Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Diane moved several times before settling in New Mexico. As an English/Education major, Diane attended Butler University, Oklahoma University, and Oklahoma City University. In 1970, she and her husband moved to Albuquerque and Diane took up watercolor painting as a hobby. She joined the New Mexico Watercolor Society where she met and painted with some very talented artists and participated in workshops with such artists as Milford Zornes, George Post, and Robert Wood. Diane decided to complete her undergraduate degree but changed her major to studio art. She continued studying watercolor at UNM with Sam Smith, Intaglio with Jane Abrams and Methods and Materials with Harry Nadler. Diane graduated UNM with a BFA in 1985. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Education in 1987. Diane taught Language Arts, coached drama and co-sponsored the school’s literary magazine at Jefferson Middle School. In 1998 she started teaching at Sandia High School eventually becoming the full-time drama director. Her art education was invaluable in teaching lighting and set design. Throughout her teaching career, Diane continued painting and entering local art shows and winning awards for both her watercolor and oil paintings. Since retiring in 2005, Diane has been painting the southwest landscape full time with oil as her medium.
Artist Statement
I love the textures and feel of oils and love leaving the marks of the brushwork to show the hand of the artist. I have a goal to keep improving my observation skills and so participate both in plein air and life drawing opportunities. Studying and working with other artists inspires growth and I have made many painting friends through my participation in the Rio Grande Art Association, The Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Art League. I try to paint weekly with a small group of very talented plein air painters. We call ourselves the Plein Air Friends.
To me, art is all about communication. As the artist tries to understand the world there is a need to communicate those perceptions. Dance, music, literature, theater and the visual arts are all forms that can translate that understanding and present it to others. I chose to try to translate my love of the southwest onto canvas in my oil paintings. The moods of the day, the effects of weather, beauty in the mundane are all areas I enjoy exploring.
