Alchemist of Change Freedom From Within Last week I took the painting Alchemist of Change  that I had painted six years ago and transformed it. It even got a new name: Freedom From Within. My style and color palette has changed over the years, and I felt it was time for this piece to change too. One of the things that is hard to do, in life and in painting, is let go. There were several elements in this painting I was very attached to - the birdcage, the bird, and the words embedded in the bottom right corner. These were two quotes that really resonated with me at the time that I painted the original piece: Let your history be the alchemist of change and A diamond is a piece of coal made clear under pressure It was very difficult for me to let go of those words. I struggled with working around them for hours, but in the end I let them go, and welcomed the changes that letting go brought to the newly transformed piece. Besides, they are still there, jus...

I have 7 paintings to gift to the first peeps who contact me to claim them: (Update - all paintings have found new homes) lesleyfountainstudio@gmail.com or on facebook - Lesley Fountain Studio  Challenges Are Gifts - 24 x 24   GIFTED   Infinite Riches - 16 x 16   GIFTED  Hopes and Fears - 16 x 16    GIFTED   New World Emerging - 24 x 20   GIFTED It's Written in the Starlight  10 x 24  on board   GIFTED   "It's written in the starlight, and every line in your palm"  - Dire Straits This one is a particular favourite of mine. It is one of the nine paintings in a celestial series that showed up a couple of years ago. Here is a blog post about the series, how it came about, and a little bit about the paintings. http://lesleyfountain.blogspot.ca/2015/09/the-celestial-series.html   All My Bags Are Packed - 16 x 20    GIFTED Toge...

And somewhere between the time you arrive And the time you go May lie a reason you were alive But you'll never know   These lyrics from the 1973 Jackson Browne song For a Dancer strike a deep chord with me.  I have been blessed in my life to have met many people who have walked along beside me - sometimes for many years, sometimes for a short time - and while we walked together they shared with me their intrinsic beauty, their insights, their earthly gifts, and their own unique wisdom.  Whether you believe in spirit guides, divine intervention, guardian angels or kindred souls, for each of us, as we walk our solitary path in this life, there are those who share our journey with us, and if we are open and curious about the fate, destiny or serendipitous circumstances that placed each of these particular people in our path, it is my opinion that we can continue to learn, evolve, and accept and embrace the change, uncertainty, and the inevitable los...

I have created a photo book of the 100 Faces Project paintings.  For now it is available as a PDF download only from blurb.com, (viewable on any device) with a soft cover to be available very soon (at a realistic price, not blurb's!) The instant download is 6.99 CA  -  click on this link to view the preview and order: http://www.blurb.ca/bookstore/invited/6946988/1852e7536e291d6ef53cac2d0bd178c8f015451b

Now that 2016 is in the rear view mirror and my 100 Faces Project is completed, (and I have had my winter "nap" where I don't get much done except hibernate by the fire with tea and a good book) I have been enjoying creating the first few of what appears to be a new series of paintings. Working on large pieces of ripped, raw edged canvas, I have been exploring ethereal imagery in a creamy, dreamy palette with predominantly whites and blues. So far I have completed seven pieces, take a look: (update - July - painting #7 is the final one in the series, time to move on to something else!)  An Angel Falls From the Sky - 6' x 3' Little Things Are Hard to See - 5' x 5' First Roots, Then Wings - 4' x 5'  Go On and Make a Joyful Sound - (Lessons From My Guardians and Spirits) - 5' x 5'  Words of Love a Ladder to the Heavens - 3.5' x 3.5'  Protect Me - 2' x 4'  You Are The Magical Enchantment in Y...

I completed the 100 faces in early December, and they can all be viewed on my 100 Faces Project page. I have decided to give away painting #100 - I am The Light:   Enter to win painting #100 by leaving a comment below this post, on my Lesley Fountain Studio facebook page, or in email to lesleyfountainstudio@gmail.com. I will be making the draw on December 24th, and will ship anywhere!

  I offer a variety of art workshops in intuitive painting and mixed media, twice weekly drop in sessions, once a month extended drop in sessions, unique art parties, private workshops and one on one art classes.  No class size too small!  See my workshops page for details on upcoming workshops and drop in sessions and click on the paintings links (organized by years) for photos of my artwork.  Testimonials What I love and needed from Lesley Fountain she so effortlessly delivered.  Lesley allows people to return to a childhood place, where a person can create in a limitless, imaginative and non- judgmental fashion.  Her studio is like a dream of high quality paints and a space where a mess is encouraged and art is created by everyone!  Friends are made quickly in her studio space, and affirmation encourages aspiring artists to experiment and be free.  Music and laughter fill the space and I left feeling like I wanted more!...