Jocelyn, 48×48 inches acrylic and house paint on stretched canvas by contemporary figurative artist Leslie Nolan
Black and blue make a powerful, engaging image when paired with white. Angular, feisty, unknowable, mysterious, Jocelyn embodies the mystery of life. She intrigues. Fascinates.
Little Guy 11, 10x10x2.5 inches acrylic on stretched canvas
Little Guy 8, 10x10x2.5 inches on stretched canvas
The studio is filled with exciting pieces, and to be interesting in any way, these must not conform to tireless formula or current fad, but rather convey the vast variety of emotions, difficulties and joys that we all go through every day. My “Little Guy” series avoids the formulaic pitfall by being entirely emotional. “Paint what you are, paint what you believe, paint what you feel,” as recommended by Ben Shahn, and an artist cannot go wrong—counsel which I continue to put into practice.
“I learn by going where I have to go.” — Theodore Roethke from his poem The Waking
See more of my work @ Calloway Fine Art & Consulting in Washington, DC
Loving this image of Erwin, a bold, dynamic, unabashed painting that commands attention and makes you think. Isn’t that so much more fun than all the bland, inoffensive artwork that seems to be dominating the home decor sector! Reach out to my gallery, Calloway Fine Art & Consulting in Washington, DC for this and other pieces available for purchase. Cheers and happy Fall.
Connor, 36×48 inches acrylic 2024 on stretched canvas
Monty, 60×36 inches acrylic on stretched canvas, 2024
Two of my latest figurative paintings in the studio. Like all my work these pieces are about distortion and outrage, and have nothing to do with good, beautiful or accurate. .I’m not thinking about how they look on a wall in a room. I’m not interested in what is the current vogue. What fascinates me continues to be people and their inner feelings, emotions, worries, joys, everyday lives. I paint what can’t be seen. None of it is real – just imagination of a moment in time. Or, maybe it is real, but inexplicable.
Gina, 36×36 inches, mixed media on canvas
Sally, 60×36 inches acrylic on canvas
Monroe, 60×36 inches acrylic on canvas
I’ve been having so much fun this summer in the studio painting with blues. So many shades and hues, muted and bold, thick and thin, rich and dull. Blues always have a huge impact on one’s psychology. Even unexpected. They can uplift and caress. Blue jeans, the sky, a lake, icing on a cake. Why not celebrate freedom, sensitivity and imagination with blue?
Yves Klein, “At first there is nothing, then there is a profound nothingness, after that a blue profundity.”
Henri Matisse: “A certain blue enters your soul. A certain red has an effect on your blood pressure.”
Sara, 60×36 inches acrylic on canvas.
Gabriel and Annie
Art studio happenings:
Two exciting new pieces in the studio. Top — Gabriel 36×36 inch acrylic on stretched canvas; and bottom — Annie 40×40 inch acrylic on stretched canvas.
Both have a charming attitude, luscious, rich color, and exciting brushwork. Both were a joy to create. I’m loving them in the studio. They send out glad vibes and totally brighten up my day.
Daniel, 14×18 inch acrylic on canvas, by Washington DC-artist Leslie Nolan
I’m so honored to have this darling piece selected by juror Mark Karnes for the Maryland Federation of Art exhibition “Strokes of Genius,” at the fabulous Circle Gallery across the street from the Maryland state capitol building in Annapolis, Maryland. Karnes is Professor of Drawing and Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
For this painting, as is the case in all my work, I revel in the texture and feel of paint to help convey the emotional feeling depicted. The older the brush, the better. Stiff, spikey bristles and sharp scrapers all contribute to moving the luscious, thick, heavy paint around the canvas.
If you’re in the area, stop by and check it out. On exhibit through November 25.
Circle Gallery
18 State Circle, Annapolis, MD
“Ronnie” in the studio with artist Leslie M. Nolan.
This handsome original painting on stretched canvas is 54″ High x 84″ Wide. Looks interesting and arresting on any wall, in any space. Don’t you just love work that asks questions! This one is filled with ambiguity and contrast, charm and quirkiness. There is no one answer to what it means. Like my economics professor used to say, “It depends.”
Lacey, 40×40 inches, by Leslie Nolan, Washington, DC-area artist
This darling artwork and others are in “Illumine,” a two-artist exhibition at Howard County Council of the Arts in Ellicott City, MD. The show is up August 18 through September 30, 2023, with a reception on September 22, 6-8 pm.
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