Painting from observation, shaped by a lifelong pursuit of light, atmosphere, and place
Artist Statement
My work begins with looking. I am drawn to the way light changes a familiar place, the atmosphere of a landscape, and the quiet moments that can easily pass unnoticed. I paint primarily in oils, searching for what is essential in a subject rather than trying to describe everything I see.
Whenever possible, I work from life. Painting outdoors and from direct observation asks me to respond to what is actually in front of me: changing light, shifting color, atmosphere, edges, and relationships of value. It has taught me to look more carefully, simplify what I see, and make choices about what matters most in a painting.
My approach is rooted in the tradition of representational painting and influenced by the painterly realism of artists such as Richard Schmid. I am interested in the balance between observation and expression, allowing brushwork, color, edges, and abstraction to remain visible while still conveying a convincing sense of light, form, and place.
I hope my paintings offer more than a record of a particular subject. I want them to carry something of what it felt like to be there: the warmth of sunlight across a field, reflections moving across water, the stillness of an interior, or the presence of a person.
Underlying my work is a sense of reverence. As a Christian, I believe creation is not only beautiful, but significant. Painting has become a way for me to pay attention to that significance, to slow down and see more clearly, and to share something of the wonder I find in the world around me.
Artist Bio
Les Lee is a Texas landscape painter working primarily in oils, creating plein air and studio paintings shaped by direct observation, natural light, atmosphere, and a strong sense of place. His work has received recognition in regional and national juried exhibitions, is held in private collections, and is represented by Pearl Fine Art Gallery in Galveston, Texas.
Les’s interest in art began in childhood and eventually led him to the Texas Academy of Art in Houston in the late 1970s, where he studied with professional illustrators including Bill Narum and Chip Jeffries. His training launched a creative career spanning more than four decades in illustration, graphic design, branding, and creative direction. His work included projects for magazines, newspapers, financial institutions, corporations, nationally recognized food brands, and other businesses.
Throughout his commercial career, painting remained a personal pursuit and an opportunity to create work guided by his own vision. The discovery of plein air painting became a turning point. Working outdoors from direct observation taught him to look beyond the information captured by a photograph and respond instead to the changing relationships of light, color, atmosphere, and design.
Those experiences continue to shape his work today. His background in commercial art provided a strong foundation in drawing, composition, and visual communication, while painting from life has increasingly taught him the importance of simplification and selection. Rather than describing every detail, Les seeks to capture the character of a place and the experience of encountering it at a particular moment.
A lifelong student of painting, Les continues to study with artists he admires, participate in plein air events and juried exhibitions, and challenge his own understanding of painting through continued observation and practice. He also teaches workshops and demonstrations, sharing with other artists what he has learned about light, design, atmosphere, and painting from life.
Les lives and works in Tomball, Texas, and paints on location throughout Texas and beyond. His Christian faith informs his appreciation for the beauty and significance of the natural world and his desire to approach painting with attention and gratitude