Leslie Duke has a deep love for color and texture, as well as an enthusiasm for finding the intrinsic beauty in everyday subjects. With each painting she strives to instill a profound sense of mood through use of color and space.
Leslie is particularly inspired by the masterful beauty of works by Sargent and Zorn; the evocative color fields of Rothko; and the intriguing compositions of illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger. Painting and drawing have always been part of Leslie’s identity. She was fortunate to have parents who saw her deep interest in art and paid for many art classes, including a formative weekly watercolor class by Harold “Pete” Peterson, a Salt Lake City artist and educator.
Leslie went on to study Illustration at BYU and began her career as an illustrator in 2010, only to realize that her true passion was painting. After countless late nights, plenty of ugly paintings and a considerable amount of caffeine, she quit her day job and became a full-time painter.
Currently Leslie lives in Springville, UT with her musician husband, adorably independent toddler and two highly energetic dogs. Leslie loves spending time in her studio, binging on a good story, collecting trinkets, and enjoying time with her little family.
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist I am continually fascinated with color, particularly with its ability to prompt an emotional response from its audience. My work explores color’s emotive capacity, focussing more on the overall atmosphere created by the color palette of each piece, rather than the actual subject matter depicted. This approach is meant to create a unique visual experience, one that facilitates an inner dialogue by quietly probing the subconscious.
