Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  This is a time to get ready for the summer months ahead and more importantly, to reflect on all of the people who have served our country with honor!

Wishing God’s blessings on all of our soldiers who are serving in our military overseas and here in the United States.

Memorial Day is also a day to remember all of our loved ones who have left us -- I remember my Mother and Father with smiles of love.  I miss them so much.  And I think of all of the incredible people who have touched my life and brought love to my soul -- I remember them with gratitude.

Thank you for being a part of my life --- my life is enhanced with you in it!

"Daddy's Home"  

8 x 10 Oil on Canvas

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Shining Stars

If you have ever listened to Amadeus Mozart, you know what heaven sounds like -- the notes and melodies resonate in your heart!  The fact that he heard his music before he wrote it is a gift.   I am amazed that he could discern each instrument and create the notes for every part of his operas  -- truly amazing!   And yet, he died a very anguished and poor man .  Okay, according to what I have read, there was a great deal of jealousy that prevented him from shining -- he certainly was a star!

As an artist, it is so important to have your own music on your canvas and let your work shine!  Your story to tell is an important one, and each of us has a superstar ready to shine.  Today let that star inside of you shine bright!  Let the music within you sing your songs.

And try something new today --- be adventurous -- be amazing -- just BE!

"My New Bucket"

9 x 7 Oil on Canvas

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Tuesdays

Tuesday are days that bring happiness all day long!  I am so grateful for the opportunity to be an artist and to create paintings that bring joy and happiness  -- it is indeed a privilege.

Thank you, everyone,for the opportunity to have this blog and to write about my work.  I am creating a new series this week and it is so exciting!

This is a painting from France -- there is a small town in Provence that I long to return to -- just walking down the streets is a painting!

"Streets of Cahors"

12 x 9, Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Marvelous Mondays

It’s Marvelous Monday -- again!  The sun is shining, the children are out of school, and life is great!

As an artist, it is a privilege to have a collector commission a painting.  It is the greatest honor that you can give an artist -- especially when they just let you do the painting from your heart.  

Some paintings take a little longer than others -- I like to keep them around to look at them and put extra loving touches on them.  This is a painting for a very special friend of mine who saw his daughters in another painting of two women on the beach.

I created this painting on a linen Raymar Board!  The colors are so bright and beautiful and the feeling of two women enjoying one another as they dance into the water is what I wanted to capture!

Here’s to Summer Days and dancing into the ocean with your friends!

"Best Friends"

24 x 24 Oil on Raymar Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday is here!  And here in Phoenix it is the last day of school and the children are in sheer delight!  Yeah!  Do you remember what the last day of school felt like -- you were free -- summer was here and you had all of these great plans!  You would jump out of bed with expectations of another “summer day”!

Here’s to Summer Days every day when we jump out of bed with delight and awe of what the day will bring!

"I Love Summer"  5 x 5  Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Being A Child

Are you ready for bathing suit weather???  Well, it’s here.  I am about to jump in my pool as it feels like summer is already here.

This is a painting that reminds me of how incredible it feels to be a child and play on the beach -- anything goes, including sand in your pants.  Don’t you think that we should all be like children -- open to anything?!!!

"At The Beach" 12 x 12 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Best Friends

It’s Wonderful Wednesday when the sun is shining and you are creating paintings that make you smile!

This painting is entitled, “Good Friends” and that is exactly what these women are -- and since they have grown up surfing, being together on the beach is a part of their lives that they love to share.

"Good Friends" 40 x 30

Oil on Canvas
DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Paintings that Heal

Art makes a profound contribution to our world.   It is the expression of our soul.  To be an artist, one must have the vision of a child!

My painting, “Peace” has been accepted in the Manhattan Arts International “Healing  Power of Art” online show.  The show is about bringing positive art that uplifts the spirit.  I am honored to be included in this show. The link is listed below.

When I am on the beach, I feel “Peace”, and that is what I paint.

"Peace"  36 x 23 

Oil on Board

DianeLeonad.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

http://www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/HealingPowerofArt_2010/Leonard.htm

Marvelous Mondays

It’s Marvelous Monday!  Yeah!!!   the start of another week and more paintings!

I will be doing a demonstration of my impressionist painting this Saturday, May 22, at Arizona Art located at 4025 N. 16th Street, in Phoenix, Arizona from noon to 2:00 p.m.  I will be showing some of my newest techniques and impressionistic “secrets” and it will be available on video after this weekend.  If you wold like  more information, please email me.

I am off to paint -- in the meantime, please enjoy a painting that I did of my sister on the East Coast overlooking Boston Light -- I think it’s time for lobsters!

Have a Marvelous Monday and a week filled with joy!

"A Beautiful Summer Day"

24 x 30 Oil on Canvas

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Fantastic Friday

It’s Fantastic Friday!  Today is a day when magic happens -- right before the weekend!

I am working on my newest series and will be painting outside today in late afternoon light -- I am so blessed to have a beautiful back yard where the light comes streaming through the leaves and creates an atmosphere that is very magical -- add a few children and voila -- paintings!

Here is the first of my paintings of bubbles -- I had to buy a bubble machine to make it easier for my models when blowing the bubbles!  And painting bubbles is indeed a challenge and fun!  It was a little tricky to stay on the hammock while mastering the art of bubble blowing.  The painting is a study of a new series and this one will be showing at The Wright Gallery in Cape Porpoise, Maine -- and Charlie Wright, the owner is delighted to have it.

Here’s to a weekend filled with fun and laughter -- take some time and blow some bubbles with your children or grandchildren and have fun!  

"Bubbles" 8 x 10 Oil on Raymar Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

The Beach

It is time for the beach -- I can’t wait to put my feet in the water and feel the ocean once again.  My memories of my summers on Cape Cod still bring smiles to my heart.  The beach is soothing, calming, and a great place for reflecting on life.

I just finished this painting that will be showing at the Hearle Gallery in Chatham, Massachusetts.  Dogs are allowed on beaches before Memorial Day and after Labor Day -- so, this was a very special day. And my second model that day did not show up, so we asked this beautiful woman from Germany to join us -- and gratefully so, she did.  

The dogs had so much fun, and of course, they wanted to be in the water.

"Special Times" 30 x 30 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

The Garden

As you open the gate -- you are at Peace.

Your senses feel the colors of love.

A Garden that has grown all season,

Created by hands that never wear a glove.

It’s my place to go to see the colors of light.

And feel the magic of nature all around me,

From tiny seeds to living creatures,

one can only recognize-- how magical God can be!

"My Grandmother's Garden" 24 x 24 Oil on Canvas

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.comj