Leslie Ashton Martel’s interest in art began while living in St. Simons Island GA. As a ten year old she started painting at an art center there and feels those classes influenced her life long love of art painting.
Leslie Majored in Interior Design in college and worked in that field for several years before opening Ashton Studios near Palm Beach, Florida. Her Studio designed and painted sisal rugs for the Interior Design Industry. Leslie, who originally created and began the process of painted sisal, was the owner and head designer for 18 years. Among her clients were Stark Carpets; Horchow collection; Frontgate; Macy’s and Bloomingdales. Many of those rugs are in some of the finest homes, including palaces, around the world.
Upon the sale of Ashton Studios, 12 years ago, Leslie became more actively engaged in watercolor painting. She studied with many of the country’s finest watercolor teachers in classes and workshops, including the nationally renowned Charles Reid. Yet, Leslie feels that the past four years she has spent studying with Marie Natale have had the most profound influence on her work, reflected in a loser, more luminous style. Last September, she joined Marie and a group for a week of Plein Aire painting in Umbria, Italy... for her dream come true.
Leslie has shown in Chautauqua, NY the former Art Center of the Norton Museum, West Palm Beach, Fl, where she received the First Place price for watercolor at the Member Show in 2010.
The work included in the SOMA Gallery show embodies the direction Leslie in now taking in her work.
Personal Artist Statement
“I am enjoying the challenges of working on textured surfaces which I create myself, as well as the additions of crayons and pastels. I feel this is adding excitement for the viewer as well as myself.”