I am spending my days now at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale where I meet the most wonderful people. Many remember me from previous years, but are surprised at my new work with the sailboat image. They love them, especially the color, movement and abstract qualitites in the paintings.

One most delightful lady and I were having a great discussion about these happy works - their color harmony, bright pure colors, shapes and movement in the reflections and just overall impression.  And then she said the most interesting thing about one of them.  She said, "I feel and see music in that painting.  Do you play music?" Well, I don't play any instrument outside of being able to plunk on the piano after early years of piano lessons. Then she wanted to know if I listened to music while painting - and yes, I do that much of the time - and I do sing, but privately in my studio or car only for good reasons.

So that day musical quality was experienced in this painting that had nothing to do with music. Maybe it was just that very special lady and her unique interaction with my work, or maybe more of me was going into the painting than I realized. What a beautiful thing for me to have someone "see" and "feel" music while looking at one of my paintings.  She could not have given me a more artistically meaningful compliment that day and I thank her. 

Time sure gets away when one is living a creative life. Days become thought and feeling journeys of paint, music, dance, drama, sculpture, drawing, writing - whatever pulls a creative soul into its expressive home.  Filled with challenges and delights of discovery, an artist or artistic person is almost always better for the time spent, even if nothing was "accomplished" on the outside, it most likely was on the inside.

During the middle of November I spent three days teaching a workshop in Yuma, Arizona in palette knife painting with oils through Mountain Shadows Art Association. With a full class of fifteen great students, many already accomplished artists, we took a journey in technique, composition, and spirit toward new means of expression, greater works, and just plain fun. Everyone worked in their own style, on their own subject choices and focused in new ways on composition and discovering personal tendancies.  For many it was the first time using a palette knife, and I am always intrigued and delighted by students' unique vision and approach.

Time got away on its creative wings and at the end of the workshop, we were better for the time spent together. New art, new ideas, new ways, new friends. Oh, the wonderful power of art!

Whenever I go on a new kind of adventure, its timing and the sense of excitement and pleasure easily overcomes any fears I may have of the unknown that awaits. Horseback riding trips on my wonderful horse, traveling across country alone, getting to know certain persons, and I would even include trying new foods are some of my recent adventures.  Will I even be able to swallow that first bite - or will I end up discovering a new taste that I thoroughly enjoy? 

Adventures in my painting come from that same kind of attitude. What if I discover something that changes my painting forever - and for the better? For me, what I stand to gain is so much more than what I stand to lose in exploring a new subject, approach, and source of inspiration.  Often I am compelled to obey my sometimes fleeting inspirations, going off into new "territories" of feeling and insight.

I spent several weeks along the Lake Michigan shoreline this summer, sometimes watching sailboat races in the evening and spending some time at the harbor in my home town. Sailboats have always brought a sense of peace and mystery to me - their quiet silhouettes bring me a feeling of timelessness that I greatly enjoy and how beautiful it is when the wind fills their sails! The timing seems right these days, so I am off on my sailboating adventure in my painting and loving it.  It is interesting to me that these new paintings are expressing a combination of my watercolor style (I painted in watercolors for years before starting oils) and my style and technique with oils using the palette knife. Maybe I have discovered a new home, a new harbor, and my latest adventure will become a lasting one. We'll see - time and oceans of canvas await. 

I just finished teaching a plein air painting class in oil and watercolor. It was a great class with great weather - we painted at the harbor in Saugatuck filled with boaters, tourists, flowers and quaint buildings, the local Fenn Valley Winery with its rolling vineyards bursting with new grapes, and the Historic Felt Mansion which over the years has served many purposes, even including as a prison at one time.  It is now lovingly restored and the grounds are almost magical in elegance. Our surroundings were beautiful for the four days of class.

My students were challenged, as any student should be, in choosing their subject, starting the painting, applying the paint - the list can go on and on. But the challenges are great opportunities as well and they learned in that way, too. Leaving a class with a great painting is not the goal -  but learning something new that you truly can take with you and continue to incorporate into the way you paint is. 

I love to teach. It is very exciting and satisfying to me to pass on what I have learned over the years as an artist and inspire even those who say they can't draw a stick figure to believe they have more in them than they would imagine.  Art is not just about making a painting, a sculpture, writing, singing a song, dancing, or putting on a play.  You have probably heard that said in a thousand ways before.  I know it is about the journey inward first to our unique center and soul and personality, and then finding our way of expressing what we find there, sharing with others in the form we identify as art.

I will be teaching in Yuma, Arizona this November a class on oil painting with the palette knife.  Send me an email diane@dianeolsenstudio.com, if you are interested.  It is already almost full with room for just a few more.  I would be happy to consider teaching a workshop in your area, and I also teach privately in the Scottsdale area.

Have an inspirational day! 

I think each new day is like a fresh blank canvas upon which we can paint something we have never seen or experienced before.  If we were to paint our day, for example, we could take our dreams, desires and activities as the subject matter of our painting, make our emotions the color, and the style we choose a reflection of our personalilty. What would a painting of your day look like?  Would it be an expression of what you are becoming - or would it be a reflection  of what you are avoiding?  Are you just practicing something for the day or are you working on a masterpiece - maybe a very special you?  



Each one of our days is a unique adventure just like a new painting. 
Why not try this one day?  Get out some paint and a canvas or paper and paint an abstract painting that is an expression of you and your day.  Be fresh, be playful, be emotional, and feel the joy of creativityand the freedom of expressing yourself in a nonobjective way.
Be a painter of your day and enjoy the wonder of your world.   

I have added a new workshop offering this summer in Saugatuck, Michigan, through the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. It is called simply, "Plein Air Painting" and will be held for four mornings, August 10-13, 2009, from 8am to 12pm.  We will be painting around the Saugatuck/Douglas area with its beautiful summer scenes.
Paintings can be done in either oil or watercolor (also acrylic if preferred)
and will include lots of composition work.
 Cost is $195 payable to the SCA. 

 

Please contact krista@sc4a.org  or phone 269-857-2399 for more information and to enroll.
   

A painting for today is a "Little Gem".  These 4"x6" paintings are great for a desk, shelf, workspace, or wherever a sweet little painting would brighten someone's days. It comes framed in a wood tabletop frame, which means it does not have to be hung on a wall, and is only $75, shipping and taxes included.
 
Please contact me at diane@dianeolsenstudio.com if you would
 like to purchase this painting. Visa and Mastercard accepted.

There are just three days left at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale where I have been painting and selling my work since January 16.  The last ten weeks have brought new buyers, new friends and the creation of many new paintings that can be seen on my website.  I will be sorry to have the time there end, but will be back in my studio soon, creating and expressing what inspires me.  If you are in Scottsdale, please stop by the big tent this weekend and say hello.  You might even find a painting that "has your name" on it!

I have begun painting "Little Gems", paintings only 4"x6" which I am selling for $100 in a table top frame with shipping included.  Please email me if you are interested in purchasing one.  Shown here are "Little Gem Sedona" and "Little Gem Shoreline".

                                 

Please check my website for new paintings. One of the most recent is "Such Love" shown on my home page. The dog's face was a joy to paint.  Let me know if you are interested in commissioned portrait work of your favorite animal.

May this day bring you blessings and new adventures!
Diane          

   

It is now the fourth week of the Celebration of Fine Art here in Scottsdale and there could not be a better place to be!  The atmosphere in the big tent is filled with happy, positive people, both artists and visitors, and of course, beautiful art is on every wall and around every corner. If you are in Scottsdale, please come and see the best art show in town.  And be sure to say hello to me and see my paintings and limited edition giclees.  You may find something painted just for you!  I am in Studio #137.   

My most recent painting is "Staghorn Cholla Blossom", a 20" x 20" palette knife oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas. Price is $1600. Please contact me through my website if you are interested in owning this beautiful painting.
 

You also may be interested in screen savers for Windows that I am offering. There are 30 different paintings on four different CD's in these categories:  Landscape: Southwest; Landscape: Shorelines and Sunsets; Landscape: Fields, Flowers & Farming; and Animals and Flowers.  The CD's have a download for the screen saver video format program and each of the 30 images is on the screen for ten seconds. Priced at $35 each or $100 for all four, they make a great gift to yourself or someone special to enjoy my paintings at a very reasonable cost. 

Take time to notice the wonders of the world around you!

Today begins the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale where I will be for the next ten weeks, painting and selling my work in Studio #137. What a great event! I am excited and happy to be amongst so many wonderful art collectors, artists and art appreciators.  Each day is an art event in itself and I look forward to meeting my former collectors once again and meeting many new ones this year.

This year I am starting off the show with some large florals and floral landscapes. And new this year are small 8x10 floral giclee prints which can be grouped together or hung individually. I will also have giclees of four animals. These giclees are available through my website as well, so please check under the prints category to see them.

Also new this year are some wonderful screen savers in video format for your PC. I am offering four different groupings with 30 different paintings each. No paintings are repeated. They are: Landscapes: Southwest; Landscapes: Fields, Flowers & Farming; Landscapes: Shorelines and Sunsets; and Animals and Flowers. Each CD is $35 or all four for $120. I acccept Visa and Mastercard so please email me at diane@dianeolsenstudio.com (sorry this is not showing up well - just click on it) if you would like to purchase them. They will make a great gift to yourself or someone else.

Please stop by and see me at the Celebration of Fine Art if you are in Scottsdale between now and March 29. The Celebration is located on the SE corner of Scottsdale Road and the 101. I will be painting there every day and you can watch as new work is created. If you stop by, please let me know you read about it on my blog and I will have a small gift for you.  May you be blessed today!