Today we’d like to introduce you to Les Lee.
Hi Les, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by drawing and art. As a child, I would flip through magazines and books and linger over the illustrations and paintings far longer than the words, imagining what it would be like to create images of my own. When it came time to choose a career, I knew it had to involve art. At the time, the clearest path was commercial art, so I enrolled at the Texas Academy of Art in Houston in the late 1970s. During my time there, I had the privilege of studying under several of Houston’s finest commercial illustrators, including Bill Narum, a respected illustrator, and Chip Jeffries of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
That education led to more than four decades in commercial art, illustration, branding, and design. Over the years, I created work for magazines, newspapers, banks, corporations, nationally recognized food brands, and many other businesses. While I enjoyed the challenge of solving creative problems for clients, there was always a part of me that longed to create work that reflected my own vision. Painting gradually became that outlet, a place where I could explore, experiment, and express something more personal.
Discovering plein air painting, the practice of painting outdoors from direct observation, marked a turning point in my artistic journey. Until then, much of my work had been based on photographic references. Painting from life taught me to slow down and truly observe the subtle relationships of light, color, atmosphere, and design that are often lost in a photograph. It fundamentally changed not only the way I paint but also the way I experience the world around me. As I became immersed in the plein air community, I began participating in outdoor painting events and competitions, where I found an energy, camaraderie, and creative fulfillment unlike anything I had experienced during my commercial career.
Today my work is rooted in those experiences. I strive to create paintings that do more than document a landscape. My goal is to invite viewers to experience a particular place, a fleeting moment of light, or the quiet character of a scene. For me, painting has become an act of paying attention, a way of celebrating the beauty and order woven throughout God’s creation. My hope is that each painting encourages people to pause, look a little longer, and discover the beauty and sense of place that first drew me to pick up my brush.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges in transitioning from commercial art to fine art has been learning to simplify my work. After spending decades creating illustrations and design for clients, I developed the habit of paying close attention to every detail and striving for precision in every rendering. Those skills were valuable in commercial art, but I eventually realized they could work against what I wanted to express in my paintings.
Today, I’m less interested in describing every leaf or every rock than I am in communicating the experience of being in a place. I’ve learned that too much detail can compete with the light, atmosphere, and emotional connection that first inspired me to paint the scene.
Plein air painting has been one of my greatest teachers in that process. Painting outdoors forces you to make decisions quickly because the light is constantly changing. You simply can’t paint everything. It teaches you to identify what truly matters, to simplify the rest, and to trust that suggestion is often more powerful than description. It’s a lesson I’m still learning. In fact, I often revisit older paintings and rework them as my understanding of light, design, and simplification continues to grow. For me, becoming a better painter isn’t about reaching a destination. It’s about continually learning to see more clearly.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a landscape painter working primarily in oils, specializing in plein air and studio paintings inspired by direct observation. While I occasionally paint still lifes and other subjects, I am most drawn to landscapes because they allow me to explore the changing qualities of light, atmosphere, and the unique character of a place.
My years in commercial art gave me a strong foundation in design and composition, but plein air painting transformed the way I observe the world. Rather than simply recording what I see, I strive to create paintings that communicate the experience of standing in a particular place at a particular moment. I hope my work invites viewers to slow down, look more carefully, and discover beauty that might otherwise go unnoticed.
One of the things I am most proud of is that I have never stopped learning. After more than four decades as a professional artist, I continue to study with artists I admire, participate in plein air events, and challenge myself by revisiting earlier paintings as my understanding continues to grow. That commitment to continual growth has shaped both my work and my approach to painting.
In recent years, I have been honored to receive recognition in several regional and national juried exhibitions, and my work has found homes with collectors across Texas. I am also represented by Pearl Fine Art Gallery in Galveston, where I continue to share new work inspired by the landscapes and quiet moments that have become central to my artistic journey.
If there is one thing that sets my work apart, I hope it is not simply the places I paint, but the way I invite viewers to experience them. Every painting begins with a moment that caused me to stop, pay attention, and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation. My goal is to preserve that experience on canvas so others can share in it as well.
I also enjoy teaching workshops and demonstrations because explaining how I see light, design, and atmosphere has made me a better painter as well. Helping other artists grow is one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people assume that after forty years as a professional artist I’d have everything figured out. The truth is, I probably spend as much time learning today as I ever have. I still study with artists I admire, fill sketchbooks with experiments, and even revisit paintings I once thought were finished. Becoming a better painter has become a lifelong pursuit, and I hope I never lose the curiosity of a student.
Pricing:
- Small works (8×10 and similar): beginning around $500
- Medium paintings (11×14 to 16×20): approximately $800–$2,000
- Larger paintings: generally $2,000–$4,000+
- Commissions: available on a limited basis
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lesleeartist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleeartist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesleeartist
- Other: Newsletter signup: http://eepurl.com/jbo-To
