Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Lashley.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
As a contemporary impressionist painter and lifelong nature enthusiast, Christine Lashley gathers most of her ideas by painting outdoors. The art she creates on location or in the studio is about time spent in nature and the beauty of a moment held in memory. Her paintings often fuse reality and the abstract, using color and texture to look realistic from afar but dissolve into abstraction up close.
Christine Lashley studied in Paris at the Parsons Art Institute and the Sorbonne, and continued on to earn her BFA at Washington University in St. Louis. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and has been in a number of juried prestigious outdoor painting competitions such as Plein Air Easton, Olmsted, and Telluride. Recent exhibits have been at the Salmagundi in New York City and Steamboat Art Museum in Colorado.
Her work has won numerous awards, including Best of Show for both landscape and portrait work. Recent awards were Best Landscape at the 27th Oil Painters of America National Show, and Best Light in the Landscape (Cezanne Award) at Olmsted Plein Air Invitational 2018.
An art teacher for over 20 years, she teaches workshops locally and internationally; and is on the faculty of the Yellow Barn Studio in Glen Echo, MD. She is a member of several juried art groups, including: Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE), Salmagudi NYC, Oil Painters of America, and the Washington Society of Landscape Painters. She currently lives in Virginia.
Please tell us about your art.
As a lifelong nature enthusiast, I gather most of my ideas by painting outdoors. The art I create on location or in the studio is about time spent in nature and the beauty of a moment held in memory.
Light patterns inspire me, but I convey more in my art besides the literal realism of sun and shadow. My paintings often fuse reality and the abstract, using color and texture to look ‘real’ from afar but dissolve into abstraction up close. The painting’s final paint layers (with thick brush marks, scraping and glazes) give the art a three-dimensional aspect to the surface, evoking the multi-dimensional layers seen in the natural world. The result is a strong sense of place and mood that transcends the individual elements on the canvas.
Art is more important than ever in our busy lives. Art lets us slow down and make time for beauty, it gives our brains time to rest. To be fully present in a moment allows for appreciation of a cloud in the sky, a sunset, or a forest. It is almost like seeing again for the first time. Even a rainy street can be beautiful. Art is a way to see nature and our surroundings again with fresh eyes. This is what I hope to say in my art.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
The arts are alive but only if we continue to have patrons and people who want beauty in their lives. The good news is that there are people out there who want this. Plein Air (a French term for ‘paint on location’) events such as Olmsted Plein Air in Atlanta are a great way to get involved. Top artists are selected from across the US. The artists paint on location during the week (all art is from life… no photos are allowed), and patrons can watch the art happen and purchase paintings. The public can meet the artists and see the wide variety of styles presented.
It is a good time to be an artist, but there is hard work involved. I travel a lot. I am always learning and there is so much more to explore. I am inspired by art of the past. It’s alarming that the collective wealth of classic art knowledge almost died out during the 70s and 60s when all you had to do at art school was ‘express yourself and show something new.’ This is no longer the case with an explosion of artists, galleries, museums, and Plein Air events showcasing what can be done with our heritage of realism. Art is moving forward into new territory. Realism and abstraction are getting re-invented and the artwork getting done is amazing. Yes, it is a very exciting time to be an artist.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My website: christinelashley.com is where current art for sale and events are shown. I show in galleries and also do about 5-8 juried plein air events a year. You can sign up for my newsletter to see the latest paintings, art news, and find out what events are coming up.
To watch art get created, and see more about my travels, you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook. I teach workshops in the US and abroad and welcome beginners as well as advanced artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: christinelashley.com
- Phone: 7034739976
- Email: lashleystudio@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinelashleyart/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Lashley-Studio-151924090942/
Image Credit:
Christine Lashley
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
