ABOUT THE ARTIST

Born and raised in Illinois, Diana is a retired RN who spent most of her working years in medical administrative positions. She and her husband Gary lived on Galveston Island, Texas for 30 years and retired to Loveland, Colorado in 2001 to be near their daughter and grandchildren.

Diana began to study painting in 2003 and has pursued a career as a professional artist ever since. Her work has been recognized in numerous national, international and regional competitions, and she has won awards in watercolor, pastel and mixed media/collage.

She is a signature member of both the Pastel Society of Colorado and the Colorado Watercolor Society. Elected to her third three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Art Center of Estes Park, she is currently serving as Board president for the 7th year and has chaired the Education Committee for nine years. She is also a member of the Longmont Artists’ Guild and Fine Art America.

The simple organic shapes of nature prove inspirational to this artist who enjoys painting subject matter of all types and creating “vintage collage” utilizing family ephemera and mixed media in her work. She has a special affinity for the rural scenes of her childhood in central Illinois and for working in the abstract.

With an eye toward evolving as an artist, Diana’s journey into “abstractivity” began in 2011. She is endlessly fascinated and challenged to discover new ways to pare shapes and ideas down to the bone… regardless of the chosen media. Adding layer after layer is her counter-intuitive way of “uncovering” the real essence of the work. She strives to let you know how she feels in each of her paintings.

She is also a writer of fiction, with seven years of continuing education at Rice University, Houston, Texas in novel writing, and she is a published short story writer.

WHY DO I PAINT?

"To put my passions on paper."

MEMBERSHIPS

Art Center and Gallery of Estes Park
- Participating Artist Member: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Board of Directors Member: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Education Committee Chair: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Vice President, Board of Directors: 2014
- President, Board of Directors: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Signature Member, Pastel Society of Colorado
Signature Member, Colorado Watercolor Society
Longmont Artists' Guild
FineArtAmerica

JURIED SHOWS

1st Annual “New Frontiers Show & Sale” - Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum - Cheyenne, WY – November 2022
Pastel Society of Colorado Mile High International Juried Exhibition – 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Colorado Watercolor Society New Trends in Watermedia Exhibit -- Denver, CO - 2014, 2017
"Reflections" Show – Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, Colorado – October 2016
Art Center of Estes Park - Lines Into Shapes National Art Show & Sale, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
"The Paths We Take" Show – Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO - June 2016
"A to Z in the Garden" Show – Madison & Main Gallery, Greeley, CO – May/June 2016
"Salon des Refuses" Show – Loveland, CO – May 2016
"Spring Forward" Art Show – Artists Association of Northern Colorado – Ft. Collins, CO – April, 2016
29th Annual Women’s History Month Art Show - "Dreams & Ambitions" – Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park Fine Art Gallery, Estes Park, CO- 2016
"Beauty Surrounds Us Show" – Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO – November 2015
"Abstractivity Show" – Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park Fine Art Gallery, Estes Park, CO – November 2015
"Centennial Barn Competition Show" – Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO – August 2015
28th Annual Women's History Month Art Show - "Art from the Heart" - 2015 - Cultural Arts Council Fine Arts Gallery - Estes Park, CO
27th Annual Women's History Month Art Show - "Art from the Heart" - 2014 Cultural Arts Council Fine Arts Gallery - Estes Park, CO
Thompson Valley Art League - Regional Fine Arts Show, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Arkansas Pastel Society 3rd National Exhibition - Reflections in Pastel - December, 2009
Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum - Western Spirit Art Show - 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018
Louisville Art Association's 27th Annual National Fine Art Show, Louisville, Colorado - 2012
National Greeley Art Exhibition & Sale - 2008
Pastel Society of the Northern Rockies National Show & Sale - 2008 Pastel Extravaganza
Artist Association of Northern Colorado 21st Annual Art Exhibition & Sale, 2012
Richeson 75 International Art Competitions – Small Works, 2012, 2013
Paint the Parks – National 2011 Mini 50 Competition
23rd Annual Women's History Month Art Show -- "Works of Love" -- 2010 Cultural Arts Council Fine Arts Gallery -- Estes Park, CO
24th Annual Women's History Month Art Show -- "Random Works of Beauty" -- 2011 Cultural Arts Council Fine Arts Gallery -- Estes Park, CO
25th Annual Women’s History Month Art Show -“Art & Soul” - 2012 Cultural Arts Council Fine Arts Gallery - Estes Park, CO
26th Annual Women’s History Month Art Show – “Common Thread” - 2013 Cultural Arts Council Fine Arts Gallery-Estes Park, CO
Gilpin County Arts Association 66th Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition - 2012
St. Stephen's Art Show - Longmont, Colorado - April 2009, April 2010, April 2011, April
2012, 2013
Poudre Studio Artists & Galleries Miniature Art Show – 2012, 2013 Ft. Collins, CO
Artist Association of Northern Colorado 22nd Annual Art Exhibition & Sale- 2013 Ft. Collins, CO
22nd Annual Colorado Watercolor Society State Watercolor Exhibit – 2013 Golden, CO
Mountainside Miniatures Exhibit & Sale – Foothills Art Center, Golden, Colorado, 2013

MEMBER SHOWS

Pastel Society of Colorado Member's Show 2007, 2008, 2011, 2018, 2022
Pastel Society of Colorado Signature and Master Signature Member’s Show - 2013, 2015
Longmont Artists' Guild - Spring Member's Show 2008; Fall Show 2012, Annual Show -- 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Pastel Society of the Northern Rockies Small Works Show – 2011, 2013
First Annual Online Pastel Classic – Pastel Society of the Northern Rockies - 2012
Thompson Valley Art League - Fall Festival Show, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Thompson Valley Art League - Sweet Art Show, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
Thompson Valley Art League - Spring Show, 2012, 2013

AWARDS

“Invocation” – 3rd place honors - Pastel Society of Colorado “Perspectives Show” - Longmont, CO – August, 2022
"Transformation Point" - Reed Art & Imaging Award of Excellence - Pastel Society of Colorado’s 17th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition - Curtis Center for the Arts in Greenwood Village, CO - May 2021
“Firmament” – Honorable Mention in Pastels – Longmont Artists’ Guild 2018 Annual Show – Longmont, CO, June 2018
"Apparition" - 3rd Place in Pastels - Longmont Artists’ Guild 2017 Annual Show - Longmont, CO, June 2017
"By the Glass" - 1st Place in Painting - Boardwalk Gallery "Reflections" Show - Windsor, CO, October 2016
"A.H. Myers Barn" – 2nd Place Mixed Media – Longmont Artists’ Guild Annual Show, June 2016
“Apparition” – 3rd Place in Artists Association of Northern Colorado Spring Art Show, April 2016
"A.H. Myers Barn" - 1^st Place Mixed Media - Centennial Barn Competition Show - Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO - August 2015
"Vertical Displacement" - 2^nd Place Mixed Media – Longmont Artists’ Guild 2015 Annual Show
"Full Disclosure" – 2^nd Place Watercolor – Thompson Valley Art League’s Regional Fine Arts Show, 2015
“Sun Catcher” – 3^rd Place Pastel – Thompson Valley Art League’s Regional Fine Arts Show, 2015
“Merlot & Friends” – 2^nd Place in Watercolors – Thompson Valley Art League’s SweetArt Show, 2014
"Black Label" – 3^rd Place in Pastels – Thompson Valley Art League’s Fall Show, 2013
“Pas de Deux” – Honorable Mention – Thompson Valley Art League’s Fall Show, 2013
“Captain’s Meadow” – 3^rd Placehird Place in Pastels, Thompson Valley Art League’s Regional Fine Arts Show, 2013
“Window to the Past” – Meritorious Entry – Richeson 75 International Small Works Show, 2013
"Summer Blossoms" - 3^rd Place in Watercolors, Thompson Valley Art League's Spring Show, 2013
"Invitante Finestra" - 3^rd Place in Pastels, Thompson Valley Art League‘s Spring Show, 2012
“Captain’s Meadow” - Meritorious Entry - Richeson 75 International Small Works Show, 2012
"Weather to the West" - 1^st Place award in pastels, Thompson Valley Art League Fall Show, 2010
"Larsen's Barn" - Juror's Choice Award, Thompson Valley Art League Sweet Art Show, 2010
"Oscar's Barn" - 2^nd Place award in pastels, Thompson Valley Art League's Fall Show, 2009
"Oscar's Barn" - Pastel Society of Colorado Award, Thompson Valley Art League's Fall Show, 2009
"Morning on the Moki Dugway" - Honorable mention, Thompson Valley Art League June Juried Show, 2009
"Yearling" - Honorable Mention, Thompson Valley Art League Fall Show, 2008

EXHIBITS

Featured Artist - “Jewel Tones & Gem Stones” Show – Art Center & Gallery of Estes Park – Estes Park, Colorado – Summer 2020
Featured Artist –"Time in a Bottle" Show – Art Center and Gallery of Estes Park-Estes Park, Colorado – August 2017
"Driven To Abstraction" Show – Community Creative Center – Ft. Collins, CO – October 2016
Longmont Artists’ Guild Art Show & Sale, Longmont Art Museum – Longmont, CO – December 2015
"Art Through the Ages" Senior Art Competition/Show, Loveland Museum/Gallery – Loveland, CO – October 2015
Milestone Full Circle Health, Longmont United Hospital – Longmont, Colorado – July 2014-January 2015
US Bank - Estes Park, Colorado - January, February, March 2012
Art Center of Estes Park, CO - Featured Artist - January, February 2011; May, June 2014
Loveland Museum/Gallery – Loveland Art Studio Tour Exhibit – 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
Juried Loveland Art Studio Tour - 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
Gardens at Spring Creek - Ft. Collins, CO - Featured Artist, Gift Shop - April-May 2010
Gardens at Spring Creek - Ft. Collins, CO - Watercolor Exhibition & Sale - February 2010
Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living - Ft. Collins, CO - Featured Artist, January 2010, April 2011
Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, Colorado - "Holiday Art Exhibition & Sale" - December 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Lincoln Gallery - Loveland, Colorado - Featured Artist of the Month, August 2009 Show - "Garden-Fresh", August 2010 Show
Barnes & Noble Book Store - Loveland, Colorado - Featured Artist of the Month, November, 2008, October 2009
Chamber of Commerce, Visitor's Center - Loveland, Colorado - Featured Artist of the Month, October, 2007

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Watercolor Workshop in Estes Park, Colorado – Kathleen Lanzoni, Boulder, Colorado
“Putting More Creativity in Your Art” in Estes Park, Colorado – Jody Rigsby, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Pastel Landscape Painting - Cliff Austin, Aurora, CO - 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Five years watercolor and pastel instruction - Mary Landis, Loveland, Colorado
Still life pastel workshop - Rick Stoner, Longmont, Colorado
Watercolor workshops, studio and plein air - Mark Silvers, Ft. Collins, Colorado
Workshops in: painting with pastels; pastel character portraits from the quick pose; drawing - Mike Beeman, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Watercolor journaling workshop - Richard Schilling, Loveland, Colorado
Concepts of abstract art and mixed media - Bonnie Terrill, Loveland, Colorado
Individual pastel instruction - Jody Freeland, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Watercolor workshop and ongoing watercolor instruction - Karen Ramsay, Ft. Collins, Colorado
Pastel workshop and two years pastel instruction - Sally Fulton, Longmont, Colorado
Metals and Mixed Media Workshop - Carol Nelson, Aurora, Colorado
Watercolor Journaling workshop in Estes Park, CO with Karen Ramsay
Master watercolor workshop with Skip Lawrence in Golden, CO
Collage/Mixed Media Workshop with Gale Webb in Arvada, Colorado

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Mentoring students in pastel and watercolor for Art Center of Estes Park Annual Mentor Show – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Pastel workshop, for Shadow of the Arts - "Falling in Love with Pastels" - May, 2007 - Loveland High School (Invitational workshop for gifted and talented high school art students in Thompson Valley school system.)

CHARITABLE ART DONATIONS
FINE ART SILENT AUCTIONS
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

Silent Auction - Estes Park, CO Annual Memorial Day Art Market, 2019 - Proceeds benefit the Art Center of Estes Park
65 Roses Show/Sale for Cystic Fibrosis – February, 2015
13th Annual Alzheimer's Association "Memories in the Making" Art Auction - May, 2013
Original painting of my own inspired by one done by an Alzheimer's patient is paired with that work and included in the annual fundraising art auction.
Thompson Valley High School Orchestra Fine Art Silent Auction/Fundraiser - 2012
Rialto Theater Guild Fine Art Silent Auction/Fundraiser – 2012
Loveland Art Studio Tour 2011 -- Portion of Tour Proceeds to Alternatives to Violence
Larimer County Food Bank – Empty Bowls Fundraiser/Silent Auction – 2011
Longmont Christian School Fundraiser/Silent Auction – 2011
Colorado Nurses Foundation, Nursing Scholarship Fund, 2007 Nightingale Silent Auction
Loveland Good Samaritan Retirement Village - Fundraising Events, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013
Thompson Valley Art League Silent Auction, November 2009
"An Eggstraordinary Evening", March, 2010 - April, 2011 - September, 2012 - October, 2013 -- Handpainted Emu and Ostrich Eggs donated to Charity Auction - Mirasol Senior Center - Loveland, Colorado
Silent Auction - Bob Decker Golf Tournament – Estes Park, CO – September 11, 2011 - Proceeds to benefit The Lions Club and the Art Center of Estes Park.
16th Annual Richard Schmid FIne Art Auction - September 2011 - Rist Canyon, Colorado

REPRESENTATION

Art Center and Gallery of Estes Park, Estes Park, Colorado
FineArtAmerica