LEIF NILSSON CONTEMPORARY CONNECTICUT IMPRESSIONISTInspired by the natural beauty surrounding the Lower Connecticut River Valley, Leif (pronounced LAYF) Nilsson paints his plein air impressionistic landscape compositions directly from life. Setting up his easel in and around his hometown of Chester, Nilsson creates engaging garden, Connecticut River and Coastline, and village paintings that invite the viewer to walk right in.Some of the paintings are completed ala prima, meaning all at once, while others may take several sittings at the same time of day to achieve the correct harmonious atmosphere as he observes it. Generally, heavily textured paintings have more layers applied in an effort to represent the scintillating effects of light in nature over a period of time. Nilsson's brushwork is a result of his dedication to observing nature.Leif Nilsson completed a full curriculum of Classical Studies at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT. He enhanced that education with several sojourns to Scandinavia, Asia Minor and Europe where he studied the French 19th and early 20th century painters; Bonnard and Monet for color; Pissarro and Vuillard for composition and Van Gogh for energy.A successful working artist for over 30 years, Nilsson continues to exhibit his paintings in several galleries throughout the United States, while also promoting his work through his website, and at the Leif Nilsson Spring Street Studio and Gallery, LLC in Chester where collectors visit him regularly to view and purchase his latest works. The studio is open on weekend afternoons from noon to 6:00 pm and other times by chance or appointment. Twelve First Fridays a year he hosts a gallery opening reception for his newest works along with other galleries in Chester. He occasionally teaches painting to children and adults and gives lectures at high schools, universities, art clubs, and museums.Nilsson has hand-made most of his Florentine style, metal leafed, finished corner frames in his studio. The soft luminous gold tone complements his paintings without overwhelming them. Now he orders them from reputable framemakers and assists collectors with their choices.The Connecticut River from Haddam to the Long Island Sound offers a wealth of pictorial opportunities for Nilsson to explore. From the hazy dawn over Eustasia Island in Deep River to the quiet harbors of Old Saybrook's North Cove and from the golden marshes of Chester to the sweeping meadow of Pettipaug in Essex, there's plenty of material to keep a landscape painter busy yearlong. In 2004 he bought a 19 foot 1980 Angler outboard runabout studio boat and began exploring the Connecticut River and its creeks and coves from an anchored perspective. In 2022 the waters of Fisher's Island Sound and Watch Hill became accessable for him to paint when he lauched his 1980 Atlantic City 24 foot Catboat