I've been painting big.

I've taken up acrylic painting and am pushing myself to paint bigger. Here is a recent painting that I'm still working on. I used a Vogue Magazine cover of Beyonce as inspiration.

My first Blurb book

In preparation for Blueprint I made a Blurb book to use as a portfolio. It was my first time to create a book online and the process was fairly easy. The turnaround time was quick and yesterday my very own book arrived.

The quality of the paper and color are great. Here are a few spreads from the book.

Go fund me for Diane's Excellent Art Adventure

I just started a Go Fund Me page to raise money for my hotel expenses on my trip to NYC to exhibit at The Blueprint Show. The hotel will cost about $2300 for eight nights.
www.blueprintshows.com

If you donate at least $100 you will receive an archival, giclee print ranging in size from from 8"x 8" to 11" x 14". There are five artworks to choose from. (I will be sending these out by the end of June after I get back from the show.) Thanks for your support!

You can donate here:
https://www.gofundme.com/diane039s-art-adventure&rcid=r01-155780947858-033e4b37792d48b3&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w

Getting ready for the Blueprint Show in NYC!

I've been a busy bee as I prepare for the Blueprint Show in NYC May 20-23rd. There are two venues, Diane T Design will be at Shop Studio at 528 W. 39th Street in booth #45. I decided to do the show just three weeks ago, so I've been scrambling to get banners, business cards, and my portfolio together...all while going to my full-time day job.

Here are a few samples of art I'll be taking to the show.

More flowers and creating a daily practice

Since I took the Explore Florals class with Victoria Johnson, I have been painting almost every day. (If I miss a day, I'll do two or three paintings the next day). I have been working with gouache, which is a wonderful medium. I'm using Holbein and Windsor and Newton paints and the colors are luscious and vibrant. Most of these paintings are still of flowers but I intend to start painting people and objects as we head in to Fall. I am having a blast!

New direction

I just returned from Detroit and the ICON 10 Illustration Conference. Detroit held up to the hype as an up and coming art city and ICON was an inspirational shot in the arm. I've been creating a lot of new art in the last few months; both digitally and with a paintbrush and watercolors. I will be selling on Spoonflower if you want fabric, giftwrap or wallpaper with one of my designs. You can visit me on Instagram to get a taste of what I've been up to. I will announce it here when the Spoonflower designs are up and running.

Makers gotta make

It's been almost a year since I posted so I don't know if anyone will care but here are a few of the things I've been making this year. There was felt, polymer clay, sterling silver, copper enamel and collage. I tried laser cutting, beading and knitting hand warmers. I still have a love affair with paper, printing and linoleum prints. So many ideas and so little time.

Japanese seed beads, with brass and gold highlights.

 Detail of a beaded necklace

African glass, brass and leather necklace 

 Textured enamel earrings

 needle felted brooch

Two needle felted, beaded and embroidered brooches.

 Polymer clay beads

Sterling silver forged cuff