About Leslie Nicole

Leslie Nicole at computer

I am an American Photographer and Designer living in the Loire Valley, France with my husband, Michel, my 3 Weimaraners, Ellie, Bella and Liko and 2 cats, Agate and Moustache. I have a degree in Fine Arts from the School of Architecture and Allied Arts at the University of Oregon where I studied fine art, photography and theater arts. Since, I have taken a zillion classes and seminars in design, photography and digital imaging.

While living in San Francisco, I worked in professional photographic services as well as being a freelance photographer. I was also a professional Hand Colorist and had many editorial and commercial assignments. I taught classes at professional venues for Kodak and was a guest instructor at the Academy of Art in S.F. I’ve also been an assistant instructor for the Ansel Adams Photography Workshops in Yosemite, California.

Photographic services melded into Digital Imaging. (I started with Photoshop 2.0!) Digital Imaging melded into Graphic Design. I have worked for a number of national and multi-national companies including designing for PepsicoThomson’s ElectronicsErnst and Young and Macy’s West. I also ran my own graphic design studio. I was one of the founders and the first “fearless leader” of the Bay Area InDesign User’s Group.

Since moving to France in 2008, I’ve had the opportunity to close the circle and pick up photography again, enriched by my journey into digital imaging and design. My photography is close to my life and I photograph flowers and plants  from my garden, my dogs and I love to explore the villages and châteaux of France. I love photographing details of French walls and stone and combing flea markets to find materials to put into the textures and brushes I create for French Kiss Textures. I also use my fine art background to create textures, brushes and papers from acrylic and oil paint, watercolor, monoprinting and pastels.

French Kiss is a way to share my own artistic journey and the culmination of my experience with you from tutorials to the art elements I create. From my studio to yours, wishing you abundant creativity and success.

See images of my studio.