Craft is that discipline which frees the spirit; style is the result. ~ Ben Shahn The Shape of Content

An American artist living in the Loire Valley, France, Leslie Nicole’s photographic art reflects a life in harmony with the seasons. Still lifes and florals are composed from what her garden offers. A still life in April might feature Wisteria and Lilac, while one later in summer would combine Dahlias and Cosmos. Her plant portraits honor fleeting beauty with a delicate reverence. She also frequently photographs in the famous Loire Valley gardens. A painterly, graphic style springs from more than two decades working professionally in photography, digital imaging, hand coloring, and design.

Leslie holds a BA in Fine Arts from the School of Architecture and Allied Arts at the University of Oregon. Besides having a base in the traditional fine arts of painting, drawing, and sculpture, she also focused on theater arts and photography. She was fortunate to study photography under Ted Orland and David Bayles (authors of the popular book, Art & Fear) who created a dynamic creative community. There were frequent workshops with guest photographers such as Judy Dater, Linda Connor, Lou Stoumen, and Morrie Camhi. As an undergraduate, her work appeared in numerous group and solo shows.

She has also studied design and typography at the University of Berkeley Extension. Ever passionate about her craft, she has taken countless workshops and seminars on subjects ranging from photography and Photoshop to typography.

Her passion for craft extends to teaching. She has twice been an assistant instructor at the Ansel Adams Workshops in Yosemite, California, leading a group and assisting photographers that included Ted Orland, Sally Mann and Richard Misrach. She has given seminars for Kodak and has also been a guest instructor at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Working 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, Leslie was immersed in a mecca for art, photography, design and new media. She volunteered for the ASMP and APA and participated in photography events, trade shows, and seminars. A personal highlight was Ruth Bernhard reviewing her fine art portfolio with glowing predictions. For lunch, she would visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Vision Gallery, or the Friends of Photography. Leslie was one of the founders—and the first leader—of the SF Bay Area InDesign User Group and has spoken at Adobe headquarters in San Jose. She has also been a member and committee leader for the Graphic Artists Guild.

For 8 years, Leslie worked at a professional photographic lab while also photographing commercially. Her work has appeared in magazines, newspapers and on catalog covers. When digital imaging exploded in the early 90s, she launched and headed the digital imaging department for Gamma Photographic Labs. She went on to start her own digital imaging studio.

Throughout this time, she continued to work on her fine art photography. She was a resident artist in the Schoonmaker Building and a member of the Schoonmaker Artists with whom she participated in group shows and Open Studios.  Her photographs have been published in magazines such as Photo Metro, and The City. Her work has sold through the Eye Gallery in San Francisco.

Leslie is an accomplished hand-colorist and has collaborated on pieces for companies such as Portal Publications, Mervyn’s Department store, the LA Times magazine, Peninsula Magazine and the American Conservatory Theater.

Digital imaging grew into graphic design. Leslie spent 7 years in the creative departments of companies such as Williams Sonoma and Macy’s West working on catalogs, annual reports, business collateral, logos, brochures, ads, and magazines before opening her own studio. From her Sausalito studio by the SF Bay, she worked with clients on both coasts and designed for companies that included Pepsico, Ernst & Young, and Thompson Electronics.

In 2008, Leslie moved to France with her French husband where they live in a small country village. She has closed the circle and come home to photography. Armed with solid and diverse experience, her creative style has sprung nearly fully formed like Athena from Zeus’ head. Drawing from a sensibility from traditional art and the skill of a professional, today’s digital photography techniques give her the freedom to fully express her vision.

Currently, she sells fine art prints, and is preparing her work for showing and licensing. Recently, she participated in a group show benefiting Haiti. She is also the founder and creative director for French Kiss Textures, a resource for photographers.