the woman behind the art

MEET DIANE

ABOUT ME

It was my mom who got me my first set of watercolors and sent me to summer camps that included painting and pottery. I have always loved making stuff, even as a little kid. My early career was in scenic design for theatre, film, televiion, and theme parks,. I got to design some very big things and watch them being built.

After my daughter was born, I consulted with clients on a variety of interior spaces. I also turned to teaching in early childhood education. As my daughter grew up and retirement drew near, I decided to pick up my paint brushes, and make stuff again. So almost 10 years later I have the body of work you see on these pages.

Even though the process of making almost anything can be frustrating, it’s important to trust yourself and keep going.

For me, making abstract art mirrors the uncertainty and adventure of living — unpredictable and always moving forward.

BACKGROUND

I received my BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Denver, and went on to earn an MFA in Scenic Design from New York University Tisch School of the Arts.  That foundation gave me a wonderful career in design. I became an associate designer on the world tour of Phantom of the Opera, a handful of Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway productions. My design journey also included themed attractions, television, film, and interior design. 

EDUCATION

MFA, Scenic Design and Art Direction

BA, Theatre Arts

EXPERIENCE

  • Exploring Oil & Cold Wax Medium Workshop, Crealde Art

  • Art Workshop for Kids, Crealde Art

  • Seminar for theater students, Dartmouth College

  • Sponsored by Universal Studios Florida and Paul Newman, Theatre — Designer/Art Director, Grand Drape; Green Room and Restroom Interiors

  • Art Direction Consultant, Paramount Studios’ Nickelodeon attractions

    • Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Orlando, Art Director

    • Cincinnati Theatre Ensemble, Cincinnati, Ohio, Scenic Artist

  • Art Director:

    • Weinerville, TV series

    • Roundhouse, TV series 

    • Get the Picture, TV game show, 1991 Ace Award Nominee

    • Celebrity Double Dare

    • Humongous game show pilot

    • NBA/Celebrity Double Dare TV Special 

    • Kid’s World Council, predecessor to “The Big Help, ” featuring newscaster Linda Ellerbee and VIce President Al Gore

    • Go For It, TV game show pilot and predecessor to “Guts”

    • Humongous, TV game show pilot

    • Tomorrow People, US TV pilot

  • Art Director/Designer:

    • Kongfrontation Themed Attraction

    • Jaws Themed Attraction

    • Hitchcock Pavillion Attraction

    • Hitchkitsch — Pre-Show Multi-Media 3D Wall Sculpture, 25’0”h x 9’0”w

    • Rear Window, Apartment set Interiors

    • Hollywood Fright Nights

    • Beetlejuice Stage

    • Paul Revere and the Raiders Stage

    • Frankenstein Theatre

    • Ghostbusters Street Show

    • Phantom of the Opera, Los Angeles and World Tour, Maria Bjornson, Designer

    • 1989 Siegfreid & Roy, Las Vegas, John Napier Designer

    • Other People’s Money, Off-Broadway, David Jenkins, Designer

    • Carnival, Cleveland Playhouse, David Jenkins, Designer

    • Elephant Man, Scale Set Model, New York Theatre Exhibit, Frick Museum, David Jenkins, Designer

    • Heat and Silence, Independent film, Winner Best Art Direction, NYU Film Festival NY

    • The Book and the Stranger, Off-Broadway, La Mama Theatre, New York City NY

    • Aunt Dan and Lemon, Off-Broadway play, Paul Weidner, Director, New York City NY

    • Much Ado About Nothing, Off-Broadway, Paul Walker director, New York City NY

    • Three Sisters, Off-Broadway, Paul Walker director, New York City NY

    • Long Day’s Journey into Night, Arvada Center for the Arts, Denver CO

    • Look Back in Anger, Metropolitan State University, Denver CO 

    • Antigone, Metropolitan State UniversityDenver CO

    • The Philadelphia Story, Little Theatre of the Rockies CO

    • Uncommon Women, Little Theatre of the Rockies CO

COMMISSIONS

St. Lukes Lutheran Church and School, Oviedo FL

A Night in Bethlehem,  Art Director/Designer, Eight sets for the Christmas Walking Tour 

Vacation Bible School Scenery, Set Designer, 4 summers

Classroom Doors opening into the Outdoor Classroom in the style of author/illustrator Eric Carle —15 doors

Pretend Garden, Church Nursery Mural, 9’-0”h x 16’-0”w

Train Up a Child In the Way He Should Go…. Preschool Entrance Portico, Two 30”h x 40”w paintings

Alpha to Omega — Three continuous murals in the Church Library, 4’-0”h x 51’-0” total feet long

100 Unique Margarita Glasses, in honor of St. Lukes 100 Anniversary, sold at auction

Miscellaneous Commission Projects

Ascension, Tryptich, 78”h x 9’0”w

Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Orlando FL

Child’s Toy Chest, theme “Fly Me to the Moon,” painted in the style of Grant Wood

Boys’ Bunk Bed and Chest of Drawers, theme “Castle of Lost Socks and the Dragon Who Ate Them”

I Remember That KIss, 60th Wedding Anniversary Double Portrait

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS

  • Annual Top Choice Exhibition, SOBO Art Gallery, Winter Garden FL (1st Place in Mixed Media)

    Creativa: Woman Made Art Exhibit, Osceola Arts Center FL

    Herstory, Kissimmee City Hall, Kissimmee FL

    100% Florida, Fifth Avenue Gallery, Melbourne FL

    14th National Biennial Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda FL

    Visual Fringe, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Fringe Festival for the Arts, Orlando FL

    Essential Uncertainty, Veterans Memorial Library, St. Cloud FL

    Dream In City Light, City Light Art Collective, Orlando FL

    Connections, Third Level Gallery, Orlando FL

    Crealdé School of Art Fellowship Special Exhibit, Faith Arts Village, Orlando FL

  • 13th National Biennial Art Exhibit, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FL

    Road Work, Maitland Public Library, Maitland, FL

    Orlando Foundation for Architecture, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL Third Prize for Road Work #12

    Artistic Unity, Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee, FL

    Florida Grown, 1st Thursday, Orlando Museum of Art

    Emerging Artist Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Crealde School of Art Night Out, 1st Thursday, Orlando Museum of Art

    Emerging Artist Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    ICreativa: A Woman Made Art Exhibit, Osceola Arts, Kissimmee,

    A Walk in Maitland, Maitland Public Library, Maitland FL

    Emerging Artist Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

  • IEmerging Artist Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    University Club, Winter Park, FL

    Emerging Artist Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Mel's Bad Girls Club, City Arts Gallery, Orlando, FL

    Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Crealde Showalter Gallery, Winter Park, FL

    Mel's Bad Girls Club, City Arts Gallery, Orlando, FL