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Biography for Diane Olsen
It has been 20 years since I started painting, beginning with watercolor, exploring acrylic and mixed media, and moving into painting with oils about 10 years ago. Now I paint with oils the majority of the time.
Inspiration from shapes, color, movement of line, and my personal sense of place from the landscape translate onto my canvas through color and an immediate passionate response to each setting. My style of painting is impressionistic realism, with hints of stylistic and expressionist influences. Through my style of painting I find the freedom to artistically explore my favorite subjects in a manner that is honest and satisfying to me. Each painting becomes a personal adventure to express myself as simply and beautifully as possible.
Prior to 2008 I was known as Diane Van Noord. There have been many changes in my life over the last few years and with careful consideration, I made the decision to return to the use of my given name, Olsen, after many years as Van Noord. My signature mark with which I sign my name to my oil paintings remains almost exactly the same and is easily identifiable as mine.
My hometown is Grand Haven, Michigan, a beautiful town on Michigan's western coastline with sandy beaches and gorgeous sunsets. I now live in the beauty of the Sonoran desert in Scottsdale, Arizona, returning to Grand Haven to teach in the summer.
Artists who have most greatly influenced me through their work and spirit are William Herring, under whom I mentored for 5 years and I am very grateful for his wisdom and encouragement: Michelangelo, Degas, Edgar Payne, Georgia O'Keeffe, Jeanne Dobie, and Gregory Kondos.
Beauty is a beckoning power to the human soul and I strive to make it alive in my paintings through a pleasing subject, beautiful color and beautiful paint quality. I hope you enjoy my work. What great fun! I love painting.
Selected Awards:
Artists' Magazine, 2006 Art Competition, Animal Category
International Artist magazine, Challenge #7, The Landscape
International Artist magazine, Challenge # 19, The Landscape
Artists' Magazine, 2002 Art Competition, The Landscape
Tucson Plein Air Painters, "Los Ranchos Show" Honorable Mention
Selected Exhibitions and Art Events:
2010-2009 Nomadas Del Arte, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
2010-2008 Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Le Chedeau Du Cheval, Canada, "The Horse Gift" Mural Mosiac
2008 Scottsdale Artists' School, Beaux Arts
2007 American Women Artists, Annual National Show, Scottsdale, AZ
2007 Small Works NA, Greenwich Workshop Gallery
2007 Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, New York
2005 Biennale Internaztionale Dell' Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy
2005 Allied Artists of America, New York, NY
2005 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters 3rd Annual Exhibition
2005 National Watercolor Society, "Side by Side", CA
2004 Scottsdale Artists' School, "The Best and the Brightest"
2003 Oil Painters of America, Annual National Exhibition, Taos, NM
2002 Oil Painters of America Midwest Regional, Chicago, IL
2002 Oil Painters of America Annual National Exhibition, Chicago, IL
2002 American Artists Professional League Annual Exhibition, New York, NY
Selected Publications:
Who's Who in American Art 2008-2010
"Collectible Art Still On the Easel", American Art Collector, April 2006
"The Best Kept Secrets of Plein Air Painters" International Artist, April/May 2004
"A Passion for Landscape" Artists' Magazine, May 2004
How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint the Landscape, 2004
How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Flowers and Gardens, 2004
The Best of Watercolor, 1995
Born: December 12, 1950
Education:
B.A. Hope College, Holland, Michigan
M.A. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Professional Organizations:
Oil Painters of America
American Women Artists
Tucson Plein Air Painters
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