150th Anniversary of Impressionism Series
Carlsbad Senior Center • ongoing in 2024
Local oil painter, Leigh Cohn, is conducting a series of events celebrating the beginning of Impressionism 150 years ago in 1874. The workshops, lectures, and classes will be featured at the Carlsbad Senior Center throughout 2024. They include:
- “Color Mixing Tips for Painters” – a workshop on Saturday, February 24th for everyone from beginning to experienced painters of any medium; all materials supplied, including oil paints
- “The Birth of Impressionism” – an entertaining 90-minute lecture on April 15th, the date that the First Impressionist Exhibition opened in Paris; will also be live streamed
- “Let’s Paint Like Impressionists” – a six-week oil painting class running April 30th to May 28th; beginning to experienced painters welcome
- “Claude Monet and the Age of Impressionism” – an intimate 90-minute lecture on the painter’s art and life, including his influence on the other Impressionists and the evolution of art; will also be live streamed (Fall date TBD)
- “Let’s Paint Water Lilies” for oil painters of every level (Fall date TBD)
For more information about the series events, contact the Carlsbad Senior Center (799 Pine Ave; Carlsbad CA 92008; 422-339-2650), or consult the City of Carlsbad class catalogue.
This painting appeared at the First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874. The notorious critic Louis Leroy ridiculed Monet’s painting as being a sketch or “impression” – not a finished painting – in his derisive review, “The Exhibition of the Impressionists.” That’s how the term was coined.
Carlsbad Exhibit & Painting Giveaway
Carlsbad Senior Center • September 9 – November 13, 2023
A "Featured Artist" solo exhibition of 25 paintings by Carlsbad oil painter Leigh Cohn were on display for two months. Most of the artwork was given away for free at the conclusion of the show. Paintings were requested by 76 people. Due to the high demand, additional pictures were offered in a "Second Chance Giveaway" to locals who didn't receive those that they requested. Altogether, 29 artworks were distributed.
Simultaneously, I also taught an 8-week course, "Impressionist Painting for Beginners" and have provided PDFs of lectures and other materials at our class webpage.
Paintings Displayed that were Available:
Saint Malo is at the border between Carlsbad and Oceanside at the inlet of the Buena Vista Lagoon. It's the best beach in town to find flocks of birds. This canvas is six-feet-wide and needs a big wall!
Encina Power Plant and its dismantling
Built in 1954, the Encina Power Station (i.e., "Plant"), was an iconic Carlsbad structure. Located at the southwest end of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, its 400-foot smokestack stood as a beacon for travelers for nearly 70 years. It was decommissioned after a smaller electric generator and desalination plant were built nearby on the property.
Painting the power plant helped me to build a foundation of personal style. Over the next two decades my techniques evolved, and I returned to the power plant from time to time, including its dismantling, which was completed in 2022.
Click to watch a 2-minute video of the painting process. Note, this canvas is five-feet wide and needs a big wall.
Mendenhall Glacier
In 2022, most of my paintings were related to beaches. Some of them were offered to subscribers to my LeighPaintings.com announcements (bottom of page) in exchange for donations to the Ocean Conservancy. The project raised $13,617 preserving the health of our seas.
I painted these two Mendenhall Glacier pictures from a photo taken twenty years ago on an Alaskan cruise. I also wrote a blog article about how climate change is causing this and other glaciers to dangerously melt.
Venice, Italy
While the coronavirus pandemic impacted the whole world in 2020, I painted 20 pictures of Venice, Italy. They included familiar views, beautiful lockdown landscapes, and stormy seas. Part of this project was to make a statement about climate change and included a seven-foot wide, six-canvas composition of the Doge's Palace Flooded. See the whole project and 7-minute video at "Painting Venice in a Pandemic."
Included but not Available:
"Second Chance Giveaway" (not displayed at the exhibit)
Many of the people who requested paintings did not get one. Therefore, I offered a few pen & ink drawings and early paintings for them, and these were given away.
Comments from Exhibit Attendees
A few examples from the request forms:
“My fiancé proposed to me right at that dip by the bridge. We love our Carlsbad local life and I would love to give this to him.”
“I have lived in Carlsbad since 1951 and all these paintings mean a lot to me.”
“When I see the painting, wow, it recalls me back to the many years ago. When my kids were young, I with them went to beach for photographing and working for school projects. I couldn’t imagine that we would talk about the past memory with this beautiful beach painting during the holiday.”
“My father-in-law was an immigrant who started at SD&GE pulling weeds and moved up to better jobs within the company and a long. Our favorite beach was the warm water jetty in front of SDGE. Not only was the smoke stack a landmark for travelers and boaters, it was where "Dad" (later “Grandpa) worked.”
“We have lived in Carlsbad since 1979 and the power plant has been part of our landscape since then. The beautiful paintings are a nice remembrance of old Carlsbad.”
“Purchasing the grove in 1986 was the best investment the city ever made. It is my favorite spot to think, to read, and to visit with a friend. There is a serenity that comes through the trees that Leigh has captured. That is why I would treasure this painting.”
“I like these because they are beautiful, and capture the spirit of Carlsbad's coastal region.”
“I have been living in Carlsbad for many years. These beautiful paintings have sentimental value. I'd love to give one of these paintings to my 91-yr-old mother. She appreciated art and is connected to the ocean like I am. We can enjoy it together–even better”
