Welcome to Diana Crow Fine Art! I hope you come back often to see what`s new at my online art gallery and hopefully you will fall in love with one of the paintings or call me to paint a view especially for you. If you're in The Villages come over and say hello if you see me painting outside at quaint locations.
I am excited to present my "Views of The Villages" 2009 Calendar. Consider giving your friends and guests this memory album. I also enjoyed creating my first Florida Christmas card,"The Christmas Parade," which I began at Spanish Springs Town Square.
Mark your calendars to attend the Artist's Showcase at the Savannah Center regional recreation center on Saturday, November 29. It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving from 9 until 3pm. Bring your guests and get a head start on your holiday shopping.
Residents of the Stonecrest community are enjoying the oil painting classes that I began teaching on November 18 at the community center.
In August I ventured to the Top of the World Community to paint with the Ocala Plein Air Painters. My painting in progress of "Sholom Park" was pictured in the Arts and Travel section of the Star Banner on Sunday, August 24. Click on LINKS to read the article about the OPAP "in Plein View."
Click on the Recent Works Portfolio to see "Spring Thaw at The Summit" which I thoroughly enjoyed painting because it's a portrait of my son, Scott skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
My Note Card Packs and Magnets "Views of The Villages" are available for purchase at the three locations of Village Pack N Ship in central Florida on Bichara Blvd in Spanish Springs, at Southern Trace on 466 and at Colony Plaza on 466A.
In my artwork I especially enjoy capturing the essence of daily life in the active retirement community where I live. It`s a lively community of 70,000+ very active, young-at-heart seniors in central Florida. In Recent Paintings you can see my newest painting which honors the founder of The Villages "The Legacy of Harold Schwartz" and read about the surprises of "Northwest Cove" in Nova Scotia.
Spring was busy this year and I had a great time capturing the action when the men raced their sailboats on Lake Mira Mar "Sailing on Lake Mira Mar". I also painted across from "The Rialto at Spanish Springs" and set-up my easel underneath an old oak tree on several mornings to caputre "The Villages Golf Cart Bridge" that crosses over Highway 441/27.
"Morning Reflections" a view of The Church on the Square from across Lake Mira Mar received an Honorable Mention award in the Peoples' Choice Voting at "Arts on the Square" in February, 2008. In 2007 this painting also received Honorable Mention at the Sumter Annex Spring Show.
"Bougainvillea Blossoms" pictured below received Third Place in the Peoples' Choice Voting at "Arts on the Square" in December, 2007. The painting is sold but Giclee Prints are available on archival canvas. Giclee (shee-clay) prints are not mass produced but are crafted one-by-one. They are vivid, accurate reproductions of the original painting. The painting is also reproduced on watercolor paper in various sizes.
Over the fourth of July in 2007 I had a great time plein air painting several commissions in Atlanta and Decatur, GA at the "Historical Scottish Rite Hospital Campus." Giclees are available of the 12" by 36" panoramic view. I donate 10% of the sales of the canvas giclees to CaringWorks, Inc. which provides supportive services for low income tenants of affordable housing while promoting personal and economic self sufficiency.
The original oil painting can be viewed upstairs at the Campus in the offices of Decatur Eye Care. The first of 300 giclees was purchased by Progressive Redevelopment Inc. and is displayed near their offices in the central entry hall.
I paint everyday so new paintings appear frequently on the website. Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter to keep up to date with my arts news, events and the next schedule of classes.
Eager painters in my class at Stonecrest, Enjoy Playing with Oil Paints: Landscape Painting painted The Pond at Glenview and Portland Head Lighthouse as well as selections of their own choice. Several of them exhibited at a neighborhood show on March 1, 2008.
Keep reading to learn more about my painting evolution:
Diana Crow`s love affair with oil painting began when she lived in Japan in 1969. She says, "Art surely transcends language barriers! My teacher, Mr. Ono, spoke little English, but the techniques he demonstrated indelibly impressed my artistic brain." Back in America Diana studied with various art teachers in Nevada and New Mexico yet as a new mom she was devoted to her family and stopped painting for over fifteen years. She comments, "I realize that time is not lost, it is never too late to pick up a paintbrush! My various life experiences and travels give a new dimension to the perspective of my artistic endeavors."
In 2001 Diana Crow`s passion for oil painting was rekindled in Taos, NM where she learn to paint "en plein air" or outdoors in a workshop with Don Ward. In Colorado Diana learned about "The Art of Color Seeing" with Chuck Ceraso. Then she studied impressionistic plein air painting with award winning artist, Eldon Warren. (One of his paintings was rated Top 100 in the 2004 National Art in the Parks Exhibition.)
Often Diana chats with people who watch her paint on location in The Villages in the heart of central Florida where she now lives. She says, "Painting outdoors is relaxing and also stimulating. Being in communion with nature opens new vistas. It`s fun to show people how fine art is created."
(All Paintings, Prints, Cards and Text are protected by Copyright 2001-2008 by Diana Crow, All Rights Reserved.)
