s going to be amazing!

I’ve teamed up with my friends and local artists, Sybil Archibald and Wendy Bellermman. Together we’ve curated a one-block art walk with 18 prominent local artists. It’ll be a fantastic weekend of Art, fun, and community connection. I’m super excited we created this opportunity to see you in person. I’ll have lots of new paintings and Giclee prints. Pick one up for yourself, for your client, or for a special person. Because we’re all wearing masks, be sure to introduce yourself to me. Sign up for the raffle to win a free Wild Cherry Art Print. I’ll be serving some Covid safe snacks and Margaritas! I have a fantastic musician, Geoff Kraus, coming in from Seattle to entertain us on Sunday. Stroll down Warren Court, a lovely block in the Montrose Park Historic District, and experience vibrant creativity from our local artists.

The Warren Court Art Walk

Saturday, May 22nd, 11:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday, May 23rd, 11:00am to 5:00pm
Warren Court between South Orange Avenue & University Place, South Orange, NJ

One block, 18 exceptional artists! Join me for a beautiful Spring weekend of Art, fun, inspiration and community connection.

PAINTING • JADE CARVING • CERAMICS • SCULPTURE • JEWELRY • TEXTILES • PHOTOGRAPHY • PRINTMAKING • BOOK ARTS • COLLAGE • LIVE MUSIC • LIVE DEMOS • FREE RAFFLES • & MORE

All outdoor family-friendly event. Wear your mask and enjoy!

Featured Wild Cherry Art:

Warren Court Art Walk Participating Artists: 

Leslie Goldman wildcherryart.com
Sybil Archibald sybilarchibaldart.com
Wendy Bellermman bellermannarts.com
Amelia Panico ameliapanico.com
Carol Black blacklemonart.com
Annie McGinnis-Issa AnnieIssaCeramics.com
Aaron Lifschultz designsbyaron.com
Cat Delett delett.com
Fred Courts studiotoursoma.com
Jay Pingree sixfootsixstudio.com
Jeremy Moss mosspix.com
Joan Diamond joandiamond.art
Josephine Dakers-Brathwaite josiescolourfuljourney.com
Katharine Houston-Voss khoustonvoss.com
Lisa Lackey lisalackeyartist.com
April Merl aprilmerl.net/
Josh Stout
Cynthia Vaughn

For more information, please visit https://www.tinyurl.com/2vatpr95

The weekend before the Art Walk I’ll be participating the Plein Air event, Painters In the Park. I’ll be joined by 18 other artists for a day of creating art in the park! We will be painting in beautiful Maplewood Memorial Park. Come by and see me in action. Make sure to say hi!

Painters In the Park

Saturday, May 15, 2021
10:00 AM 2:00 PM
Maplewood Memorial Park 
for more information click here.

We have made it through the long winter. It’s time to get outside and get back together. I’m so excited I can hardly wait. Mark your calendar so you don’t miss out on all the fun. See you soon. Yippee!

Sending you lots and lotsa love,
Leslie