Leslie Miller

Leslie Miller
Englewood, Colorado, USA

STATEMENT

I create “acrylic skin collages” by peeling off dried paint “puddles” from my palette, resulting in unique and irregular shapes that are then mounted on paper or canvas to create visually stunning art. My artistic process is experimental and often guided by the dried paint pieces themselves.

My background as a dress patternmaker in New York City has given me a keen eye for shape and line, which has become the main focus of my current work. Just as a quarter-inch correction to a dress pattern can drastically change its appearance, small or large alterations to the shapes and their arrangement can completely transform the rhythm and flow of my artwork. I am fascinated by the power of shape and its ability to captivate the viewer.

Color is also a major focus of my work. I am intrigued by how it can create harmony or discordance, excitement, or calm. I am particularly interested in the effect color has on human emotion, as well as its ability to transform a room.

BIO

“My mother claimed I painted a mural in the hallway of our house in Coney Island when I was five or six,” Leslie says. “Unfortunately, I have no recollection of this apparent masterpiece, and she never thought to take any photos. I’m not sure she even knew how to use a camera…Can you believe it? Given that beginning, though, I suppose it’s no surprise I became an artist.”

Leslie spent 18 years as a dress patternmaker in New York City’s fashion industry, frequently designing and sewing her own clothes. Then she started painting in pastels, falling in love the moment she put stick to paper. “I remember walking home from my first pastel class; my feet barely touched the pavement. I was lit up!” Her work has been juried into the Pastel Society of America’s annual competition.

After leaving New York, Leslie settled in the Denver, Colorado area where she studied with award-winning watercolorist Chuck Danford, and then began teaching landscape classes in acrylic. Leslie feels she has finally found herself in the unbounded creativity of collage. Although she mostly works small, she has just finished her first large commissioned collage piece. She enjoys collaborating with clients; she finds it a fascinating challenge to come up with an idea that will let her creativity flow and yet be perfect for their space.

ARTIST CONTACT
[click to email]
www.lesliemillerartworks.com

IMAGES