Painting in New England

It’s always a great idea to look at paintings that you have done in the past and rediscover their beauty!  It’s a celebration of you as an artist!

Looking at paintings with a new eye gives you a new opportunity to see how you painted and look at your own techniques -- it is a lesson in itself.  And, as always, look at your art and all art with loving eyes -- it will make you smile!

Make this day the Best Day of Your Life!

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

Finding Love

Do you believe in Love?

I do!

It knows no boudnaries ...

it conquers all...

It calls to us

to be the best we can be...

To have faith in ourselves and

and to believe in our greatness!

Love makes us richer, happier, and 

mostly,

Love makes us who are are!

"Summertime"

30 x 30 Oil on Canvas

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Strutting Your Stuff

Strutting your Stuff!!!  If you have ever watched the movie, “Staying Alive” and watched John Travolta dance his pants off -- well, literally, of course, then you know the feeling of giving it all -- 500%  Not only is John beautiful to watch, he is in incredible shape and you know that you are watching perfection.  There must have been months and  months and  hours and hours of practice to make that last dance work.

John was so HOT in this movie --  and when he danced, it was all of him -- every muscle, every movement was sensual and powerful.  Just watching him dance, makes me want to dance -- as his partner, of course!

He danced his heart out -- he broke the rules -- he was there in the moment with every part of his being!   And that fever, that intensity,  is what a painting cries out for -- All of you.

After his performance he just wanted to walk the streets of New York and Strut his Stuff!

And that’s how you feel when you do that powerful painting that makes you smile and makes you glad that you are a painter.

Soooo -- here’s the challenge.  Strut your Stuff!  Play the song, “Staying Alive” and paint your pants off and see what painting with all of you is like!  And let’s see these incredible paintings!

I look forward to seeing these great paintings and Strutting your Stuff!  Send me photos of your incredible paintings!

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

My painting will be posted on Monday, July 12!

Painting Magic

A painting starts with an idea, a moment when you meet someone, or finding a treasure in an antique store.  I had the privilege of meeting this beautiful woman and her baby while at a breakfast several months ago.  When I saw her beautiful face, I knew she was the woman I was seeking to model for me.

It took a while to set up the time and day for her to come over with her baby and pose for me.  For weeks I watched the light in my garden and in my back yard to create the atmosphere I am looking for.  I then start sketching some of the ideas that I am looking to paint.  The outfit practically fell into my hands while I was out shopping with a friend of mine -- and of course, I own about fifty hats!

I will be putting this story on my creative pages on my web site -- It is a beautiful story of how these new and beautiful paintings came to be.

Late afternoon light is the time for my hammock -- I put a cream afghan on it this time to give it a new look and as the baby fell asleep -- we timed it that way -- she sat down and the glow of light on her and the baby -- well, it created a magic that I am so excited to paint -- and I am just getting started.  Here is the first study!

"A Mother's Love (study)"

12 x 12 Oil on Canvas

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

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

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