See how to navigate new frontiers with inspired fun, and magical growth

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”
—Lady Bird Johnson

Brittany Sunflowers

Acrylic on 30 x 30 inch gallery wrapped archival canvas. $1975

DaVinci's Dahlia Pink #1

Acrylic and Mica on 30 x 30 inch gallery wrapped archival canvas. $1975

DaVinci's Dahlia With Ant #3

Acrylic and Mica on 30 x 30 inch gallery wrapped archival canvas. $1975.

Omaha Beach

Golden Acrylic on 18 x 18 inch Gallery Wrapped Canvas. $975

Tulleries in April

Golden Acrylic on 18 x 18 inch Gallery Wrapped Canvas. $975

The Hills Are Alive

Sennelier Oil Pastel on 5 x 7 inch Arches Cover Paper. $400

Monet's For-get-me-not Tulips

Sennelier Oil Pastel on 11 x 14 inch Arches Cover Paper. Framed. $975

Monet's Poppies

Sennelier Oil Pastel on 11 x 14 inch Arches Cover Paper. Framed $975

Inspired Landscape

Opening reception Friday, July 29th, 5 pm – 7:30 pm

July 16th through August 27th
West Orange Arts Council
551 Valley Road, West Orange

When you come to the opening for “Inspired Landscape,” you’ll see some of my recent European landscape work alongside work presented by six other artists. We came together as strangers from different backgrounds, working in various media and with different practices. We’ve met monthly for six years to critique each other’s work and support our artistic growth. During our meetings, we present work and discuss composition, value, subject matter, color, technique, inspiration, and the joy of the creative process. Having ongoing support and consistent accountability helps on the road to mastery. The mastery and the magic are evident when you view the show. I’ll be there for the opening. Meet me there, and we’ll celebrate like it’s 1999!

Participating artists:

Dan Epstein
Leslie Goldman
Marlene Hendrian
Ann Kraus
Fernando Mariscal
Denis Orloff
Katy Repka

I used the photographs I took in Monet’s garden to create my recent series of art using my new jumbo Sennelier Oil Sticks. In 1887, Gustave Sennelier, a devoted chemist, established the Sennelier palette as the ultimate standard of quality for Oil Pastels.

Navigating unknown mediums creates new neural pathways. Texture, viscosity, pigmentation, and substrate play a role, as do attitude, beliefs, and goals. Using new materials forces us to explore new ways of doing things. My Sennelier Oil Pastels are pushing me into unforeseen frontiers. I have to put on my thinking cap. More importantly, I put on my feeling cap. I approach the process with positivity and creative abandon. My studio is a great place to play and investigate without judgment. I play great music, infuse some delicious essential oils, dance around a bit, and have at it. The bottom line is when you try something new, you can’t help but grow. So much joy comes with exploring fully in the moment with childlike wonder. When I have fun with it and enjoy the ride, magic happens. See and feel the magic at my latest show!

I’ll be at the gallery all day this Saturday, July 23rd from 11am – 4pm. Come for a special tour of the show and I’ll share some of the observations from our critique sessions. People really love hearing about how the artist sees things and I’m happy to share. See you soon!

Love,
Leslie

I'll share with you, how to get your mojo working right now.

“‘Mojo’ refers to your self-confidence, self-esteem, self-efficacy, or even sex appeal.”
–Dr. Evil–Austin Powers

It’s framed under glass so extra care is required when shipping this piece”The Bavarian Alps” to its new home. Look for a limited edition print of this one coming to the shop prints page soon.

I feel like I lost my mojo. I've fallen off social media. I don't feel like I'm progressing in other areas of my life either. Am I being too critical or am I doing enough? I know when I feel like this, it's a good time to stop and evaluate everything that's going on and everything I want to manifest. So here goes:

1. Help mom

2. Pieces in two different Studio Montclair shows, Viewpoints & the Critique Group Exhibit.

3. Quarantine till June 28th as per CDC guidelines for exposure to Covid19

4. Deliver Prints to interior designer Alicja Crosby Interiors

5. Ship glass framed piece out of state.

6. Work on commissions

7. Create work and prepare for the upcoming show at the West Orange Arts Council.

8. Attend an overnight wedding in Brooklyn

9. Three bathrooms and my closet are being renovated, so the house is in chaos

10. Sleep in the attic with belongings during bathroom and closet renovations.

11. Volunteer for WConnection

12. Weekly voice lesson with Tim Welch Vocal Studio

13. Work on rough cuts of songs for the new EP

14. Attend Yoga retreat at Menla

15. Prepare for a week in the Fingerlakes to attend another wedding and visit Adison

16. Meet regularly with the SOMA Studio Tour Planning Committee

17. Practice self-care

18. Socialize

19. Date/put myself out there

20. Create art

21. Publish my biweekly blog

22. Plan Fall events

23. Sleep

Last time I posted was SIX days ago! I’ve worked a lot on my social media presence. It’s time to recommit.

And now I'm supposed to do social media posts? Oy vey! When I break it down it looks like so much. I know your list looks like mine. Seeing it like this helps provide clarity. We've got a lot to do, and we're doing great. I encourage you to make your list and take better care of yourself. If we practice self-care and sleep more, everything on that list gets easier. So the answer always seems to be more love for ourselves and others. Give, accept, and spread more love. Ask yourself at every step. "what is the more loving thing to do or say?" And throw lots of gratitude in the mix for being here in the first place and for having so many amazing people in our lives and wonderful challenges to conquer. I also urge you to have more fun. Since you're on this wild journey in the first place; enjoy the ride! 

A glimpse of the sparkly sconces in my newly renovated bathroom.

Come for a visit and a cool drink on my porch this Summer. As soon as the reno is over, I'll give you a studio tour and play you a song if you like, and I can even show you my new bathrooms! You'll see, I got my mojo working just fine. 

Keep cool and carry on!
Love,
Leslie
xo

When life is filled with love everything comes up extraordinary art!

"Where there is love there is life."
–Mahatma Gandhi

My cousin Tracey and I at the second wedding this season in Brooklyn. Her daughter’s was the first in New Orlean’s

This is a year of love. It's like I'm in a delightful romantic movie. I just attended my second beautiful wedding and am gearing up for another in New York's Finger Lakes Region. These beautiful weddings inspire so many ideas for paintings of flower arrangements and gorgeous table settings with flattering lighting and impeccable fashion in breathtaking spaces with amazing people. All of which would make a meaningful painting for the bride and groom or attendants.

Me at the opening to the first of three shows I’m in this summer, The Studio Montclair Critique Group Showcase. From here I went directly to the wedding in Brooklyn.

Three Group Shows

Meet up with me at one of three fantastic group shows I'm honored to be participating in this summer. That's so much more love! The first show opened Saturday at Studio Montclair, and it's fantastic. At the opening, I met up with some artist friends I've only known on Zoom. Others I haven't seen in a few years. It's a great show of work by 34 artists who participate in monthly critique groups. It shows how the discipline of steady work leads to mastery. I've become a big fan of Denis Orloff, Dan Epstein, and Mo Riza, among other talented and prolific artists in this show.

Get information on all three shows and make a date to meet me there by clicking the button.

This is the most spectacular dining view and most amazing meal I have ever experienced. Le Jules Verne, Paris, April 28, 2022. See more pictures in Marina’s Article

I'm still luxuriating over my trip to Europe. On the first day, my artist friend, Marina Bosetti, and I lunched at the Michelin Star restaurant, Le Jules Verne, on the Eiffel Tower's second floor. Once we exited the thrilling, private, glass elevator ride, we settled into one of the best dining experiences of our lives. Marina wrote a beautiful article on our adventure. Read about it here.

This one,”The Hills Are Alive,” is still available. Because you’re on my mailing list you can purchase it before it goes on the website by emailing me here.

This week I'm back in the studio, working on more small European landscapes. They are so evocative and tactile. I did my best to insert the region's energy, light, and magic into each piece. Look for prints of the ones already sold coming soon to the website.

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

How do you turn Chaos into a blessing? I'll show you.

“If chaos is a necessary step in the organization of one's universe, then I was well on my way.”
― Wendelin Van Draanen

This is a row of trees in Château de Villandry, just outside of Paris. I took a thousand photos of the picturesque gardens a few years ago. Many of the photos will become paintings like this one.

The house is under renovation. Three bathrooms were leaking simultaneously, so I just went for it. The job should be finished by now, and it isn't. I am grateful for such a wonderful "problem." Mom is still in rehab, but she's beginning to improve. She is getting the best care. So I count that as a blessing too.

Next week my son, Coltrane, and my friend, John, will be running things at home because I'll be waking up on the Left Bank, getting ready to spend the day with my artist pals in Paris. I've been planning this trip for a while. My Google sheet is chock full of outings and restaurant reservations. The first stop will be at the Sennelier shop to pick up some art supplies. Then, I'll dine at the Eiffel Tower, sniff Monet's waterlilies, drink wine, and eat oysters. It'll be a heavenly week in the city of light.

I spent my 21st birthday in Paris. I believe this photo was taken after I insisted that my friend, Raffaele, and I walk up the steps of the Arc de Triumphe to avoid the line. She refuse to walk the steps of the Eiffel Tower!

After a week in Paris, I'll visit my daughter, Adison, in Prague. She's living her best life while studying abroad this semester. She's looking forward to showing me around, which has me more excited than anything! After Prague, I have another gal pal joining me as we venture to the land with the Sound of Music, Salzburg, then to beautiful Vienna, and finally Budapest. Nineteen days of adventure will produce loads of pictures to inspire future works of art.

Adison is enjoying her time, traveling and studying abroad. I'm so excited to hear about her adventures.

Starting next Tuesday you can follow my travel adventures on FaceBook and Instagram, by clicking the icons above. Follow my artist pals by clicking on their names and get their perspectives:

Marina Bosetti @bosetti_art_tile
Andi Ipaktchi @andiipaktchi
Louisa MacCabe @louisamccabeart

The week I get back, I'll be co-organizing and participating in the Warren Court Art Walk. Come by and hear about my European whirlwind and see what's been brewing in the studio. It will be a fantastic weekend of art, music, and community.

I am so grateful to live this miraculous life and be able to do work that I love. I can renovate bathrooms, take vacations, explore my creativity and celebrate with loved ones. I have my health. I have so much. I have you.

Thanks for being on the journey with me—the ups and downs, the pits, stems and sweet delicious fruit. Life is a bowl of cherries!

Love you,
Leslie
xo

Why don't you skip your usual routine and party with me!

“I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.”
— Nancie J. Carmody

In New Orleans with my bestie, Leah on the right and in the center, Devra Dedeaux, who took me to NOLA for the very first time, many years ago, with her team of restauranteurs from NYC’s Gulf Coast and Sugar Reef.

I just got back from New Orleans. I attended a family wedding. My bestie came along with me as my travel companion, and we had a great time. NOLA is a place filled with incredible food, fantastic music, beautiful architecture, wonderful people, and rich history and culture. It's one of my favorite cities in the United States. After many intense weeks of caring for my mother, it was a great reset.

Cassamento’s on Magazine Street serves up some of the best oysters in NOLA. I’m heading to Paris in a couple weeks and I will do a comparison oyster taste test and report back.

Now I'm back in the studio and preparing for the 2nd annual Warren Court Art Walk. It's going to be fantastic! We have 22 artists for 2022. I'm excited to exhibit and sell lots of new paintings and prints. I may even include some new pieces inspired by my most recent trips to Paris and NOLA pus a couple new cherries! In addition, this year, we have Latin street food purveyor, Miti Miti, offering their tasty eats, and I'll be serving up a delicious cocktail. So please mark your calendar and prepare to spend the weekend chatting with artists, starting or adding to your collection, enjoying our vibrant community, and party with me!

I look forward to seeing you in May. Tell all your friends and get ready for a great time.

Sending you lots and lotsa 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

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