Leslie Firth
Acrylic, Oil, Pastel, Watercolour
Artist's Statement
"It all started at a 5,000 Watt radio station in Fresno, California...."
Not really of course. But that line from the Mary Tyler Moore show always makes me laugh - and reflects my irreverent attitude toward artists' bios. Simply put, I call myself an artist because I 'art'.
Colour is eye candy to me. As a volunteer at the National Gallery of Canada, I speak with school children about art. I ask them a series of questions: "What colour is snow?; What colour is the sky?" They (almost) always answer: "Snow is white"; "The sky is blue". So I challenge them to use their eyes to really see colour and to try to forget what their brains are telling them. If they try, they will be able to see the purple blue shadow on the snow under a fir tree or the soft lime green in the sky on the horizon at sunset.
Every piece I complete is an experiment and has been a challenge in some way. If colour is eye candy, then 'arting' is just a way to play and have fun!
Proceeds from all rentals and sales will be donated to The Ottawa Food Bank.
Website: www.lesliefirth.com