Featured Artist Leslie Franklin

Enjoy the free-flowing alcohol ink paintings of artist Leslie Franklin. Using a medium that is hard to control enables her to find a balance between realism and abstraction. Learn more by visiting her website.

 

"Sometimes You Just Need a Purple Elepant" Alcohol Ink, 16" x 20" by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Sometimes You Just Need a Purple Elephant” Alcohol Ink, 16″ x 20″

 

Sometimes You Just Need a Purple Elephant. And why not? In the embryonic stages of creating art, I believed that the more realistic and “photo-like” one could paint, the better they were as an artist. Although my art was selling successfully, it seemed somewhat stifling and predictable to replicate reality.

 

"Bearing the Northern Lights" Alcohol Ink, 48" x 36" by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Bearing the Northern Lights” Alcohol Ink, 48″ x 36″

 

I began to allow myself more freedom and strove to paint with loose elements of flowing color while still maintaining an identifiable portion of realism. This was more difficult than I had anticipated as my brain kept dictating what something “should” look like.

 

"Brawn and Beauty" Alcohol Ink, 48" x 36" by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Brawn and Beauty” Alcohol Ink, 48″ x 36″

 

It was around this stage of frustration that I decided to force myself into more abstraction by choosing to work in a medium that was difficult to control. Enter alcohol ink.

 

"The Little Grass Dancer" Alcohol Ink, 36" x 48" by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“The Little Grass Dancer” Alcohol Ink, 36″ x 48″

 

Its waterlike consistence and short drying time provided obvious challenges. However, it was exactly this difficulty that drove the desired wedge between my tendency towards realism and my quest for loose abstraction.

 

"Pasture Eyes" Alcohol Ink, 30" x 30" by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Pasture Eyes” Alcohol Ink, 30″ x 30″

 

Its vibrancy immediately tempted choices of non-traditional colors. Its fluidity on non-porous surfaces made realism a near impossible feat. Finally, I had found a medium that could provide the balance between realism and abstraction I had been seeking.

 

"Owl You Need is Love" Alcohol Ink, 24" x 10" by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Owl You Need is Love” Alcohol Ink, 24″ x 10″

 

My preferred subject matter is animals. I usually begin a subject with an accurate and realistic depiction of the eyes which I feel are the critical feature.

 

"The Redhead" Alcohol Ink, 11" x 14"by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“The Redhead” Alcohol Ink, 11″ x 14″

 

Once I have captured the expression, I gravitate outwards to formulate a nose, ear or other discerning feature. From this point onward, I capitalize on the unpredictable characteristics, vibrancy and fluidity of the inks with limited control on my part. I let the ink run, mingle and splatter and in doing so, am able to easily depict a sense of liveliness and movement.

 

"Out of Africa" Alcohol Ink, 36" x 28"by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Out of Africa” Alcohol Ink, 36″ x 28″

 

Often, I will incorporate characteristics of the animal’s environment within the shape of the animal itself.

 

"The Marsh" Alcohol Ink, 24" x 18" by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“The Marsh” Alcohol Ink, 24″ x 18″

 

I believe art has the power to create a state of mindfulness which is difficult to accomplish in our busy world. Our brains multi-think even while the body is multi-tasking. When I’m unloading the dishwasher, I’m not thinking about unloading the dishwasher. I’m thinking about the laundry load I need to transfer to the dryer, the dog wants out, I hope my child remembers her sister’s birthday on Tuesday, I wonder if my art show entry arrived in time and oh yeah, I need paprika. One’s thoughts are like a runaway train. Art, however, has the ability to bring that train to a screeching halt. Art captivates and brings the viewer immediately and fully into the present.

 

"The Vegetarians" Alcohol Ink, 14" x 8"by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“The Vegetarians” Alcohol Ink, 14″ x 8″

 

I strive to accomplish this with vibrant and alluring paintings of animals, tempting the viewer to take in the colors, the light, the impact and the emotions.

 

"Nobility" Alcohol Ink, 32" x 30"by artist Leslie Franklin. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Nobility” Alcohol Ink, 32″ x 30″

 

In doing so, I hope to simply make the viewer mindful of the beauty and existence of other species and by extension, elevate his or her concern and actions on issues that affect animals such as their ethical and humane treatment or preservation of their endangered habitats. Sometimes You Just Need a Purple Elephant to make a point.

 

Artist Leslie Franklin invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Click below to sign up for our twice-monthly email. You’ll get all this plus opportunities and special offers that you can’t get anywhere else!

Sign Up For Updates!

Comments

  1. Her work is amazing!

  2. Tyler Dmytriw says

    She some great work. My wife and I have purchased several orgionals from her. She is truelly talented. We love her style

  3. Tonie Ewer says

    Her work is so beautiful! She is so talented and I would buy it all!

  4. Debby Fiorucci says

    I commissioned a painting of our dog from her as a birthday present for my husband. He absolutely loved it. She also paints realistic pictures as well as her abstract paintings. She did an awesome job.

  5. these works are stunning !

  6. Boy she is quite an accomplished artist. Anyone that can control alcohol to that extent is amazing. I think her art is absolutely phenomenal & I love the alcohol ink.

  7. Stunning, simple breath taking. Love how you stretched yourself and created something so wonderful. Great work and style.

  8. So beautiful, I love her work

Speak Your Mind

*