Diane here.
A little about me. I retired a short time ago, allowing me the opportunity to pursue a true love of mine, that is, painting, and in my own small way, being a part of the art world. My mother was a water-colour artist, recognizing the true love she gained from her work - I wish now to follow in her footsteps. All my life I have treasured time spent in art galleries, both large and small, fascinated by the ability of artists to capture in paint what they wish to pass on to their audience/collectors. I favour trying to capture nature as I see it instead of Impressionism, e.g. A painting can become a classic and a part of our nation's history, to achieve that too is a dream of mine, and I believe achievable. I capture a moment in space, time and history with each of my creations, and I hope to pass at least one on to future generations, not too high an expectation, I hope. I know there are many, many artists out there and I need a little help standing out from the crowd. Diane Mary Markey - a future "Master"??? Other artists, both contemporary and acknowledged masters inspire me never to give up on my dream of becoming a financial artist. And, to constantly learn from their creations and passed on wisdom.
I love the fact that I can catch a moment in time and space on canvas and pass this beauty on to friends, family, and now perhaps potential collectors.
I started in watercolour and now favour oils, especially using palette knives, as this gives me the opportunity to take my time and alter my creations as I feel necessary. Let me explain a little more. I recently captured the worst drought in western NSW by depicting Australian native gums alongside a very dry creek bed that was contrasted by a rapid transformation of grass to green after a deluge of summer rain on a neighbouring hillside. This artwork truly captures just how resilient Australian nature is. The true pride I gained from this painting I hope to pass on to a potential collector with the assistance of "bluethumb". I am what Dan Scott of "Painting Academy" would classify as a 'self-taught artist', very much in the learning stage, "a life-long pursuit", yet very proud of my progress so far. Friends and family agree that many of my paintings are indeed ready for sale, so I am ready to give it a go. I have, history in middle management, so I am familiar with business planning, etc., and the need for setting short and long-term goals. I am in the process of recording the statistics and details of all my paintings for ease of sale, saved photos of each with detailed measurements and other required statistics are stored on my P.C. I also realize the added value to each artwork that has been gained by having a frame, signed, ready to hang and I have done so with each creation that I am truly satisfied with, I believe this to be an expense well worth it in the long run.
I enjoy study and have learnt so much from "step-by-step" instructions from various artists, along with books from the world of art history, etc. I have recently joined Dan Scott's "Painting Academy", which I am finding immensely educational and rewarding. I truly enjoy the hours I spend painting, both in creating new artworks, and in practicing new and old skills. I learn from my mistakes and enjoy most capturing Australian wild seascapes, yet landscapes also give me much to contemplate and help me to finish with a painting to be proud of.
I will utilize the resources and tips, etc., available on "bluethumb", so please wish me luck.
Regards, Diane.