Bio
Lesley Harries-Jones is a Canadian artist currently residing in Toronto, Canada. She is a graduate of the Toronto School of Art and a current member of Gallery 1313 where she continues to exhibit her work.
Lesley's paintings are representations of the tenuous relationship between man and nature. Interested in the environment she uses a variety of media including wax, pigment and tar to visually document the evolving destruction of our environment. Her work draws the viewer into an examination of color contrast and form illustrating her interpretation of the impact man continues to leave on our physical environment. The subtle documentation of erosion captured in the breaking up of surface is a testament to the phenomenal force of nature.
The physical and textural application of wax, pigment and tar results in a dramatic and provocative response that resonates with the viewer.
Artist's Statement
Currently my medium of choice is encaustic painting. I create paintings that reflect my way of seeing nature. The sculptural and transparent qualities of encaustic capture perfectly my impression of landscape. Depicted in my paintings are dramatic landscapes defined and described by light and the effect light has on transforming what we see around us. The abstract images describe the vibrant colours and texture often overlooked as we interact with our environment. What emerges from my compositions are the elements of nature that reveal the remarkable splendour of nature at work.
The physical and technical process of painting fascinates me. I love the challenge of taking an idea; an impression, or ordinary image and transforming it into a visual language that describes my interpretation of the subject depicted, evoking for the viewer an emotional response reflective of their personal impression of what the painting means to them.
Download Lesley's Artist Statement
