I’ve been working on lots of new watercolors lately and am thrilled for the first batch to be debuting in the Earth Water Sky show at Lark & Key Gallery this month!
further XXIII, watercolor and cold wax on cradled wood panel, 10x8x1.5
further XXIV, watercolor and cold wax on cradled wood panel, 10x8x1.5
The gallery is open for viewing Wednesdays- Fridays and by appointment. They will also host an open house Saturday and Sunday, April 13th and 14th, if you’re in the Charlotte area. But if you aren’t in NC, don’t despair! You can peruse the entire exhibition (and purchase if you so desire) online!
I hope you’ll check out the show! More watercolors will be popping up in other places soon!
Every year at this time I like to take a few moments to reflect back on what has transpired in the past twelve months. This year was crazy busy personally and professionally and I’m ending the year with several goals met, some hard lessons learned, and a long To Do list already in place for 2019. Care to take a walk down memory lane with me?
acrylic paintings completed 75
Wow! I was definitely a busy girl this year. I continued my ECHOES and LEMOLO series in 2018 and began revisiting my VENTERS seascape series, thanks to a show in January inspired by Florida and the inspiration found at our new home on Camano Island in Washington. This year also saw the beginning of a new series, IMMERSIONS, which I’m still excited about though I pursued the idea more in new watercolors on panel, I hope to explore more in this series in acrylics in the new year.
watercolor paintings completed 42 plus loads of sketches
My love affair with watercolor continued this year, especially after discovering the joy of painting large scale watercolors on canvas! My IMMERSIONS watercolor forest abstractions were especially popular and I have a feeling there will be more to come in 2019.
Again this year, I upped my commissions completed, increasing from 3 last year to 5 this year (goal met, check!). I’m still learning what works best for me when doing commissions and I won’t lie, they can be a struggle. My painting process has evolved to where I work very intuitively, allowing the composition to emerge over time and with commissions often based on previous paintings, it can be difficult to retain the same sense of spontaneity and layering that is inherent in my work.
commissions completed 5
A goal for any commissions in 2019 is to paint without expectation of the outcome– to try to let the commissions evolve more naturally. A lofty goal, for sure, for a people pleaser like me.
This year I said yes to as many opportunities as I could, and learned some really valuable lessons along the way.
I’m sure this is different for every artist, especially depending on how one measures success, but the past year taught me that, for me, investing time and inventory in “shows” in which the venue or organizer does not have a substantial financial stake in either the sale of the work or the success of the exhibition leads to a whole lot of work and financial investment on the part of the artist with little but a pat on the back and a line on your resume in return. I usually think of these types of shows as “resume builders” but I’ve reached a point where my work is selling so well through my galleries that tying up work in shows just doesn’t make sense for that line on my resume.
exhibition/show participation 6
My work is selling well through my wonderful, hard working, committed galleries and representatives. And while I’m excited to participate in gallery shows, in 2019 I will only pursue non-gallery exhibitions that make sense for me financially and professionally and will be very careful about to whom I entrust my work.
Which leads me to the biggest womp womp of my year..
paintings lost or damaged 15 (cue sad music and crying)
The paintings pictured above were all damaged to the extent they required hours of work to recover/repaint completely or lost in shipment this year. There were 5 more that had smaller damage while in someone else’s care and there are three more that may or may not be sellable due to shoddy craftsmanship by a vendor I’ve used extensively in the past.
I think 2018 will go down as the year I learned some very hard lessons about how to know my worth as an artist and the worth of my work and that I must under any and all circumstances treat it as the important and valuable commodity it is and expect others to do the same. And if they do not– I will not work with them again. Period.
But on to happier topics! One of my goals for 2018 was to increase my streams of “passive income” by having some of my work published as prints and I’m thrilled to note that my small selections of my work are available as prints through Wonderwall Studio and as custom wall coverings through Area Environments.
2019 will bring more print publishing opportunities, as I’ve just signed a contract with Grand Image and (hopefully) will launch my own print shop on Minted. I’m not looking to become a print artist (original work will always be my focus), but it is my hope that by offering some of my work as prints, it will broaden my reach as an artist.
In other news this year, the Mr. and I did lots of hiking, explored territories both familiar and new, including over a month spent exploring the Southwest.
But perhaps the most exciting event of 2019– officially moving our residency to Washington! We’d decided in 2017 that we wanted to settle for awhile (maybe forever!) in Western Washington this year. So when the Mr. landed a travel contract in Everett and we found a lovely little apartment on the water on Camano Island, we were thrilled. Little did we know that we would fall hard for this little island and George would land a full time permanent job in Everett.
one of many beautiful sunrises from our bulkhead
So we’re here to stay in this place and I’m looking forward to the new year and getting back to business!
I’ve already mentioned a few things to look forward to in 2019, but mark your calendars for May 3, 2019, when I will be opening a new show at Art & Light Gallery in Greenville alongside the wonderfully talented Alicia Armstrong!
Goals for 2019:
Expand my gallery representation in the West/Northwest and beyond
Expand representation for corporate and healthcare artwork placement in the Pacific Northwest
Build a new website (ugh! this needs to be done but I am SO not looking forward to it)
Merge this blog into the new website
Explore more IMMMERSIONS work in acrylic
And of course, I will be creating new work in all my current series– so many ideas to get out of my head!
Thank you all for continuing to follow along and join me in the journey. See you in 2019!
I always think of this time of year as the season of sparkle– everything from the twinkle lights to the frosty morning dew feels glittering and special. I’m honored to be a part of the Small Gemsshow at Elliott Fouts Gallery, a showcase of small works perfect for gift giving!
new ECHOES 12×12 paintings now at Elliott Fouts Gallery
Living on the water in the Pacific Northwest, each day is spent gazing out and seeing how the water’s surface shifts and changes with the evolving light throughout the day, from the pink light of early morning to the glittering of evening lights across the water.
gold spirit, acrylic on canvas, 12×12
midnight moon, acrylic on canvas, 12×12
If you’re near the Sacramento area, you can see these and the other works in the Small Gems show at Elliott Fouts Gallery now through the end of December. Or just click over to their website to see them all online!
Art & Light, my representing gallery in Greenville, SC, is celebrating 12 years this week!! In celebration, I created two new paintings from my LEMOLO series for their Anniversary Show, opening tonight, August 16th.
dreams and intentions, acrylic on canvas, 20x20x1.5, $350
whispering secrets, acrylic on canvas, 20x20x1.5, $350
When creating these new LEMOLO pieces, I was thinking about the lovely days I’ve spent in North and South Carolina, places that will always hold a special place in my heart, Southern girl that I am. I also tried to channel the warmth of the light and atmosphere that is present at Art & Light— housed in a beautiful old house in Greenville’s historic “Village”, the gallery is fresh and modern while also feeling rustic and worn and welcoming. An absolutely enchanting combination!
In addition to the new LEMOLO paintings, there is also a brand new crop of watercolors on panel and canvas that I’m super excited to debut at A&L!
You can check out the entire collection of watercolors on my website or if you’re in the Greenville area, I hope you’ll stop by Art & Light for the opening of the Anniversary show tonight from 6- 8pm!
Art & Light is located at 16 Aiken St, Greenville, SC. You can contact the gallery by calling 864-625-0695 or emailing art@artandlightgallery.com!
You guys, I’m sorry. I’ve been so neglectful of this space lately! I won’t pepper you with excuses.. we are all busy, right? Keeping up with blogging just keeps getting pushed down the ol’ To-Do list as things come up.
The things coming up have all been good, though! And I miss sharing more in depth here. So I’m going to try more, truly I am.
You may remember that ever since experimenting with watercolor for The 100 Day Project back in 2016, I’ve been trying out bigger sizes and different substrates. I hadn’t quite hit on that perfect combo.. until now!
rhodies, watercolor on canvas, 30×30, $750
When I heard the lovely folks at Lindsey Runyon Design wanted me to be a Featured Artist in their showroom, specifically requesting watercolors, I saw it as my opportunity to go big in watercolor. But due to the hanging limitations of their space, and that I would be installing on my own, I needed to go big AND light. I’ve done some experimenting with watercolor on canvas in the past, but hadn’t quite gotten the hang of it.. Until now!
clemantis, watercolor on canvas, 30×48, $1200
A few coats of watercolor ground added to gessoed canvas creates the perfect surface for watercolors– the paint blends and bleeds beautifully (and easily, requiring a delicate touch!). Once dry, the paintings are sealed first with multiple coats of fixative and then with two coats of UV spray varnish to make sure the surface becomes permanent and impermeable. No glass needed!
watercolors on canvas showing at Lindsey Runyon Design
You can check out all of these new watercolors on canvas online on my website . If you are in the Seattle area anytime now through November 16th, you can stop by LRD in downtown Seattle (near the Space Needle!) to see these beauties in person.
Lindsey Runyon Design is located at 222 Queen Anne Ave N, Ground Floor, Seattle, WA 98109.
Their phone # is 206-914-5241 or you can email chloe@lindseyrunyondesign.com for info and directions.
If you make it to see the paintings, snap a photo and tag @lesleyfrenz on Instagram! And if you’d like more information about these or any of my available work, please email via my website Contact form.
Excited to be showing in my hometown! A group of new paintings from my VENTERS, ECHOES, and IMMERSIONS series are now on view in The Haskell Gallery at the Jacksonville International Airport.
The paintings are part of the Spring in Northeast Florida show alongside works by artists Lyn Asselta, Eve Albrecht, and photographer John E. Adams.
Silent Reverie, acrylic on canvas, 60×48
Sweet Madness, acrylic on canvas, 48×48
From the Highest Swing, From the Highest Tree, From the Highest Wing, acrylic on canvas, 24×20 each
While the initial inspiration for these paintings were the theme of Spring in Northeast Florida, it was the springtimes of my childhood there and memories of my mom that informed each piece. During the painting process, I would often look back on old home movies from my childhood, allowing the muted colors and blown out style to inform the palette and overall feel of these pieces.
my brother, my mom, and me, easter 1976 and Weightless and Maybe, acrylic on canvas, 12×12
I plan to share more of the stories and inspiration behind these works with you over the coming weeks, so please stay tuned!
Meanwhile, if you’re in the Jacksonville area, I hope you’ll visit JIA to see these new paintings. The Haskell Gallery is located pre-security, so you don’t need to be traveling to see the show!
You can also see all of the work in the show on my website.
Hello friends! Popping in to tell you about a new show featuring my work, opening today! A Winter Exhibit, a three person show featuring work by Seattle area artists Mya Kerner, Najia Omer, and moi, opens today at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center gallery.
The show features work from my ECHOES series, including 4 new paintings created just for this show. If you’re not local to the Seattle area, you can see the work from this series, including the new paintings on the ECHOES page of my website.
There will be an artist’s reception this Thursday, January 11th from 6:30pm to 8pm. Unfortunately, since we’re currently in Spokane for hubby’s work contract, I won’t be able to attend (I’m so bummed!!). But if you’d like to see the show, please do go and meet the other 2 wonderful artists!
The gallery is located at 8236 SE 24th St, Mercer Island, WA. Gallery hours are M-F 7am-9pm, Sat 8am-9pm, and Sun 11am-5pm. The show will be up through February 23rd.
September has been a super busy month, ya’ll! My work has been poppin’ up from New Hampshire to Seattle, but this coming weekend, it’s an actual POP-UP!
Friday & Saturday, September 22nd & 23rd, there will be a one-time Pop-Up show of my latest work at the Seattle Art Source showroom in the International District in Seattle. New acrylic paintings from both my ECHOES & LEMOLO series, as well as large & small watercolors on cradled panel will be on display inside the SAC showroom, showcased with Plank & Grain’s gorgeous reclaimed wood furnishings.
I will be in the showroom gallery on Saturday, 9/23 from 11am-1pm and would love to meet you in person! I’ll have my watercolors with me, so you may even catch me doing a little watercolor sketching!
For directions to Seattle Art Source and showroom hours, click here. Hope to see you on Saturday!
Hi friends and especially Seattle area folks! A new painting from my LEMOLO series has been chosen to be a part of the juried group show, ICON, opening at Lynn Hanson Gallery on Thursday, September 7th.
The Mountain Comes To Me, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 20x20x1.5
Since being in the Tacoma/Olympia area for nearly a year, we’ve spent a good bit of time exploring around Mount Rainier. This summer, while camping at Cougar Rock, we took a few strolls at dusk at the base of the mighty mountain and I was awestruck once again by her presence. The Mountain Comes To Me was painted the following week.
view of mount rainier from the nisqually vista trail at paradise
The ICON show opens during the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square where dozens of galleries and venues stay open late for your art browsing pleasure. Lynn Hanson Gallery will be open for First Thursday from 5pm-8pm and there will be an Artists Reception & Awards event on Saturday, Sept 16th, from 4-7pm. I won’t be able to make it to the First Thursday opening, but Mr. F and I will be at the gallery for the artists reception on the 16th– come by and say hi!
If you’re in Seattle for First Thursday or if you’d just like to see the show in person, drop by Lynn Hanson Gallery, 312 S Washington St, Sept 7-30th to see the show! For purchase information, please contact Lynn Hanson Gallery at 206-960-2118.
Since beginning the #100littleartworks project way back in 2016, I’ve been diving deeper and deeper into my love of watercolors. I’m excited to announce that six new watercolors on Aquaboard panel are part of my second showing with Nahcotta Gallery in Enormous Tiny Art #22 opening this Friday, September 1st!
waterbound I and VI, watercolor and cold wax on aquaboard panel, 7×5 art in 10×8 white float frame
I’ve been exploring watercolors beyond paper and have completely fallen for Ampersand Aquaboard panels. The surface reacts much the same way as watercolor paper, but unlike paper, they can be displayed without glass once sealed. These watercolors on panel are sprayed with fixative and then, for extra protection, coated with a cold wax finish.
To see all of the Waterbound series available at Nahcotta, check out my artist page on their website. Work is available for pre-show purchase now and the show will be up in the Portsmouth, NH gallery until September 30th.
