What color's all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul?

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

In the ‘80s I wore lots of dayglow and bright colors. Even thought I’m wearing a baby pink leather jacket, I was bold color forward!

PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is the color for 2024. Pantone's website says Peach Fuzz "captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. It's a velvety, gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul." This sounds great. I love to nurture, and I love the idea of enriching my mind, body, and soul, but this color feels to me like a boring '80s flashback. I have noticed that many brands are embracing colors with an '80s vibe, so this is happening, like it or not. Will we all be feathering our hair and wearing leg warmers? Time will tell.

As for my artwork, peach doesn't speak to me. I love bold, bright, saturated colors. I also know contrast provides interest, and peach doesn't add contrast. It tends to soften things. Should I explore my softer creative side? What do you think? Unless I get an overwhelming response from the Universe, I'll stick with my bold colors. And if I have to go back to the '80s, I'm going in fluorescent!

Here are a few examples of my acrylic paintings; as you can see, they are vibrant with bold colors and lots of contrast. See them in person. Click the button to set up a studio visit. I'd love to show you how vibrant they are in real life. I'd also love to have a chat and catch up.

Stay warm and wonderful.

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

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

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