The Spirit of the Oregon District

Like Lesley’s work? Vote for her to win the People’s Choice Award. Voting open through September 30th.

Lesley Walton

Lesley Walton’s portraits highlight the sense of community in Dayton’s Oregon District and focus on the diversity and uniqueness of the individuals in you will find on an ordinary day in the district. Lesley strives to demonstrate the inner spirit in the individuals I draw. She says, “I notice a spirit of people coming together in the district, of people and business owners in the neighborhood that take the time to stop and say hello.  Although sometimes perceived as attracting an uncommon mix of people…there is a common bond of unique and ordinary individuals supporting  each other, the thriving arts, music, and the beauty of the historical Oregon District architecture.”

About Lesley Walton

Lesley is a local artist who enjoys painting in oil and drawing in graphite. Her main focus has been portraiture. Her love of people and the character seen through a single expression has inspired her. Her graphite drawings take on a spiritual feel approaching each subject as not just a face but showing the spirit within the individual. Focusing not so much on traditional portraits, but closer views and different angles of hands and faces. Her focus in painting the past few years has been one of nostalgia. Taking black and white photos from years past and deciding what colors to choose to bring the subject to life. Her graduation series allows her to bring to life old black and white photos through her use of bold color. Lesley studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her work has won numerous awards and has been featured in published articles as well as Nita Lelands book The New Creative Artist.