Painting On Block Island R.I

We first vacationed on Block Island in 2008 and have made several trips back since. We fell in love with the natural beauty and relaxing atmosphere. The last few times I was able to bring my oil paints with me. This Spring while there I painted three paintings. Sitting on the back deck all you could hear was the birds chirping, they are so friendly, that some will actually eat from your hand. The skies are always interesting and changing. I hope I captured the peacefulness in these paintings that I felt. 

                                                           Up The Hill  11 x14 

                                                               The  Beach Crescent 11x 14  

                                                           Yellow House By The Sea 11x 14 

                       

        House By The Sea 16x20 

        

Around The Corner  11 x 14

Here are a few more from past years.  

 

          Avonlea  11x 14

Painting The Back Of the Blue Dory 

Morning On The Beach 11x14

Crescent Beach 11x 14

A few of My Spring - Summer Scarves

I have been big on Orchid and Purple this Spring.  This scarf adds also aquamarine and even hints of goldenrod, bronze. It is large enough to wear as a shawl over a summer dress!

 

I also love peach and salmon with hints of lemon yellow as in this scarf.

 

This multicolored scarf is  perfect for spring but can be worn all year round. A combo of silk and wool but very light weight and airy.

 

 

The one below also doubles as a scarf or a shawl and the colors are great for summer.

 

 

Please check these and more out on my etsy shop!

 

Painting a Silk Painting From Start To Finish Using Several Techniques.

 

I start a silk painting with an idea, from then on I proceed as the painting takes me. I often use a combination of silk painting techniques in one painting. Color is very important to me so I want to layout the color placement with a wash. I started this painting by outlining a few trees and rocks with a substance called resistad (by Procolour) mixed with my steam set dye. You can of course also use gutta to outline. The resistad will stop the dyes from bleeding over my line just like gutta will.

 

 

                I allowed the silk dyes to bleed as I painted a light wash. 

 

 

Since I wanted to add more controlled details, I painted over the entire piece of silk with a large brush a preparation of one part gutta and two parts turpenoid to coat the fabric. This allows me to paint as though I was painting on paper without the dyes bleeding in to one another. Best do this outside or in a well ventilated space.

 

 

After the solution dries I can go back to my painting adding more dyes.

 

 

Once finished the painting it is then steam set. This sets the colors so they will not bleed and brings out the brilliance of the silk dyes. 

 

 

                                          I added a mat and it is now ready to be framed!

Paintings By My Father Tadeusz Leski

Many people have known my father as an architect, but he was also an artist especially in
his later years. My fathers recent passing has made me think about what he loved to do and his

influence on me.  

      I remember when I was young he asked me one
day what I wanted to be when I  grow up and I thought for a moment and I said I wanted to be an artist. I think it was because I didn't know what else to be, since art had always been such an important part our lives. I grew up remembering my father always sketching a design for his buildings or projects and being taken to museums. So I never really thought of any other option. My father’s reply to my wanting to be an artist was “well then you must paint and you must paint a lot.” Well being more practical minded, I turned to a more commercial venue and went to school to become a textile designer. But as time passed, my desire to paint haunted me so I started painting remembering my father’s words that I must paint a lot to become an artist. Sadly I still do not have the time to paint as much as I think he meant for me to do.

My father was born in Kielce, Poland, a prisoner of war during World War II. his story is quite interesting as to how he escaped from the prison camp and traveled up to England where he met my mother and later on came here to the USA to work as an architect to design many of the important buildings in New York City in the sixties, only to return later on in life to Poland.  I wonder how the experiences he had during his early life influenced him later on and why he chose to paint the subjects he did.  

Dad never tried to sell his paintings, even though he was quite good. He painted because he loved to and I knew it was pure pleasure for him. A few of his paintings hang on the walls of my house, my sister’s and my children’s and some he gave away to friends.  He used any material he had at hand, sometimes he couldn't get canvasses so he would use a piece of wood to paint on or a board. His paints were also what ever he could find. 
His love for art I am sure was passed down to me. He taught me how to see the beauty in things and encouraged me to paint it.

A few of my fathers oil paintings

 

all images may not be used elsewhere without my consent.

  

To read more about my father click on link below

A book about my father written by my sister Kyna Leski

 

I would also like to share a link  this is a interesting read

 https://medium.com/@kynaleski/genesis-the-chandeliers-of-the-metropolitan-opera-house-2090ee74690e#.u1bpcnl0c