As I change and grow, so does my art. Read about my journey. 

Expressionistic Synthesis

          Expressionistic – emotional, free, open color choice

Synthesis in art – color and shape are equally important and work together, but neither dominates

When my years of artistic experience, expression, experimentation, and heartfelt emotions found their place in time to come together in a unique way, what emerged from me was a new style, a new voice, a new journey in paint, which I am calling “Expressionistic Synthesis”. Combining realism of subject, stylization of forms, abstracted reflections, impressionist painting techniques with the palette knife, expressionist emotional responses, and spontaneity throughout the creative process, allows so much of what I love to come into each new painting. It is as if a paradigm shift has taken place in my artist’s soul from one of unspoken expectations to personal freedom of expression. How joyful and satisfying it is for me to find myself and my art setting sail from this new harbor, even a desert harbor, where I live.

Sun, sailboats, the desert and mountains are the main subjects of these new works. The sun plays a major role in these paintings because sunshine is so important to me. It impacts my life in powerful ways and I in turn allow it to have a place of importance in my compositions. The sailboat is a metaphor for the journey of life, in all the places and states we find ourselves, where we have been, where we are going and even with whom. I grew up in a harbor town and have lived most of my life near coastland. My visual memory is full and I draw on it regularly. The desert and mountains are a place of testing, beauty and strength, in much the same way as the sea. My home now in the desert also speaks powerfully to me of these things. And the spirit of play resounds through these works, freedom to explore and reflections of how complicated we can be even when it all can look so simple.

People often remark that they have never seen anything like these paintings before. Some of the words I hear from people who see these new works for the first time are “unique”, “happy”, “peaceful”, “musical”, “compelling”, “complete”, “serene”, and that they “love the colors”.

Please join me on a journey into my new works of art. May they bring you some of the joy, pleasure and peace they bring to me.

Lately I have had enjoyed painting triptychs. or 'one painting' that consists of three separate panels.  It is actually a lot of fun for me to paint three separate panels that will compose one grouping, yet each one must be able to stand alone compositionally. So the challenge is there artistically along with the satisfaction of completing three paintings at once!  My latest one shown here is "Quiet Water" with each canvas being 8x8 and is $425.  If you would like to add this little gem of a triptych to your collection, please contact me at diane@dianeolsenstudio.com

There has been growing in me an artistic desire to be a bit more abstracted in some of my works.  I have given a lot of thought as to how I can best satisfy that desire and create some appealing new works that could even be hung in groupings, if a space allows for that.  The result of all of this is 12x12 acrylic paintings that are more abstracted in nature and are available for $325, with a 10% discount if  more that one is purchased. Shown here is one of the first ones, which I am calling "Silver Sails".  

Please check back to my website often to see these new paintings as they become available. They will be under the "Abstractions" category.

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.