Painting is my way of giving form and color to the invisible.
It is a process that is both additive and subtractive–building layer upon layer of paint on a woven surface, allowing some elements to become more prominent, while others are buried beneath.
As an abstract painter, my work evolves intuitively from an inner cache of dreams, half-forgotten memories, and fleeting glimpses of everyday life. The core of each painting’s meaning lies in the “conversation” I have with the work in progress. I begin with an idea or direction, but the work will suggest for me where to go from there—as long as I am in tune with the conversation. My paintings invite the viewer to trace this dialogue and to participate in its creation.
My paintings are built up in layers–like the strata of the earth–using a variety of acrylic based mediums, such as pumice gel, which echo the gritty qualities of natural sand and stone. Some of my work employs the motif of an intimate landscape to explore the ephemeral nature of life. The beauty of shifting light, the passage of time and the elusiveness of memory come into play in this series of highly textural paintings.
I use a landscape motif as a meditation on our quest for the spiritual. It is also a place of solace and comfort in a chaotic world that does not always support the soul’s nourishment. My hope is that the viewer can follow me in my creative/spiritual journey, observing and finding beauty in some of the signs and landmarks I have left along the way.
Diane is a founding member of the Brickbottom Artists Building in Somerville, MA, one of the oldest living and working artists communities in the country. She works out of the Vernon Street Studios, also in Somerville. Diane is a regular participant in the yearly Brickbottom and Somerville Open Studios events. Her mediums include paintings on canvas as well as monotypes, one-of-a-kind artist prints on paper. Diane’s work is included in many corporate and private collections throughout New England.