Artist Biography
Lesley Van Dalsem has been an artist since the day she could pick up a paintbrush. Although both of her parents were professional theatre designers, she was mostly self-taught. Her art studies included classes in various aspects of design. Ms. Van Dalsem has an acute perception of spatial and color relationships that allow her to create simple and perfect design resolutions.
A large majority of Ms. Van Dalsem's current subjects are professional athletes. Her paintings project the movement and emotional immediacy of the athlete as well as the intensity of the surroundings. The paintings capture the "stop action" single moment of the athletes' feats, almost as if the viewer were there.
Each of her paintings depict the emotional and physical essence of the subject, which allow the viewer to sense the person or animal. In her paintings of horses in the act of racing, the viewer feels herself at race side or even on the horse. The viewer can feel the excitement, the movement, and the emotions of the moment. This feeling of participating with her paintings is the signature of her work.
In 2011, Ms. Van Dalsem won the Exhibition Award at the 2nd Annual International Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport: A Fine Art Competition and Exhibit for her painting of San Francisco Giants closer, Brian Wilson. The painting was on display at the National Art Museum of Sport. In 2013 won the Exhibition Award at the 3rd Annual International Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport: A Fine Art Competition and Exhibit for her painting of San Francisco 49er, Frank Gore.
Lesley Van Dalsem was born in upstate New York, but she has lived most of her life in and near Redwood City, CA. She and her partner, Ben Pechetti, own a graphic arts production studio, Big League Productions, where they can be found creating on most days.
A large majority of Ms. Van Dalsem's current subjects are professional athletes. Her paintings project the movement and emotional immediacy of the athlete as well as the intensity of the surroundings. The paintings capture the "stop action" single moment of the athletes' feats, almost as if the viewer were there.
Each of her paintings depict the emotional and physical essence of the subject, which allow the viewer to sense the person or animal. In her paintings of horses in the act of racing, the viewer feels herself at race side or even on the horse. The viewer can feel the excitement, the movement, and the emotions of the moment. This feeling of participating with her paintings is the signature of her work.
In 2011, Ms. Van Dalsem won the Exhibition Award at the 2nd Annual International Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport: A Fine Art Competition and Exhibit for her painting of San Francisco Giants closer, Brian Wilson. The painting was on display at the National Art Museum of Sport. In 2013 won the Exhibition Award at the 3rd Annual International Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport: A Fine Art Competition and Exhibit for her painting of San Francisco 49er, Frank Gore.
Lesley Van Dalsem was born in upstate New York, but she has lived most of her life in and near Redwood City, CA. She and her partner, Ben Pechetti, own a graphic arts production studio, Big League Productions, where they can be found creating on most days.