Leslie Singer
Leslie Singer attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and studied art at Georgetown University, then stopped painting to pursue a public relations career. When the man who was to become her husband asked her what her favorite painting is (Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earring), it launched an ongoing conversation about art that led her back to palette and brush and resuming her studies at New York’s Art Students League and the Scottsdale Artists School.
As a figurative painter, Leslie approaches each work as a study of light and shadow upon which she builds and embellishes. Heavily influenced by the worlds of design and fashion, Leslie has drawn inspiration from New York City, her home for three decades and, most recently from Santa Fe and the Southwest, where she now lives. Her work has been described as both feminine and feminist for its depictions of strong, independent women.
Artists who share Leslie’s passion for the figure who have influenced her work range from nineteenth and early twentieth-century masters such as John Singer Sargent and Tamara de Lempicka to contemporary painters such as Michael Carson and Malcolm Liepke. Like theirs, her canvases depict highly stylized portraits that privilege mood and feeling over realistic representation.
Leslie’s work has appeared in galleries across the U.S., and her painting “Katya” was recently selected as the cover of acclaimed writer Daisy Alpert Florin’s novel “My Last Innocent Year.” Leslie’s works are owned by collectors in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Q&A
What's the purpose or goal of your work?
My work emphasizes visual impact over narrative content. It is influenced by fashion and design, with an emphasis on feminine and feminist themes. A collector once told me she was going to hang my painting (Desert Gypsy) in her bedroom so that it was the first thing she saw each morning and would be inspired by the strong and beautiful woman it portrayed. I thought that was the ultimate compliment and aspire to create those types of reactions and connections through my work.
Leslie Singer | Desert Gypsy, 2021 | Oil on panel 14x11 inch
How has your style changed over time?
My passion has always been representational art. In school I was frustrated that it was not taught. This led me to pursue a different career, which ultimately allowed me to return to painting on my own terms, studying at the Art Student’s League in New York and Scottsdale Artist School. I never want to stop learning, and my painting style has evolved as I have continued my studies. Travel and living in different parts of the country has also influenced my work and many of my recent works have a Western flavor since I now live in Arizona and New Mexico.
Do you have a network of other artists, and how do they support you?
I’ve met many other artists through schools and workshops around the world and have developed lasting friendships. I also live in Santa Fe and Scottsdale, both of which have great art communities. Many of my friends and neighbors are artists. Beyond the camaraderie, these friends provide invaluable advice, encouragement, and inspiration. Like most other artists I also have a social network on IG, Facebook, etc. where I can connect and get feedback from other artists from al over.
How do you manage a work-life balance as an artist?
Prior to becoming a full-time artist I was head of corporate communications for a global business. I painted in the evenings and on weekends. I used vacation time to take workshops or participate in art fairs. Today, as a full-time artist, I still manage my time so that I’m balancing time in the studio with time doing marketing, learning, networking, and traveling to recharge and get inspired.
How has your education helped you in your career?
I changed course from art to English in college. I have a BA from Georgetown University I think that communication is a vital skill for success in any endeavor. And it’s more important than ever for artists as we have so much opportunity to take ownership of our careers, getting our art out to the world using social media and other channels that allow us to get broad exposure and sell our work.
What was your first experience of working as a professional artist?
At the height of my corporate career, I was still painting primarily as a hobby and was invited to do a local art. It was actually in a bar, but I did sell a couple of paintings. And it provided the encouragement that I needed to level up, move on to showing in galleries and art fairs, gain greater visibility, and sell more work.
What is the best advice you have received in your career?
“You are the best person to represent your art.” One of my first collectors, a seasoned art buyer, told me this very early on. Over the years, I’ve seen how important it is for collectors to know you and connect on a personal level.