Meet Leslie Nemour | Artist/Painter,

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leslie Nemour and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leslie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
In the Quest for Balance

I once had this unrealistic idea that when all the elements in my life were in sync; finances, creativity, family, romance, leisure, etc., I would live in a transcendental era of happiness and superior painting. Naïve, I know. It is an unattainable goal. Life is a balancing act, and the unexpected gets in the way. As an artist, balance is an ingrained plight that bounces from a job that pays the bills, to private life and then finally to the sanctity of creative thought and production. Although frustrating, perhaps it is the quest for balance that keeps us engaged, sharpens our wits and spitfires the drive that leads to resourcefulness and inspiration. Maybe the challenge helps to avoid complacency.

On the flip side, recognizing a common thread between commitments guided me to a healthier and more systemic perspective. I find it more challenging to juggle in a compartmentalized life.

PS: I also truly believe that in the quest for balance, doing nothing is greatly underrated. Allowing time to let the mind wander or not think, or be ridiculous, is of equal importance to everything else on the to do list.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My Art
I am a representational oil painter and have been for most of my life. I thrive on found imagery that is discovered and repurposed into painted moments without beginning or end.

Much of the imagery is appropriated and foraged from cinema; blurred, ephemeral moving pictures secluded and often paired in sequences to rearrange conventional expectations.

Visual interpretations change over time. I am interested in how an image or scenario in a movie from my youth takes on a new reality decades later, redefined from the same set of eyes. For me this suggests being in two places at the same time: a place between two worlds.

I stay away from concrete narratives, as the mysteries of the world are so much more compelling visually and intellectually without explanation. Imagery lacks neutrality both in art and politics. We bring stories with us and subconsciously fill in the blanks with our own associations. “Pictures Remember” is a quote that struck me from a recent TV series. It made me think of pictures (in this case artworks) being sentient objects.

I refrain from identifying the source of appropriated film references as that might create the illusion of an illustration for a story already told. The pictorial references are departure points to recontextualize a moment in time. For example, the painted version of Amazon women in a fight scene from the low budget sci fi movie “Queen of Outer Space” , 1958, could be reinterpreted as the continued struggle for equal rights. Similarly, a domestic scene from the family comedy “Courtship of Eddie’s Father”, 1963, might be resurrected as a foreboding mystery.

I have shifted focus a bit this last year from horizontal compositions with multiple images, to square formats that zoom into interior spaces and animate inanimate decor. Minus the fleeting figures, it’s probably the closest I’ve come to still life painting. I’d like to think that life can linger in the air when the party is over.

How I Got to Where I Am Now
From Aesop’s fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare”, I am definitely the tortoise. The hare is the thrill seeker and the big risk taker, however, does not win the race. I am the one who envied the hare but plodded along working through the system as an educator, while going into overdrive to be relevant as a practicing studio painter. (Not to say that living as a painter does not entail many risks). It is a common story of the artists who teach. And, it has brought me here to this moment, no longer teaching others, but exploring studio life with extraordinary appreciation and one less thing to balance.

Lessons Learned
In terms of making art, the lessons never end. Here are a few:
Dive into instinct and stop waiting for the approval of anyone else.
Make art without hesitation.
Doubt is ok.
Risk is good.
Curiosity opens the mind.
Success is arbitrary.
It doesn’t matter if a painting is stupid or brilliant, it can still be a good painting.

Excited About
I’m thrilled to share two upcoming exhibitions I am working on for January 2025 in the desert town of Borrego Springs, California. One will be at the House of Borrego Springs West Gallery and the other at the Gallery at The Palms at Indian Head. Both exhibitions will overlap with the annual Borrego Springs Film Festival, January 15-19. Follow me on IG or FB for upcoming dates and further information later in the year. I believe there will be some good paintings.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Any small beaches in between the big ones , evenings or mornings.
Taco stands without the glitz.
Coronado Dog Beach for canine afficiandos.
Bread and Salt in Barrio Logan for art exhibitions, classes, music and the best coffee at Provecho.
The Turquoise Room at the Riviera Supper Club, an authentic retro lounge for the best cocktail prices, happy hour and alternating live music.
South Park (my home neighborhood) for Sketchparty Tuesdays at the Whistlestop , and a variety of bars, restaurants and shops.
Selected Friday nights Nat at Night, rooftop bar and half off museum entry…AND monthly sketchparty.
Roam and discover.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my family. who never questioned my decisions to follow my heart and stay afloat (except for the time my father suggested I study astronomy).

To all those who gave me the “first breaks” in my exhibition, curatorial and teaching professions. I’d like a few more please.

To everyone who provided childcare for me when I was working four or five jobs at a time, and took an interest in my son’s life.

To all my past students who trusted me, showed me something new and shared their life experiences through their creative endeavors.

To the generous individuals who not only appreciate my work. but who invest in it and make it part of their home.

You all know who you are.

Website: https://www.leslienemour.com

Instagram: @tashuluv

Facebook: Leslie Nemour

Image Credits
All photographs credited to the artist, Leslie Nemour