Lesley Frenz

Lesley Frenz is an emerging artist working in Acrylics and watercolors. Born and raised in coastal Florida, she received her Bachelor of Arts from University of North Florida where she studied Art History and Painting. An avid hiker and backpacker, Frenz finds inspiration in wild places and her current practice is centered around the exploration of the natural world and landscape through its expression in color. Soft and atmospheric, her paintings convey a sense of mystery and a moment in time. Frenz began exhibiting work in 2015, followed soon by her first solo exhibition in 2016, she is represented by J. Rinehart Gallery in Seattle, WA, Art & Light Gallery in Greenville, SC, Lark & Key Gallery in Charlotte, NC, and Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, CA, showing regularly with Nahcotta in Portsmouth, NH and Hillary Whitaker Gallery in Ponte Vedra, FL.

Hanging up their travelling shoes, Frenz and her husband have found home in Mount Vernon, Washington, a small town nestled in the Skagit Valley between the North Cascade mountains and the Salish Sea.

What does your perfect Saturday look like?

Answer: My husband and I wake up early, before the sun rises, grabbing mugs of coffee and hit the road, heading up into the North Cascade mountains. We score a campsite on Baker Lake, pitch our tent, then head out for a hike. We arrive to an empty trailhead and hike through the forest canopy, as the rising sun creates sparkles on the still dewy leaves. We reach a clear alpine lake just in time for lunch, and I get some sketching in while my husband fishes. We hike back out, stopping for huckleberry ice cream on the way to the campground. I get in some watercolor painting while my hubby naps in the tent. Later, we grill up some fresh fish and open a bottle of our favorite wine. We’ll go for a walk later and then read by the campfire before drifting to sleep under the stars.

What is your dream project?

Answer: My dream project would be an artist residency followed by a large, site specific installation within or in conjunction with a major national park.

Are you a traveler or a homebody?

Answer: I am a homebody who loves to travel. When I am home, I am fully there and love creating a beautiful, unique place to enjoy. But I am also constantly looking to and planning the next adventure!

What music do you put on when you want to get motivated?

Answer: Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of 90s Seattle grunge in the studio-- Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc. It is the perfect music to get lost in while painting my interpretations of the wild Pacific Northwest mountains.

Website: https://lesleyfrenz.com