My approach to painting is to use simple but interesting shapes, as well as true to life color relationships, to convey the essence of  the subject.  I prefer to paint on location, where the entire experience of the scene can inform my work. 

Painting en plein air is full of challenges, such as fast-changing light and weather conditions, which require a hundred decisions in the space of a few hours.  I believe that these challenges actually elevate my  work.  They force me to grasp the single most compelling aspect of the scene, which then becomes the heart of the painting.

I sometimes say that painting on location is like racing in the Kentucky Derby, and painting in the studio to going on a leisurely trail ride.  Although they are vastly different, each has its place.  For example, a painter on location is usually limited to a smaller canvas.  To achieve a larger scale, I often paint a small study on location, which I bring home to my studio as a springboard for further work.  Supplementing the field studies with reference notes, sketches, visual memories, and photos taken on location, I can create larger works that retain the energy and immediacy of the field work.

Lesley graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.A. in Politics, and went on to Wake Forest School of Law, where she earned her J.D. degree.    After law school, Lesley joined the law firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice (now Womble Bond Dickinson).  She became a partner in the firm, specializing in corporate law, particularly mergers and acquisitions.

 Lesley left the law practice in 2003, and turned her attention to painting on a full time basis.  She maintains a studio in Charlotte, where she works almost daily.  Recently, Lesley has served on the Board of Directors (including a term as Chair of the Board) of Arts for Life, a nonprofit organization that brings the arts to children in hospitals across North Carolina. 

Lesley is married to Carl Powell, who is a fellow avid traveler and hugely supportive “key man” in the painting practice. 

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