Leslie Golden is an oil painter inspired by the iconic landscapes of California—rolling golden hills, oak-studded valleys, Mount Diablo, Yosemite, and the shifting moods of the Pacific coast. She is drawn to scenes that evoke awe, movement, and a deep sense of place. Her work reflects an appreciation for both the natural environment and the built elements that carry the memory of time.

Growing up on the East Coast, Leslie spent countless hours drawing the branches and forms of the grand trees outside her window. She received her first oil painting set at the age of twelve and studied oil painting after school with internationally renowned painter and illustrator Alton S. Tobey, an experience that laid the foundation for her lifelong artistic practice.

Leslie studied fine art at the college level for two years, focusing on drawing, oil painting, ceramics, and art history. Seeking what she describes as “the biggest canvas possible,” she transitioned into landscape architecture, where her artistic sensibility found expression on an expansive scale.

She earned a BA in Environmental Design, along with a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. For more than two decades, Leslie worked professionally on large-scale urban design projects for cities, counties, and corporate clients, consistently infusing her work with a strong sense of place and environmental context.

After retiring from her professional career, Leslie returned fully to fine art. She studied watercolor with Leslie Wilson for five years before refocusing on oil painting. She has since studied with well-known contemporary oil painters, including Randy Sexton, Leslie Tatzier, Gary Bergren, and Shanna Kunz, continuing to refine her craft and deepen her expressive approach to landscape painting.

Awards 

First Place 1966 New Rochelle NY Paint Out Competition, in the under 18-year-old division Ms. Golden was 12 years old when she completed an oil painting of three trees, Fall, Winter and Spring on 24” x 36” canvas. 

Associations and Galleries

Lamorinda Arts Council

Valley Arts Gallery, Walnut Creek

Shows

Solo Show at Wilder Art Center June 2024

Solo Show at Wilder Art Center July 2024

Primavera Danville ADAS April 2024

Fall Collection at Valley Arts Gallery 2024

Orinda Library July 2025

Spring Collection at Valley Arts 2025

www.LeslieGoldenArt.com      Oil and Watercolor Paintings

www.LeslieGoldenLA.com Residential Landscape Architectural Work

www.LeslieGolden.com    Corporate Landscape and Urban Design Work

                                            Send a message to L-Golden@comcast.net                                          or call 510.589.5580