Painting for Fun

I like to try new ideas in my work and stretch my artistic capabilities -- then there are time when I am just out for fun -- I came up with this idea for painting aprons when I found them at the Costco Business Warehouse -- the original idea started as Christmas presents for each of my family -- and I painted poinsettias and christmas trees and even Santa Claus -- I even did a bunch of abstract  I truly had fun painting them and giving them as gifts.

Now, I am putting together a project with children to paint the aprons and donate the money to a charity!  I just painted this one of my cat, Ollie -- to start the project!  Painting on these aprons gives me the opprtunity to paint "Just For Fun" and to go a little wild and be more expressive.  I love it.

I used fabric  paints and ornaments from Michaels.

Fun to Wear Art

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Discovering New Techniques

When Jackson Pollock dripped paint on the floor while he was painting, a whole new form of art was created -- it opened new doors for his painting and for the public who then collected his abstract art.  He was inspired!  And he painted some amazing canvases, and his art grew into his “method” of creating art.  He had shows in New York, magazine articles and fame.  Yet, somehow over the following years, he forgot to stretch himself again and develop new techniques to express himself.

Change is good -- stretching your artistic muscles is a must to keep your art and yourself growing.  When you try new colors, new brushes and new techniques you are opening the door to your “method” of painting and the world awaits your creativity.  And, you never know what magic will happen!

Try something new today -- Discover your genius!

"Summer"

12 x 12 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Finding Your Voice

Art has been a tremendous part of our universe  -- it has grown from crude drawings inside caves to incredible paintings that grace the walls of so many homes and businesses and museums!  We are surrounded by art of all kinds -- it is seen  on billboards, clothing and even graffiti!

Over the centuries artists have survived and painted -- even when they were told what to paint (mostly religious scenes), they found a way to truly express their thoughts on life and their universe.  I remember reading how many Russian artists used to hide their “real” art under their beds, knowing what would happen if they were found out.

Today, there are no restrictions on what we paint or how we paint -- isn’t that amazing?  The doors to “art” have been opened and it is up to us to “speak” our words of art with freedom.   It is important to find your “voice” in your own art and let that person “out of the box”!

Here’s to art that truly comes from your heart!  What is your art saying?

"Sunday Afternoon"

7 x 5 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Painting with Red

As a painting evolves, it creates  its own story - the strokes of the paint guide you into the canvas and when you get lost in the painting (even for a few seconds)  -- the painter has done their job.  That is the magic of painting -- to create a place to go that makes you smile, makes you think of memories that you cherish, and touches your heart!

When painting people, I love to push the painting to the abstract where you as the viewer finish the story through the movement of the paint.  Red is my favorite color and using greys around it makes it "pop" on a canvas.

Capturing that fleeting moment is what this painting is all about.  

"The Red Dress"

7 x 5 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Diane Leonard Going Abstract

As my work matures, I find myself going more to the abstract!  I want to create the feeling of a person and then let the eyes finish the painting.  The more I paint with larger brushes and with more freedom, the happier I am.  

The look that I am working to attain is a mixture of a representational figure and an abstract background -- using the greys and large strokes gives movement to the canvas, and you can feel the woman sitting there having a cup of tea -- there is no definition to her -- and the table and fruit are all one.  I want you to “feel” the paint and the light!

This is a small “apunte” and I love doing these little studies to paint with more freedom and try new colors and new techniques.

"A Cup of Tea" 

7 x 5 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com