LEGACY PORTRAITS
Hand-painted Watercolor Portraits from Your Black & White Photo
A portrait is more than an image, it preserves the memory and spirit of the people who matter most. Each Legacy Portrait is an original, hand-painted watercolor created from your photograph using the finest quality materials. Thoughtfully observed and carefully rendered, these paintings are designed to become lasting, heirloom works of art that honor your loved ones, your family history, and your most meaningful moments. Every portrait is painted with close attention to likeness and the subtle qualities that bring a subject to life. The result is not simply a reproduction, but a refined and artful interpretation, one that holds both accuracy and beauty.
12 - WEEK ACADEMIC DRAWING INTENSIVE
This flexibly paced, online course introduces students to the principles and methods of academic drawing through a structured progression of technical exercises. Students will develop strong foundational skills in light logic, value control, pressure sensitivity, mark-making techniques, comparative and sight-size proportional measuring, linear perspective, form modeling, drawing structure, and master-copy practice using traditional, tried-and-true atelier methodologies. Emphasis is placed on disciplined practice, observation, concentration, process, craftsmanship, and workspace cleanliness. Groups welcome!
"Leslie is a gifted instructor and a classically trained artist, who teaches step by step principles of classical realism in the style of the Old Masters. I highly recommend her classes to anyone desiring to learn art founded in the timeless techniques of great masterpieces." "I've been creating art for many years but I only became an artist after taking lessons from Leslie Lienau. Leslie started me on the basics of drawing with graphite. We've since moved on to color theory and the principles of design. I can now draw portraits in graphite and charcoal and my paintings are much more vibrant. My friends and fellow artists have noticed a major improvement in my work. Leslie is not only knowledgeable, but she is dedicated to teaching in any way that allows you to learn and to be successful. Her talent and her ability to work with students of any age and her enthusiasm for the world of art make her a superb teacher." |
"Because drawing is fundamental to painting, I have taken multiple drawing classes from Leslie. As a result, I've seen a step-level improvement in my paintings. Her structured learning approach provides a logical progression which has helped me understand the mechanics of drawing in a whole new way." "When I began studying with Leslie five years ago, I was slightly skeptical because I had a Bachelors degree in Fine Art, and I felt like I already had a good handle on drawing. From the first lesson in "light logic" to exercises in pressure control, comparative measuring, Charles Bargue plates, drawing the cast... I discovered a wide array of foundational drawing skills that I didn't even know I was missing. Using the traditional drawing methods she taught me, I can now confidently capture a likeness from a live model. Additionally, her vast knowledge of artist materials has helped me develop a non-toxic oil painting practice without many of the mediums and solvents I had long thought were necessary. Her teaching method is supportively honest. She helps you see your mistakes, and learn not just to correct them, but to understand them." |
I just finished taking Leslie Lienau's "Understanding Color" workshop and I am glad I did. I have always been interested in painting but I put my creativity into a career in architecture. Though I dabbled here and there with painting on the side, I never had the formal education to learn the basic foundations for painting. This workshop has given me that foundation and understanding of mixing colors. I have confidence in what I am doing now because I have tools I didn't know how to use before. If you struggle with mixing color, this workshop is well worth your time and investment. |
"Leslie became my art instructor and mentor when I began the atelier program [at The Oklahoma Academy of Classical Art] four years ago, a student with no previous art background. Her patient and respectful teaching style and her belief in my ability to learn gave me the confidence to continue my practice. Thanks to Leslie, I consider myself a budding artist." |