Gary Lessord Fine Art Painter Biography

Gary Lessord Biography

As a high school senior, Gary received the National Scholastic Portfolio Award in New York City along with a scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology. Gary continued his undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Brockport and earned a Master of Fine Art Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Summa Cum Laude. To date, the artist has received over 100 awards and recognitions.

Over the years, his work has gone through great transitions in subject matter, technique and style. The thrill of exploration has motivated the artist to experiment with and create numerous works in pencil, lithography, intaglio, pen and ink, watercolor, oil and acrylic media. He now works primarily in acrylic, watercolor and pencil. Lessord has extensive experience in the publication realm, having produced illustration for magazine covers, books, brochures, and the motion picture industry. His talent has enriched the creative needs of numerous major clients including Disney, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Richard Crane Productions and many others. Gary's fine art is in the public and private collections across the United States, Canada and Europe. He has also held a variety of teaching positions including instructor of wildlife painting and drawing at the University of Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery and illustration and portfolio classes at Valencia Community College, Orlando. Gary has exhibited his painting, Creative Splendor, in Washington DC at the US Senate Rotunda and in New York City at the Society of Illustrators Museum. (Click here for newspaper articles on Creative Splendor: Article 1 - Article 2 Please wait for them to download.)

Gary's subjects span the areas of portrait, figure and landscape. His artwork has solidified in the pursuit of wildlife art and Christian themes. Gary strives to create a sensation of "life" and "belonging" through the depiction of light, shadow, and mood of the passing moment. He believes these are vital ingredients for successful artworks. The artist's continuous goal is to portray with love, respect and intensity the magnificent created beauty he sees before him and to share that vision and appreciation with others.

Jim Fowler congratulates Gary on the successful Fund Raising Auction of his artwork for Florida Wildlife Federation.

Gary on location at Silver Springs sketching Bugsy the giraffe for his published painting "Afternoon Affection."

From the international publication AVENUES published by Art Licensing Properties and Bentley House: The Wild Life of Gary Lessord

"So maybe artist Gary Lessord is known for his colorful wildlife paintings and domestic portraiture pieces. That doesn't mean he can't use his diverse talents for other adventures along the way. In fact, just recently Gary used his knack for creative exploration to totally redesign, construct and create special effects paintings for the Orlando-based television talk show, Community Café. Gary created a French outdoor café, true-to-life with stucco walls, hanging plants, a red and white awning, outdoor lamps and the "Lessord Gallery" window which features several of Gary's wildlife paintings published by Bentley House. His paintings are not only exhibited in each interview segment, but also during the rolling credits. Community Café just recently hosted a party to celebrate its 100th episode with numerous guests and TV personalities.

Speaking of TV personalities. . . Gary also recently juried the National Wildlife Show held inside an animal theme park in Silver Springs, Florida. The theme park just happened to be the on-sight location for two of the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movies!

Two years ago he was asked by Silver Springs' staff members to sketch and photograph the newly born resident Bugsy, the giraffe. The subsequent painting he did of Bugsy and his mother entitled, "Afternoon Affection" is published by Bentley House and licensed through ALP. Gary is having a great time using his extensive artistic background for so many other endeavors."

"The Explorers"
Original Available

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©2011 Gary Lessord. All images, all rights reserved. Not for use by others in any form, including electronic reproductions (i.e. for your website or personal computer desktop). Please contact Gary Lessord for a license to use or to purchase any of these works as originals, cards, or prints. KGLessord@aol.com