Les Halstead is an artist based out of Chesapeake, VA. He calls himself a “gifted recession artist” because his art journey really started in earnest because of the recession, and a gift of a drawing course.  
In 2008, due to the recession, he was forced to give up the outside activities he enjoyed in order to focus on keeping their family contracting business afloat. Being in need of an outlet for relaxation, and having always been attracted to pen and ink drawings, he purchased a sketch book, pigment markers, and a book by Claudia Nice and started trying to figure it out. With no formal training (other than high school drafting), it was just something to do for relaxation. Then, in 2012, a close friend gifted him an 8 week drawing class with local artist Mary Lee Ruff. The class turned out to be a life-changing, art-changing learning experience. He has continued to take classes at Charles Taylor Art Center and Torggler Fine Arts Center.
Currently, his mediums of choice are pencil, pen & ink, and watercolor. He loves details and capturing
the natural beauty that surrounds us by creating art that draws you in.
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See my artwork here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/lhalstead/