Leslie Dietsch

Artist Statement

I paint to share my story of the Midwest. Whether it’s the action on the water- sailing Lake Erie, sweeping vistas of the northern Mississippi valley, or friends and family tending to the beauty of the day-to-day chores of life, I want to reveal it all.
Crossing the boundaries between impressionism and realism, I constantly push to leave out what I can and still convey the message. An art critic once explained, “You make so few thoughtful strokes express so much, delight the eye, tell a story, and elicit an emotion.” Some works lend themselves to plein air painting, others require using a photo reference. I do paint from life as much as I can.

I believe 90% of an artist’s time is spent living the artist’s life and creating memories. I research my subject matter daily noticing visual imagery but also committing to memory the joy of the child consumed in play or the thrill of a stiff breeze filling a sail. Subjects can intrigue me with vague color or interesting value changes, but my works convey the attitude and emotion I’ve given to each one.