Painter Leslie Nielsen shares her dynamic portfolio of work. Visit her website to see more from this talented artist.
“Chloe” Oil, 36″ x 36″
It was almost 10 years ago that I decided to embark on a new career in art. It wasn’t a conscious decision but something I stumbled into.
“BlueTulips” Oil, 30″ x 30″
In my youth I was a successful engineer but then came marriage and children. As a stay-at-home mom I kept up my graphic design skills and as my children grew I decided to take some art classes. After my first painting class I never looked back, I was hooked.
“Margaux” Oil, 20″ x 20″
Painting and art history was an irresistible calling and I dove in wholeheartedly. Before I knew it, my life was changed and since then I have been playing, studying, experimenting, working and solidifying my identity as an artist.
“The Train Ride” Oil, 24″ x 30″
I enjoy working with oils, but will occasionally mix it up with acrylics and collage. I have tried many different working surfaces such as wood, paper and glass but I primarily paint on canvas. The bigger the better, go big or go home.
“Pink and Red Tulips” Oil, 24″ x 24″
I love the freedom of a large canvas where I can paint freely and loosely. Neal Donald Walsh’s quote, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone,” has influenced my artistic path from the moment I read it. I set goal after goal for myself always with these words in mind. I am constantly evolving artistically, and my new goals ensure that I never stop advancing.
“The Stage” Oil, 20″ x 20″
I find that my main source of inspiration is the figure; I cannot help but return to the figure no matter how many times I deviate from it. Recently, I find myself driven to present day-to-day living in an abstracted view, a perspective that may reflect my reality more than I ever realized.
“Climbing” Oil, 30″ x 40″
Being connected to my subject in some way is extremely important to me, whether by acquaintance or just memory. It brings vitality to my work. As my emotions change so does the outcome of my paintings.
“The Retreat” Oil, 30″ x 30″
My works reflect my state of mind, bad and good and all things in between. I currently apply many layers of paint creating rich and interesting pieces, making each one a pleasure to view.
“Morgan” Oil, 20″ x 20″
Every piece is unique and cannot be recreated, because of the method of application and the emotions that drive it. Just as my life experiences change so does what drives my paintings and my finished pieces.
“Walking The Beach” Oil, 16″ x 20″
No matter what life throws at me, I remind myself that I must keep pushing that comfort zone.
Leslie, I must say that it was a real pleasure to stumble upon your work whilst sipping my morning coffee. I am totally enthralled: by the tension of the subjects (be they human or floral), by the fact that each piece stands tall as a stand-alone, magnificent painting, by the subtle influences of painters that take us on a walk through the numinous corridors of the last hundred or so years of art history… I see the thick painterly blocking of Cézanne (always a good departure point), the troubling ethos of Francis Bacon (the same energy but more introverted and repressed), a sensible application of the Fauvian color palette, the inner tension one finds in an Edward Hopper painting… in short: these pieces are the work of an artist who knows her art history and her place in the continuation of it. The work is profound and has a quiet tragedy hidden beneath the loud colors. Very interesting body of work.
Strong stuff. How about full figures, life size?
Beautiful.
Wonderful paintings, as well as stirring thoughts of that “comfort zone”.
Whilst I am not into figurative art, I so love your style and its freedom; great work just love it – best ashar