Where I’ve Been (And the Secret Project I’m Ready to Share)

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."
— Twyla Tharp

First day exploring London with my beautiful daughter.

It’s been a while since I last reached out. I’ve been busy painting, traveling, caring for my mom, and working behind the scenes on the Studio Tour SOMA. I spent a couple of wonderful weeks in Egypt this spring on a spiritual retreat with a close friend, exploring magnificent ancient temples and sailing on the Nile. This summer, I visited London with my daughter to celebrate her 25th birthday. We explored markets, enjoyed delicious food, went to the theater and museums, sailed on the Thames, and walked for miles. Both trips were filled with special moments with people I love and lots of inspiration for new paintings.

My dear friend Theresa and I standing in the Karnak Temple. The largest ancient religious site in the world.

I’ve created paintings of favorite travel moments for many clients that now hang on their walls and transport them  back to wonderful times. If you’d like to talk about turning one of your favorite travel memories into a beautiful custom painting, click the button below to set up a free discovery call with me. Bring those uplifting feelings back whenever you need them by hanging a special moment from your travels on your wall. Now’s a great time to order for the holidays!

Steve and Arlene had what they said “was the best day ever,” in Kyoto. This memory became a beautiful custom painting that connects them to that wonderful feeling every time they see it hanging on their wall. How cool is that!

Now that I’m back in the studio, I’m working on new paintings focusing on small indulgences that remind us there’s always so much to be celebrated. I’m also preparing for some exciting shows this fall. My work will be in Studio Montclair’s “We The People” exhibit at the Leach Gallery, and in the “Unveiled” show at the Herb and Millie Iris Gallery at SOPAC. Both start at the end of September and go through October. I’ll also be showing my art at a new, exciting location during this year’s Studio Tour Soma on the first Saturday in November. After all that, I’ll be participating in a holiday show at 1978 Gallery in Maplewood.

Last year at the opening of “Unveiled 25” at the Herb and Millie Iris Gallery. Its a great opportunity to see a sample from all the artists in the Studio Tour SOMA and it’s super fun!

Come to the opening receptions. They’ll be loads of fun, with drinks, nibbles, and lots of cool artwork and interesting artists. We can catch up and make new memories together. If you can’t make it, I’d love to show you around my studio and all the cool stuff I’ve been working on.

I know many of us are facing challenges right now, but I hope you can focus on what brings you joy. It’s the best approach during difficult times. Stay close to the people who matter to you, and let’s celebrate all the good stuff in our lives together.

Drumroll please…

The secret project is that I’m planning a wedding!

Sending you all my love and loads of fun always,
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