Corrected Vision #2

Posted on August 17, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Corrected Vision #2
by
Washington, DC Artist
Leslie M. Nolan

One of three paintings in a series, Corrected Vision #2 relates to how we see the world and how the world sees us. There is more than what is known through the eye. Body language, scent, gentleness or violence all inform the real person behind the facade.

The great George Bridgman of the Art Students’ League in New York asserted, “The difference in drawing is in what you sense, not what you see. There is other than that which lies on the surface.” While Bridgman no doubt referred to musculature and skeletal structure, I expand the interpretation of his comments to mean the substance of who we are – our heart and soul.

I know some say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but I like to think that our minds — our ability to feel and connect — really count.

Inner/Outer @ Susan Calloway Fine Arts

Posted on July 27, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Washington, DC Artist Leslie Nolan’s
“Choose To Walk Here”
36″x36″x2 1/2″ acrylic on canvas

In focusing on figurative paintings, I have been hinting primarily at emotions largely hidden in real life. This theme involves depicting what is felt rather than what is seen. In this new work the subject has been caught in a private moment of personal awareness. He claims his space, but remains alert. There and not there.

Inner/Outer, the title for my upcoming exhibition at Susan Calloway Fine Arts in Washington, DC, will feature this painting. It exemplifies the tone of the show. While distinct, each canvas suggests a kind of chaos which has just occurred, which could occur, or which is occurring. The outer facade may appear calm and controlled, yet the inner reality seethes with passion – courage, tenacity, rage, confusion, vulnerability, etc. Is that what it means to be human?

New for Upcoming Solo Shows

Posted on July 7, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Working on some new pieces for upcoming solo exhibits in September at Susan Calloway Fine Arts in Washington, DC’s Georgetown and at Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick, MD. While still pondering on an appropriately ambiguous title for the Calloway exhibit, the title for Delaplaine is “Mixed Messages.” I think it apt, because we send out the message we want people to receive, yet our body language or tone can communicate a completely different message. The recipient must draw his or her own interpretation of those sometimes “mixed messages.”

In the final analysis, aren’t we all a little confused from time to time?

New Work By Washington, DC Artist Leslie Nolan

Something Different In the Studio of Leslie Nolan

‘Unfiltered’ at Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DC

Posted on July 7, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Fabulous opening at Touchstone Gallery of my “Unfiltered” exhibit.

Strictly Painting

Posted on May 5, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Washington, DC Artist Leslie Nolan’s “Corrected Vision”

This painting, 36″ x 36″ acrylic on canvas, will be exhibited in “Strictly Painting” at McLean Project for the Arts June 18 – August 1, 2015. Juror Vesela Sretenovic, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Philliips Collection, selected artwork of 38 artists for the exhibition. If you’re in the area, drop by and check it out.

Strictly Painting

June 18 – August 1 — Opening Reception June 30, 7-9 PM

McLean Project for the Arts

1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101. Phone 703.790.1953. Hours T-F 10-4; Sat 1-5

Smart Isn’t Enough

Posted on May 1, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Smart Isn’t Enough
By Contemporary Figurative Painter Leslie M. Nolan
36″x36″ acrylic on canvas

Making one’s way through life is tough. Nikki Giovanni’s poem “Straight Talk” provided the feel and title for this new piece, because its words capture the image’s idea of moving forward despite uncertainty.

Full disclosure, this photographic rendering fails to capture the nuance and richness of the original artwork. I’m sure everyone on earth knows that computer monitors, as well as film, lighting, and digital manipulation all alter reality. Despite photographers’ best efforts, an image can never duplicate 100% the original. It can hint. It can titillate. It can encourage the viewer to go see the painting in a museum or gallery. For artwork, there is no substitute for the real thing – the brushwork, hints of uncovered color, a deep teal hue blending into a rich gray, punctuated by cadmium orange.

In that sense a work of art reflects life. A photo of Machu Picchu cannot begin to duplicate the feeling of being there in the mountains, the wind eratically bending grass, smells of foliage, tactile feel of rock work honed by the hands of citizens from an ancient, long gone civilization.

This one-of-a-kind painting will be at Susan Calloway Fine Arts in September 2015.

Yellow Alert

Posted on April 3, 2015 by leslienolan2014

“Yellow Alert” by Washington, DC artist Leslie Nolan

Just completed this artwork. Working on a couple of companion pieces. Inspired by spring, renewal, regrowth, possibilities, the affirmation of life.

A recent visit to Baltimore’s Walters Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art provided the inspiration for this piece. Armor, strength, vision, and persistence all come to mind as attributes I tried to imbue into the painting as the figure evolved. The title links the color coded emergency status developed after 9/11 with the predominance of yellow in the painting. And, I think the figure itself projects a feeling of alertness and confidence capable of taking on any unforeseen event.

Also, a reminder that I’ll be having a solo exhibit in September 2015 at Susan Calloway Fine Arts in Georgetown. Susan exclusively represents me in the Washington, DC regional area. This artwork above will form part of that solo show.

Hisaoka Gallery Alchemical Vessels Exhibit

Posted on April 3, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Fun evening last Friday at the Joan Hisaoka Gallery in Washington, DC. My donated artwork, white and gray on a red background on the inside and black on the outside shares the gallery walls with another 124 artist’s vessels. It’s amazing how each piece differentiates itself from the others. We all began with a white ceramic bowl, and the end results celebrates the uniqueness and difference of individuals. I ran into several artist friends at the opening reception, including David Alfuth, with his trademark silver hair above next to me.

Stop by and see the show: 1632 U St NW, Washington, DC. Benefit event slated for Friday, May 1st 7-9 pm for ticket holders. Artists’ closing reception is Friday May 22, 7-9 pm. Please join me for the closing of this beautiful and special exhibit.

Latest Artworks

Posted on March 18, 2015 by leslienolan2014

“Pretending To Be Brave”
48″x48″ acrylic on canvas

Just about completed, I think. Both paintings have a completely different feel to them. One feels cool, and the other warm. One bold, the other quiet. Both appear a bit mysterious.

“Bones Glow Through Skin”
36″x36″ acrylic on canvas

Alchemical Vessel at Hisaoka Gallery

Posted on March 12, 2015 by leslienolan2014

Honored to have been invited to participate in this super curated exhibit. Transformation of the raw bowl into a healing vessel had its roots in the loss of my lovely mother several months ago. That event sparked a new group of figurative paintings featuring strong, confident women with ever bigger and more extravagant hair, wig or headgear. Each painting became more outrageous, symbolizing fearlessness, freedom to go out of bounds, and permission to be exceptional. For the bowl, I used its curvature to take the idea even further, with the headpiece so large it circles the vessel, enfolding the figure in a protective embrace.

Can you tell I was a bit out of my comfort zone, painting small and circular!? Normally I stand, use large brushes, and fling paint energetically. Happily, I think the results with the bowl are as outrageous and fearless as the work on flat canvas.

Tottering An Alchemical Vessel 11" diameter by 5" high ceramic bowl, acrylic and graphite

Tottering
An Alchemical Vessel
11″ diameter by 3″ high ceramic bowl, acrylic and graphite

Alchemical Vessels 2015

March 27 – May 22, 2015

Opening Reception: Friday, March 27 | 7-9pm

Benefit: Friday, May 1 (By Contribution Only)

Make your contribution starting on Tuesday, March 10th at 10am!

The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St NW, Washington, DC, is happy to announce the return of the Alchemical Vessels Exhibition and Benefit in 2015! This year’s exhibition will run from March 27 – May 22, 2015, with the special by-contribution-only Benefit on Friday, May 1st, where everyone who makes a $150 Benefit-Vessel contribution (beginning Tuesday, March 10th at 10am) can select one of the works in the exhibition to add to their collection! The vessels are selected in the order contributions were made, so the earlier you make a contribution, the earlier you can select your work of art!

This year’s exhibition and benefit features works from over 100 new artists hand-selected by 20 prominent curators. See below for a list of this year’s incredible line-up of artists & our invited curators, and visit www.smithcenter.org/benefit to learn more and make your contribution beginning 10am on Tuesday, March 10th!

Artists:
David Alfuth, Beth Baldwin, Rhoda Baer, Emily Biondo, Ed Bisese, Julia Bloom, Raya Bodnarchuk, Joseph Bradley, Judy Byron, Lenny Campello, Jessica Cebra, Mei Mei Chang, Hsin-Hsi Chen, Patterson Clark, Billy Colbert, Susan Cole, Paula Crawford, Michael Crossett, Sarah Dale, Catherine Day, JD Deardourff, Jennifer DePalma, Robert Devers, Jessica Drenk, Patricia Dubroof, Pam Eichner, Dana Ellyn, Margo Elsayd, Susan Finsen & Michael Holt, Sharon Fishel, Kathryn Freeman, Marcia Fry, Adrienne Gaither, Michael Gessner, Carol Brown Goldberg, Pat Goslee, Matthew Grimes, Andrea Haffner, Courtney Hengerer, Jeff Herrity, Maurice “Mo” Higgs, Ryan Hill, Joseph Hoffman, Jeff Huntington, David Ibata, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Njena Surae Jarvis, Rose Jaffe, Mike Johnson, Mariah Anne Johnson, Wayson Jones, Maria Karametou, Sally Kauffman, Elizabeth Kendall, Joanne Kent, Hana Kim, Micheline Klagsbrun , Kitty Klaidman, PD Klein, George Koch, Yar Koporulin, Peter Krsko, Bridget Sue Lambert, Maria Lanas, Toni Lane, Khanh Le, Jun Lee, Kyujin Lee, Nate Lewis, Mimi Logothetis, Steve Loya, Akemi Maegawa, Alex Mayer, Donna M. McCullough, Kathryn McDonnell, Maggie Michael, Vanessa Monroe, E.J. Montgomery, Lucinda Murphy, Ziad Nagy, Leslie Nolan, Frederick Nunley, Cory Oberndorfer, John Paradiso, Elena Patiño, Miguel Perez Lem, Brian Petro, Thomas Petzwinkler, Jeneen Piccuirro, Michael B. Platt & Carol A. Beane, Pattie Porter Firestone, Tom Raneses, Red Dirt Studios, Ellington Robinson, Carolyn Roth, Bonner Sale, Jean Sausele Knodt, Matt Sesow, Foon Sham, Janathel Shaw, Lillian Shaw, Bernardo Siles, Steve Skowron, Jeffrey Smith, Anna Soevik, Langley Spurlock, Stan Squirewell, Rebecca Stone Gordon, Lynn Sures, Tang, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Valerie Theberge, Michael Torra, Kelly Towles, Dan Treado, Ruth Trevarrow, Tariq Tucker, Pamela Viola, Ellyn Weiss, Lee Wheeler, Catherine White, Sharon Wolpoff, Sue Wrbican, and Jenny Wu

Curators:
Sondra N. Arkin, Artist & Independent Curator | Philip Barlow, Associate Commissioner, DC Department of Insurance, Securities & Banking; Board Member, District of Columbia Arts Center & Millenium Arts Salon | Chuck Baxter, Artist | Robert Devers, Professor of Fine Arts and Ceramics, Corcoran School of the Arts + Design, George Washington University | Thomas Drymon, Curator, doris-mae | Charlie Gaynor, Realtor and Photographer, member of the Mid City Artists | Aneta Georgievska-Shine, Lecturer in Art History, University of Maryland and Smithsonian Institution | George Hemphill, Gallery Director, Hemphill | Francie Hester, Visual Artist | Don Kimes, Professor, Director Studio Art Program, American University Department of Art; Artistic Director, Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institution | Zofie Lang, Artist | Mary Liniger, Executive Director, Art Enables | Akemi Maegawa, Artist | Jayme McLellan, Director & Founder, Civilian Art Projects | Twig Murray, Gallery Director, Athenaeum Gallery | Victoria Reis, Co-Founder, Executive & Artistic Director, Transformer | Nancy Sausser, Curator and Exhibitions Director, McLean Project for the Arts | Andy Shallal, Founder, Busboys and Poets | Stan Squirewell, Artist

	Mary on The Leslie Nolan Art Studio-Wa…
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