ABOUT
Leslie Plimpton is an award-winning artist who favors figurative and portrait work that follows the constant theme of fashion. Leslie began her art studies at Ventura College in 1999, later transferring to California State University, Channel Islands receiving a B.A. in Fine Art in 2007. She has supplemented her education with artist workshops at the Fechin Studios in Taos, NM studying with award-winning painter, Huihan Liu, a printmaking class with master printmaker, Xavier Fumat at GEMINI G.E.L., with Linda Taylor at Spotted Dog Studio and Julia Ayres who wrote the definitive book on Monotype. Critical to her painting were her studies with the late Carlyle Cooper and Hiroko Yoshimoto.
Leslie’s fascination with fashion led her to painting figures in oil or acrylic and mixed media. She then collages fabric and real clothing to reveal how fashion is linked to social identity, creating a three-dimensional aspect on a two-dimensional surface.
She also explores her theme of fashion portraying fashion models and fashion designers through printmaking, favoring monotypes, linocuts and drypont etching techniques. Leslie is a Juried member of both the Ojai Studio Artists and the Santa Barbara Art Association. She was juried into the Santa Barbara Printmakers in 2011 and has been showing with the inkspots of San Buenaventura for the past 13 years.
She also enjoys sculpting, having worked in stone and plaster, but mostly prefers to work in clay, creating ceramic shoes where her work has earned merit awards at the Buenaventura Art Association. Her artwork is in private collections around the United States.
RESUME
e-mail: Lesliefashionart@gmail.com
website: LeslieFashionArt.com
Education
2007 BA Studio Art, Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society,
California State University, Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA
1999-2006 Ventura College, Ventura, CA
1986-89 Columbia College, Film/Video Program, Chicago, IL
Printmaking workshop - GEMINI G.E.L., Los Angeles, CA, Xavier Fumat, instructor
Printmaking workshop - Spotted Dog Studio, Ojai, CA, Linda Taylor, instructor
Printmaking workshop - Phyllis Doyen Studio, Camarillo, CA, Julia Ayres, instructor
Painting workshop - Fechin Studios, Taos, NM, Huihan Liu instructor
Exhibitions
2021 “Rolling On,” the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2021 Open Studio, Ojai Studio Artists Tour, Ojai, CA
2021 “Finding Light,” Ojai Studio Artists, Ojai Valley Museum, Ojai, CA
2020 “Celebrating Ten Years,”, Online Art Exhibition & Fundraiser, Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
2020 “Insight 20/20, Ojai Studio Artists, Ojai Valley Museum, Ojai, CA
2020 “Art of the Printmaker,” Juried Open Competition, Carpenteria Arts Center, Carpenteria, CA
2020 Open Studio, Ojai Studio Artists Tour, Ojai, CA
2020 “I Love You Madly,” One-person Exhibition, Gallery 113, Santa Barbara, CA
2020 “Legacy: Seven Decades of Ventura College Art,” Museum of Ventura County, Ventura, CA
2020 “Paper,” Open Juried Show, SBTC, Santa Barbara, CA
2020 “Mending the Divide,” Ojai Studio Artists, Museum of Ventura County, Ventura, CA
2019 Santa Barbara Art Association, New Member Show, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2019 Santa Barbara Art Association, Holiday Show, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2019 “Under Pressure,” 12 Annual inkspots of San Buenaventura Show, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2019 Solo Show - “Portraits in Fashion,” 610 Arts Collective Gallery, Ridgway, Colorado
2019 Santa Barbara Art Association, Juried Show, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2019 82nd Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Competition, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2019 Santa Barbara Printmakers Members Exhibition, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2019 Buenaventura Art Association Open Competition, Ventura County Museum,, Ventura, CA,
2018 Santa Barbara Printmakers Members Exhibition, Ojai Art Center, Ojai, CA
2018 “Press On,” the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2018 Print Power Exhibition, The Community Arts Workshop, Santa Barbara, CA
2018 “Sweet Fifteen,” CSUCI Alumni Exhibition, California State University, Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA
2018 “Stories,” Buenaventura Art Association Open Competition, Ventura, CA
2018 81st Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Competition, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2018 “Paper,” Open Juried Competition, SBTC, Santa Barbara, CA
2018 32nd Annual Open Competition, Buenaventura Art Association, Ventura, CA, Received Award of Honorable Mention
2017 10th Anniversary Exhibition, the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2017 Santa Barbara Printmakers Members Exhibition, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2017 Santa Barbara Printmakers Juried Spring Exhibition, Santa Barbara Jewish Community Center, Santa Barbara, CA
2017 80th Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Show, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2017 Buenaventura Art Association, 31st Annual Open Competition, Ventura, CA
2016 Members Only Exhibition, Santa Barbara Printmakers, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2016 Art at the JCC, Santa Barbara Printmakers Juried Exhibition, Jewish Federation, Santa Barbara, CA
2016 Annual Exhibition, the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2016 “there is me,” the Artists’ Union juried show, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2015 “Inklings,” the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2015 Santa Barbara Printmakers Members Only Exhibit, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2015 Selected Solo works, Leslie Jean Porter Gallery, Palm Springs, CA
2015 The inkspots, Santa Barbara Tennis Club, Santa Barbara, CA
2015 “Impressions,” an invitation-only show, Ventura County Government Center, Ventura, CA
2014 “Pressing Matters,” the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2014 21st Annual Artwalk, Stoneworks Gallery, Ventura, CA
2013 “Layers: Recent Works,” the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2013 Visual Production on “Visions of America, A Photo Symphony,” New West Symphony, Marcello Lenninger, Conductor, Performed at Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Oxnard, CA, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks, CA, Barnum Hall, Santa Monica, CA
2013 Art at the JCC, Santa Barbara Printmakers Juried Winter Exhibition, Santa Barbara, CA
2012 Visual Production on “Visions of America, A Photo Symphony,” Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart, Conductor, Symphony Hall, Boston, MA
2012 “Think Ink,” the inkkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2012 “Hot Summer Nights,” Open Juried Competition, Harbor Village Gallery, Ventura, CA
2012 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, Santa Barbara Printmakers, Channing Peake Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2012 Member Show, Santa Barbara Printmakers, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2011 the inkspots, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2011 the inkspots, E.P. Foster Library, Ventura, CA
2011 18th Annual Juried Exhibition, Santa Barbara Printmakers, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2011 74th Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Exhibit Open Juried Show, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2010 “Think Ink,” the inkspots, Gallery 255, Ventura, CA
2010 “Go Figure, A Celebration of the Human Form, Open Competition, Harbor Village Art Gallery, Ventura, CA
2010 “Treasure Chests,” Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
2010 “Treasure Chests,” San Buenaventura City Hall, Ventura, CA
2010 “Treasure Chests,” Ventura Music Festival, Museum of Ventura County, Ventura, CA
2009 Visual Production on “Visions of America,” A Photo Symphony, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Peter Nero conductor, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
2009 Harvest Artwalk, Stoneworks Gallery, Ventura, CA
2009 “Anything Goes,” Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, CA
2009 “Off the Plate,” the Inkspots, SeaBreeze Art Gallery, Ventura, CA
2009 “Summertime Blues,” CSUCI Art Gallery, Ventura, CA
2009 The inkspots, Discovery Gallery, Ventura Visitors Bureau, Ventura, CA
2009 Spring Artwalk, Stoneworks Gallery, Ventura, CA
2009 Made In Ojai, Ojai, CA
2009 72nd Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Exhibition, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2009 Buenaventura Art Association 23rd Annual Open Competition, Ventura, CA
2008 “Small Images,” New Media Gallery, Ventura College, Ventura, CA
2008 “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Bras,” A Breast Cancer Awareness
Event, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, Simi Valley, CA
2008 Harvest Artwalk, Stoneworks Gallery, Ventura, CA
2008 Can You Read the Fine Print,” the Inkspots, SeaBreeze Art Gallery, Ventura, CA
2008 “Number One,” Invitation Only Alumni Exhibition, CSUCI, Camarillo, CA
2008 Solo Work in a Group Context, SeaBreeze Art Gallery, Ventura, CA
2007 “Small Images,” New Media Gallery, Ventura College, Ventura, CA
2007 Mural, Casa Pacifica, Camarillo, CA
2007 “The Next Step,” Bell Arts Factory, Ventura, CA
2007 “Assimilation Annotation,” Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
2006 “Concept to Completion,” Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
2006 69th Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Exhibit, Santa Paula, CA
2005 “Odyssey Explores, “Farmer & the Cook Cafe, Ojai, CA
2005 68th Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Exhibition, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2004 “Small Wonders,” Ventura College Gallery 2/New Media Gallery, Ventura, CA
2004 “Ventura Paints France,” Pacific Stoneworks, Ventura, CA
2004 “Odyssey Prints,” Farmer & the Cook Cafe, Ojai, CA
2003 66th Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Exhibition, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2002 65th Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Exhibition, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
2001 “.edu,” Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, CA
2001 “Ventura Paints: Italy,” Strauss/Uritz, Ventura, CA
2001 64th Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Exhibition, Santa Paula Public Library, Santa Paula, CA
AWARDS
2019 Honorable Mention, 82nd Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Open Juried Competition, Santa Paula, CA
2019 3rd Place, Buenaventura Art Association Open Competition, Ventura County Museum, Ventura, CA
2018 Honorable Mention, 32nd Annual Open Competition, Buenaventura Art Association, Ventura, CA
MEMBERSHIPS
Juried member of Ojai Studio Artists
Juried member of Santa Barbara Printmakers
Juried member of Santa Barbara Art Association
the inkspots of San Buenaventura