Impressionist Skiers

The Olympic skiers could barely see the slopes as they raced down the mountain -- the fog and snow were thick and yet their spirits were high!  Their physical endurance is admirable and their team spirit is engaging!

I think we all need a little “Spring” today -- as the winter weather roars on across the country, I am reminded of the times I have spent on the beaches!  The warm sunlight always puts a smile on my face!

Artists keep their spirits going with the knowledge that the beauty they are creating brings joy and happiness to the people who own them!

As the snow falls, remember -- we are all snowflakes -- different and beautiful -- each in our own way.

Wishing us all days of sunshine and laughter!

 DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Impressionist American Skaters

Diane@DianeLeonardcom

Olympics again -- this time the womens’ skating has begun and WOW!  All of the women had skated without the dreaded “fall” and each one had their personal best -- it was so amazing to watch each one put their passion and elegance on the ice and skate a routine that wowed the audience.  The sixteen-year old American skater, Miral Nagasu was the first to skate -- this young American skater has the most graceful lines and spins -- it was her first time ever to be in the Olympics and she came out and performed like a champion!  In my opinion, she was the best on the ice -- she is presently in sixth place!

She opened the door for the rest of the women to skate their best!  And they did!  The night went on with each skater giving their best performances and the scores were great -- this competition is something to watch!  And even though our skaters are young, The Americans are in fifth and sixth place and we have a chance for a medal!  And both of our women are teenagers --isn’t that impressive!  Their impressionistic routines were incredible to watch!

Paintings are born from passion -- life is born from passion -- passion is what keeps us going in life.

Here’s to a day filled with passion!

When was the last time you went skating?????????

"A Quiet Place" -- available in giclee.

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Impressionist Skaters

The Olympics are once again inspiring me to paint with passion.  The flips and turns of the Ski Jumpers is so amazing -- how they do those flips and turns is astounding -- I know that I would not even be able to do a jump -- remember I am on the environmental “Green” slopes.

And then the Ice Dancing pairs are so graceful and they skate in “sync” with one another to music -- each note a part of their routine.  We gained another medal in this event with the pair of Meryl Davis and Charlie White skating to Andrea Boccelli!  They are impressionist skaters.

 I have painted so many beautiful paintings to his music that resonate a special magic!  Music is such an inspiration in all parts of our lives -- it can make us smile and dance and remember wonderful moments in our lives.

Who invented skates?  Skis?   I wonder if they ever thought that their invention would turn into Olympic events?

And paint brushes -- who invented those?  And isn’t it amazing what one can do with a paint brush!

Artists spend years learning the techniques of art and then creating their own “look” to their art -- their inspiration and their passion is in our hearts and the expression of life is what we are creating.  

As we celebrate the Olympics, let’s celebrate all of the American Artists who create beauty for all of us to see.  This is the time to buy American Art!

 DianeLeonard.com

Impressionist Olympics

The weekend was filled with skating, skiing, shooting, jumping, hockey and the United States is the leader in the medals being won at the Olympics -- yeah!  I am proud to be an American and live in a country where freedom exists and a country where we all aim to be our best!

It’s a great week to achieve your own goals and to discover the Olympian in you -- Individually we are amazing -- together -- we are unstoppable!

Cheers to the smiles we give one another --

 cheers to the generosity that you share with others this week, 

and cheers to the sweet kindness that you give to strangers --

 It’s a great week for giving!

DianeLeonard.com

Impressionist Gold

Cheers to the United States for winning the Gold in Men’s Skating -- It has been over twenty years since we have won a medal in that event.  Evan Lysacek did an amazing performance -- he gave it his all -- 300%  I am so happy for him that all of his hard work over the years has given him the Olympic Gold -- His Dream!  He stood on the ice and smiled from deep in his heart -- a smile that said “I Did It!”

We all have dreams and when we focus on achieving those dreams, they do come true.  The years of painting and learning new techniques has helped me to achieve my dream of being an impressionistic artist.  Art is a silent occupation -- perfomed in a studio with only the cat watching me paint.  At the end of the day, when I gaze at my accomplishments, I can smile that winning smile too, as I know that I have created the Gold in painting.

I wish us all a Gold Medal Day every day in all that we do!

"Garden Magic"  9 x 12  Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Impressionist Skiers

As the United States wins a record number of Gold in the Vancouver Olympics, I am painting with the same passion.  I absolutely know that there is no way I would have ever skied down those hills -- not in one piece!  In fact, my skiing days were most spent on the “green” (and that does not mean environmental green) slopes.  I marvel at these women who have the courage to race down these mountains -- and the snow looks like pure ice.  As I watched several of them really take huge falls at the last jump, my heart went out to them -- that had to hurt in so many ways.

Today, I salute the women skiers and the winner of the Gold Medal for Alpine skiing, Lindsey Vonn -- who pushed through severe pain to come back to the Olympics and win her Gold Medal -- the first time ever that the United States has won a Gold for this event!

Think of Lindsey and all the other women today and remember their courage and passion and let that same passion be in everything you do today.  

Make your day a “Gold” Day -- a day that you gave your best in everything that you do -- Smile that smile of a winner -- we are all winners in life.

Have a beautiful day!

Impressionist Medals

Once again The Olympics have taken over my studio -- the Mens’ Skating was so emotional and powerful and these amazing athletes came to Vancouver to Skate!  As each man took the ice, the crowd waited with great anticipation to see the routines that they have worked on for four years to win the Gold!  The music brought you into the moment as we watched the triple jumps and the amazing footwork and the choreography that is so precise and beautiful.

Of course, I was rooting for the Americans -- I am an American.  The crowd just loved Evan Lysacek -- who is now in Second Place after the short program -- he had the crowd with him and it was the most magnificent program!  He skated with such passion and from his heart -- all of those years of practice and he just skated -- and it was unbelievable.  The tears of joy that he had on his face after his program showed it all -- He came to Vancouver to Skate -- to show the world what he has to offer -- isn’t that so amazing?  He is an impressionist skater!

And, Johnny Weir, another American Skater, who is now in Sixth Place, once again showed us how talented and graceful he is on the ice.  He is a showman who has learned to “sell himself” on the ice and truly a crowd pleaser.  In Life, Johnny is a fashion “guru” in real life and he has Heart!

As I watched all of the men skate -- some fell -- which truly hurts my heart!  I keep telling them on the television -- “make the jump” and send them positive energy -- some of them did not hear me.  I am not pleased that the announcers tell us the “weak points” of the skaters instead of just telling us the “great skates” that they do.  I am all for positive energy!  These skaters have spent their lives perfectly skating and I think we all owe them positive energy.

And, as I paint today in my studio -- I am going for the Gold -- putting that same passion in my art is what I am all about!

Today, smile, as your life is your “Gold Medal” -- by living your life with passion!  And discover your "Joy"!  And let's all celebrate how beautiful our world is!

    "Joy", 28 x 28, Oil on Linen

DianeLeonard.com

Impressionist Skating

The Olympic pair skaters are so amazing -- they are so graceful and powerful at the same time -- watching them skate to music truly inspires me!  The Chinese pair skaters were so elegant and beautiful together -- they have been training together for a long time (eighteen years) and are now married -- she couldn’t contain her joy with smile when she made those amazing jumps -- it was pure joy to watch.

They won the Gold!  They came out of retirement to skate for the Gold and that is exactly what they did -- the crowd was behind them, they even slept in dormitory rooms (although married) just to have the opportunity to skate for the fourth time in the Olympics!

I was in awe of all of the skaters and saddened when they fall during their routine -- especially when they really can do those jumps.  As an artist, no one knows how many times I have worked on a painting, or wiped it out and started over, or how long it took me to get the painting to be magical -- the world does not see me fall on my butt -- and thank goodness for that!

The Olympic athletes spend years practicing and practicing to be the best and as artists, it is the same passion that drives us to paint and bring our work to the world.  And that same feeling is what a painting filled with joy is all about!  A State of Happiness -- the best place to be.   I love Happy Endings!  As I finish a painting, that is indeed my aspiration. 

The smiles on the skaters as they completed each routine is truly heart warming -- that smile is on my face as I complete each new painting!

What is your passion?

DianeLeonard.com

Impressionist Passion

I am so inspired!  I have been engrossed in the Olympics and blown away by the fortitude and stamina, the confidence and the passion to be the best!  And people are cheering and smiling and you can lose a medal by two seconds!  The preparation and years of training make these athletes so special --  I am in awe!

As I sit here in my studio, without the crowds cheering, and knowing that I actually won’t fall down and break my “crown” as I paint -- I am inspired to give the same level of passion to my paintings -- my gold medal is a painting that I love -- a painting that was painted with that same passion.   Great art comes from years of preparation and training and with that same feeling of joy!  It’s the love of the sport and the love of Art that inspires us all!

The United States won its first medal in the Nordic Combined -- first medal ever -- the silver went to Johnny Spillane with a race that was so close -- I was cheering and yelling at the television set to push him on -- You could see the determination on his face as he pushed and pushed and skied with all of his heart!  I was in awe of his stamina and determination.  

And so today, I paint in honor of the athletes that dedicate their lives to being the best!

And what inspires you?

DianeLeonard.com