"Painting fulfills my need to preserve that which is beautiful or ephemeral in nature. It’s heartbreaking, to see our world struggling to maintain its balance and health, now more than ever. As life becomes more hectic and challenging, and our environment more threatened, I become more committed than ever to capturing on canvas the essence and spirit of that which stirs my soul."

Leslie Lendvoy is a west coast artist from a five generation BC family. She has a Masters of Fine Arts from UBC and is a juried member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Her work wins awards and hangs in galleries and homes in BC and in Arizona, where she spends her winters plein air painting.
​

​How did you become the artist you are today?
Growing up on the west coast of BC, I spent much of my life outdoors exploring nature’s amazing vistas and stories either through photography or painting. My uncle, RE Walker, was an accomplished west coast artist so watching him paint with passion when I was young always inspired me. I completed my Masters Degree in Fine Arts at the University of BC and experimented with multiple mediums throughout the years, taking workshops with many top artists from across North America. Since retiring from teaching, my travels have taken me plein air painting in the Rockies, Croatia, along the wild Pacific coast, throughout the South West, Mexico, and especially into Arizona during the winters. I’ve always found that painting sharpens my senses and deepens my appreciation of this world. Recently I’ve focused on painting in oils, still searching, camera in hand, for that unique combination of lighting, colour and composition... whether it be a remote strip of rugged coastline or an old crumbling adobe on a forgotten Barrio corner.

How do you approach painting a particular piece?
I’m drawn to interesting light, reflections and mood... places and moments that have stories to tell. Sometimes I use my plein air studies as a reference for larger work, other times I use my photographs and start with a few thumbnail sketches. Often, I go directly onto the canvas, toning it with an earthy colour and brushing in my overall design. While wet, I play with the composition, lifting out the lights and reinforcing the darks. This initial stage of manipulating the shapes and values is very visceral and instinctive as I work to capture what initially attracted me to the subject. Next I focus on choosing my colour palette, followed by brushstrokes, edges and highlights. Throughout my process I try to stay open to where my painting wants to take me, keeping drama and harmony always in mind.

"Throughout my process I try to stay open to where my painting wants to take me, keeping drama and harmony always in mind."

Describe your relationship with nature.
Nature has always been a major source of comfort and constancy for me. Figuratively or literally, no matter how rough the seas or how steep the cliffs, being in nature centres me in time and place. My everyday concerns seem trivial in comparison to the ageless wonders of our world. I am forever grateful to nature for being there whenever I need solace. Being an artist is my way of honouring her and giving back. Painting also fulfills my need to preserve that which is beautiful or ephemeral in nature. It’s heartbreaking, to see our world struggling to maintain its balance and health, now more than ever. As life becomes more hectic and challenging, and our environment more threatened, I become more committed than ever to capturing on canvas the essence and spirit of that which stirs my soul.

​Your paintings achieve a rare balancing act: calming colour choices and transitions, combined with exciting depth result in refined pieces. They gently capture the viewer into exploring with the promise of discovering or getting lost within the world of the painting. Thats our view, but how do you see your paintings?
Thank you. You’ve described exactly my experience as I paint: it’s very much a balancing act. A constant push and pull between drama and tranquility. A gentle touch; a bold stroke. A neutral grey; a colourful highlight. A quiet beach awakened by a suddenly splash of sun. Calm and energy, in harmony with each other. Even when I paint my animal portraits there is a push and pull between strength and vulnerability: a balancing act. I love that my art is a way of celebrating nature’s stories, both simple and grand. It is gratifying when I see my paintings hanging in homes and galleries throughout BC and the American South West because I know the stories I am sharing through my art are recognized and appreciated by others.
​

"When I paint with oil it almost feels like I’m sculpting, pushing and pulling the shapes into life."
​

​Tell us about the mediums you have worked with.
Throughout the years I’ve worked in a variety of mediums: charcoal, pastel, acrylics and oil. I also enjoyed working on stained wooden furniture, incorporating the natural grain of the wood into paintings of farms and wildlife. When we travelled throughout the American southwest, I found acrylics dried way too fast in the desert heat. I then discovered pastels and loved the hands on experience of layering them on sanded paper. Painting in oil, however, is now my favourite medium by far. I love it’s texture and malleability... the richness of the colours and their ability to blend. When I paint with oil it almost feels like I’m sculpting, pushing and pulling the shapes into life.

If you had to chose the top 3 artworks you have created, which would they be and why?
I learn so much about technique and myself with each of my paintings. Often the most difficult ones are the most rewarding in terms of lessons learned. Then again, some flow surprisingly easily and feel equally satisfying. It’s hard to chose the “top” three as the architecture and animal portraits are so different from the landscape paintings but my personal favourite so far is probably:

1. ​West Coast Morning. I painted it after returning home from a FCA Plein Air Retreat to Bamfield, BC, an isolated area perched way out on the Pacific west coast. It was challenging to paint the light just right and capture the beautiful wildness of that wind battered point. I followed my heart on a lot of choices and was thrilled when it got Honourable Mention in this year’s national show! I felt all along it was special so it was gratifying others did too.
2. Island Memories is another one that stands out for the tranquil mood I was able to capture along with the strong reflections that mirrored so many island moments for me. The palette and transitions were subtle and the rocks challenging but I was pleased with the results.
3. Heading West on Zero Avenue was a favourite drive when we lived on the farm. My heart always skipped when the westward sky suddenly appeared, particularly at a dramatic moment. I was pleased with the way I captured the vibrant sky on one of those evenings, as the last of the sun spilled down through the trees onto that quiet country road. I started it as a monochromatic value study and it flowed well from the start. I love being on the road, where it takes me, and the memories it brings me. Here’s to the many paintings ahead!

​

"Your work has a magical luminous quality about it..."
- Collector

​What are you working on and what can we expect from you in 2021?
This past summer was busy: I was awarded Honourable Mention in the national Federation of Canadian Artists 2020 Landscapes Exhibit hosted by the FCA Granville Island Gallery in Vancouver, BC. We also sold our horse farm in Langley and downsized to a small village on the banks of the nearby Fraser River, surrounded by big sky, rivers, wetland trails, and rugged mountain views. I’ve been out plein air painting, gathering references for a new series on rivers and valleys. I’m also continuing with my west coast series based on years of travelling Vancouver Island and living on the Gulf Islands. In addition, I’m planning some 12x12 wildlife portraits as well as some architectural studies of our picturesque village and nearby heritage barns. I will miss our horses and farm, but downsizing gives me more time now to enter more shows, take on more commissions, get involved in environmental projects, and best of all— more time to paint and share what I love.

"I love being on the road, where it takes me, and the memories it brings me. Here’s to the many paintings ahead!"
​

​WHAT COLLECTORS AND VIEWERS SAY:

"Your work has a magical luminous quality about it."- Susanna G., Tubac, Arizona

"Another stunning work!" - Lindsay A. Nanaimo

"Beautiful work. Your rocks are amazing." - Francesca D., Montana

"Gorgeous rendition of our gorgeous and rugged BC coast."- Patti T., Abbotsford

"Your treatment of water and reflections is superb! A real talent." - Bob H.,Tucson

"A gem for sure. Wonderful light." - Alan Dunfield, Vancouver Island

"This [animal portrait] is fantastic. I can almost touch him!!"- Rita, Delta

"Lovely! A wonderful job of placing the paint and leaving it alone." - Lalita Hamill, Langley

"Congratulations! You are running with the big dogs now!" - Gaye Adams, BC

"I’ve been following Leslie’s work for some time, trying to purchase one before it sold, and finally got lucky when I saw the painting “West Coast Morning” in the FCA 2020 show. It reminds me of a family trip to the West Coast of Vancouver Island: rugged, rough, but so beautiful. " - Scott F.S. , Vancouver

"I purchased the painting “Island Memories for its beauty and serenity. I have hung the painting in my office for it provides me with peace and serenity on those hectic work days." - Private Collector, BC
​

Website: www.leslielendvoy.com
​