Melissa Leslie

Art is an extension of an influence from the spiritual realm.  You can either pull from the dark side or from the light.  I started creating when I was young and always found myself in front of the paper with the overflow of support to create from my whole family. My growth in technique and skill came from the passion to create, a blessed gift from God.  My works are devoted to the visions with messages from thoughts evoked from the wisdom of the Bible.

I create several different genres of art from Contemporary, Abstract to Realism to Urban.  I have no boundaries in this gift and I can express myself differently in each one.  I challenge myself with each series pushing my paint to levels I have never known. My experimentation is different each time and sometimes I go back to a technique I had once created before to achieve the look I am going for.  Since I mainly use oils I work in layers to pull the depth into existence.  I am always excited to discover the way the paint and thinner reacts to other materials and sometimes I mix in other liquids to see the reaction.  Most all of my work starts with very loose applications of paint, some thin and some thick and messy. It is like a dance of two people who barely know each other then the moment becomes heated and a beautiful palette of colors is displayed in conversation like I to the canvas.  Coming upon completion of a piece the movements become tighter and more focused making sure there is no inch of canvas left under estimated or touched in a personal display of care.

I am currently working on several series at one time.  I like to keep my mind far from zones to taste each of my passions to create in different genres. I am constantly in prayer for my next vision and sometimes I paint from visual and instrumental inspiration. I am also pulling a lot from listening to sermons, reading the bible and watching documentaries on American media and the wars of my environment.   I believe I could write a few pages on each of my pieces as to the deeper meaning but it's always good to hear from my fans and their thoughts as well.  I am currently working on a series that shows the strength of a woman using light and bold colors.  The first piece is a trip tic that stands more than nine feet in height.  The painting that will accompany it in the future will be more than nine feet in width.  This series is one I have been waiting to explore and now have come to a time where I can do just that.  I am pulling from all the great stories of women in the midst of a storm. I want to show how they rose above and made the trials into stepping stones to climb to higher heights than ever before for the betterment of those around her.