Artist's statement

I've been a painter since childhood—this is what I am meant to do.

I lose myself in the myriad of shapes, colors and light. These elements are the building blocks of my craft. Weaving them together in a tapestry I try to convey my emotional reaction to a subject or idea.

Up close my paintings are abstract shapes and rhythmic brush and knife strokes. Viewed from a distance some works retain their abstractness while others become more realistic.

Putting labels on my art is difficult. Impressionism comes naturally to me, but, depending on my mood and subject, I'm working more and more in an expressionistic vein and often abstractly. My paintings vary as I continue to grow and challenge myself.

Wherever my art leads me I am grateful to pursue its ever-changing challenge.

Resume

Personal

Majored in fine art at University of Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa. She continued studying at the Baum Art School in Pennsylvania. Originally a watercolorist, she began to favor oils after painting in Taos, New Mexico. In Oklahoma, Diane was one of the founders of the Oklahoma Society of Impressionists. Diane moved to Taos where she won awards and taught workshops herself. After visiting the Pacific Northwest she found she was fascinated by the abstract designs made by boats and their reflections in the harbors. Since moving to Port Townsend, Washington, Diane pursues the challenge of capturing her surroundings and has become aware of a shift in her work toward expressionism. She shows in several galleries from coast to coast and teaches workshops.

Affiliations

  • Oil Painters of America
  • Northwest Watercolor Society
  • Taos Art Association
  • Society of Taos Watercolorists
  • Quimper Art Association
  • Oklahoma Society of Impressionists
  • Washington Plein Air Painters

Awards/honors

  • Washington State Artists Registry
  • Solo show, Northwinds Gallery, Port Townsend, WA, Dec. 2004
  • O.P.A. 2004 exhibits in Kirkland, WA & Portland, OR
  • Gathering Place Calendar, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
  • Art Port Townsend People's Choice, 1999
  • First place, professional, Ray Vinella Taos show, 1998
  • Judges' Choice, Ray Vinella Taos show, 1999
  • Best of Show, Taos Art Assoc. Impressionist show, 1995

Publications

  • Cover story, Peninsula Lifestyle magazine, Feb. 2006
  • Gathering Place calendar cover, 2006
  • Appear in book How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint Seascapes, Rivers and Lakes, Vol. 1 (International Artist Publishing 2004)
  • Cover illustrations for book Craving Water by Mary Lou Sanelli
  • Southwest Art Magazine, "Artists to Watch," Dec. 2001
  • Southwest Art Magazine, "Best of the West," Feb. 2001
  • CFM International Calendar, 1999
  • The Artist's Magazine, 1999
  • Cover story, Taos Magazine, 1999
  • US Art, 1990

Workshops/demos

  • Judge for Northwest Pastel Society, 2004
  • Port Townsend workshop, July 2003, 2004
  • Judge for Jefferson Art Alliance Small Expressions show, 2002
  • Maui, Hawaii workshop, February 2002
  • La Conner workshop, April 2002
  • Sequim Arts demo, January 2000
  • Art Port Townsend studio tour & demo, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004
  • Demonstrations and workshops for Daniel Smith
    Seattle, WA, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
  • Northwest Watercolor Society, 1997
  • Coupeville Art School, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001
  • Taos Plein Air Workshops, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
  • Las Cruces Art Guild demo and judging, 1995
  • Demonstration for Fechin Institute, 1994

Corporate collections

  • Providence Everett Medical Center, Everett, WA
  • Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, Kirkland, WA
  • Comstock Corporation, Denver, CO
  • American Marine Bank, Pt. Ludlow, WA
  • Laureate Collection, Tulsa, OK

Commissions

  • Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, Kirkland, WA
  • Providence Everett Medical Center, Everett, WA