No Regrets

If I had the chance to live my life again, I would change a few things -- yes, I certainly would.  I suppose everyone would say that.  I mean who hasn’t done things that hurt us, or that just didn’t work out at the time -- Well, I know they are all learning lessons and yet, I could have skipped a few!!!  Besides, who wants to be too smart anyway???  Keeping the regrets to a bare minimum is the goal here!

I always plan a lot of paintings that I want to paint -- it’s a lifetime of paintings that I envision.  Then, I change my mind and do whatever comes up.  It do like to plan though, because then I feel sort of organized and I strive to be as “organized” as possible.  Structure is not an adjective that can be used to describe my life, and that is perfectly okay with me.  I am an “Artist” -- one who is destined to create and therefore not entirely responsible for structure.

My aim is to paint powerful paintings this year -- paintings that have feeling, merit, a story and that bring out the feelings of joy and laughter to remind us of the importance of life and our relationships.  I want to capture the precious memories of life that give us inner peace and love.

"Finding Shells"

9 x 12 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

The Color Red

It’s Red Friday!  Just a pleasant reminder to wear Red today to honor our troops who are serving overseas!

And Red is one of my favorite colors to paint!  And red is such a beautiful color and it is the color of Love.   It’s a power color to wear, as most people in business will tell you, it is the color of Love -- hearts and Valentines -- and it is a beautiful color to paint!

When I paint “red”, I notice that I am smiling and feeling good -- and that is a big “must” for me in painting.

So, here’s to Red in your paintings and please send me a photo of your painting with Red in it.  I would love to see it.

"A Glass of Wine"

10 x 8, Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Betty White

Betty White -- who doesn’t love her??????  And, at 89, this is a woman who is still bringing laughter and love to our world.  You can see the joy on her face and she is rocking and rolling and having a great time!

She is having more fun in her life and she is one of the hottest celebrities out there.  People are drawn to her laughter and her great sense of humor.  She has spent most of her life in front of cameras acting and being “silly” and it has made her a STAR!


And isn't it grand that age is just that -- a number!

As artists, it is our “job” to emote feelings in our paintings -- in order to bring joy and happiness, and perhaps even laughter to our work, we must be in that frame of mind when we paint! That is when the basics and the techniques that we have learned are solid and we just Let Go and Paint from our hearts!

Your Art is your expression in this world -- so what is your Art saying? 

"Sunny Days"

11 x 14 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

This painting is from my newest series of beach paintings from Laguna Beach.  As the sun starts to set, the light gets warmer and it sparkles across the water!  I love that!

Red Fridays

RED FRIDAYS!  I am just now learning about wearing RED on Fridays to support our soldiers who are serving our country overseas.

Red Fridays is our way of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect and it starts today, and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home.  It is a day to send a message that every American supports our men and women and their families!

If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and that all of our soldiers return home safely.

The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make things better for you” is We Need Your Support and Prayers!

As you may know, I have started a series of military paintings, and donate a percentage of the sale of the giclees to help returning men and women have a better life when they return home.

I am going to wear RED today and every Friday and I hope that you will do so as well.  The families of soldiers need our support too and when you see a soldier, tell them that you are behind them, and let them know that our country supports them in every way.

I love the color RED!

"My Daddy's Home"

9 x 12, Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Perfectionism

Perfectionism -- what is it exactly??  And, who is to judge what is “Perfect” anyway?  I am an avid fan of Neale Donald Walsch, and I read his daily newsletter that always seems to hit home with me -- His words of wisdom are exactly what I need to hear that very day.

Yesterday he wrote:  “What I have judged full of flaws, so many others have called terrific!  Maybe the definition of Perfection is something that actually gets done.”

I wonder how many times I have wiped out a painting, or give up on it thinking that it was not Perfect!  It would be wonderful to have someone come into the studio and take the paintings away before they are overworked or “judged” as not good enough!

As I ponder Neal’s words from yesterday, I am reminded that each day is a blessing and being able to create is what we are all about.  Soooooo -- I am putting my “judge” on the shelf and letting my creative soul -- CREATE!

And, it is Perfect just the way it is!

"Wading"

16 x 12 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Taking a Leap

Where would you be today if you had let your fears stop you?

Think of the times when you were nervous to do a painting or try a new technique -- did you stay in your comfort zone, or.... did you find the strength to forge ahead and take a leap?

We grow when we leap -- and then we find out that it wasn’t that scary after all -- how simple that is!

Here’s to taking big LEAPS today in all areas of our lives!  Here’s to finding Bliss!

"Magical Splendor"

6 x 8, Oil on Linen/Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

  

Have Fun!

Today is a great day to just LET GO!  Just paint for yourself.

Paint for the sheer joy of it!

And Just Have FUN!

"Morning Tea"

7 x 5, Oil on Board

This is another one of my "coffee table" series paintings -- I do have FUN painting them!  

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Friends

Isn’t it amazing that people just “walk” into our lives -- then they are a part of our life and we wonder “how did I ever live without them?”  They are your friends and they love you for being You.  They love you for who you are and they are there for you when you need them the Most.

I treasure my friends, my sister,s and my family.  I know that they love me even when I have forgotten to love myself.

Each day I remind myself to smile as I walk into a store and especially while driving around doing errands.  Drivers have a tendency to look so Serious -- Now, I just smile, knowing that my life is great -- my life is filled with great friends and family and I am so blessed to be a painter.  I am very grateful.

Are you smiling?Sketching is a way of practicing for painting ideas and a way of honing your skills for painting and sculpting.  I keep a sketchbook beside me all of the time to put down new ideas that come to me throughout the day.

"Friends"

24 x 24 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Sketching

A great way to get the New Year started is to sketch or draw every day!  Drawing is the basics for all Art -- sculptors, painters, architects, engineers, web designers and even glass blowers start with the basics -- drawing.  They are thoughts in our heads and when we put them down on paper, they bring the idea to life.

You can draw your feet, your hands and anything else you have in front of you -- sometimes, I pause the television and sketch what is on the screen -- I do one minutes sketches and five minute sketches!  I use pens, pencils, markers and even crayons.  I love the smell of crayons!!!  When I smell my crayons, the child in me comes out to play.  I use that freedom to color inside and  outside the lines!!!

Sketching is a way of practicing for painting ideas and a way of honing your skills for painting and sculpting.  I keep a sketchbook beside me all of the time to put down new ideas that come to me throughout the day.

It brings the magic of FUN back into your Art!

I did this sketch because I wanted to remember the outfit and the idea - the outfit is for me -- the idea is for a potential painting.  This sketch took 2 minutes!

The Power

Happy New Year 2011!  This is going to be an Amazing Year for all of us!

“You are meant to have an amazing life....” that is how the book, “The Power” by Rhonda Byrne starts.  And it is true.  How beautiful these words are -- and believing in that premise is truly believing in the magic of life.

And, believing in Your POWER brings you all of the blessings of Life.

In the movie, “The Long Kiss Goodnight”, Geena Davis remembers her Power after eight years.  She went from frumpy to Hot!  She realizes that she is a very powerful assassin and can do almost anything -- and the minute she realized this, she became that Woman and all of those skills that had been latent in her for eight years, they just returned -- instantly.

And the training that a U.S. assassin has gone through has to be a long one, and the discipline one needs to stay that way is something not too many people aspire to do.

As artists, we can feel that Power (perhaps a little “toned” down a bit) (or not?) to paint - to really focus on within and let that creative artist out to have Fun and to use all of our skills to create our Masterpieces.

Wow!  What a great concept!   Take a few minutes today and focus on within and find your POWER and let that energy paint!

Today is a new beginning and a great day to remember Your Power!

"Setting The Table" 

7 x 5 O/B "Coffee Table Series"

This is one of those magical little paintings that seemed to paint itself -- I was in the "moment" and using my Power to paint -- and I just painted from my heart!