Tuskawilla Today: Meet Diane Stapleton
Tuskawilla resident and THOA member, John Finnegan, responded to my request to submit the name of someone in our community who has a special talent or experience that would be of interest to our readers. John acknowledged Diane Stapleton’s talent as an artist and recommended that she be featured in this issue of Tuskawilla Today. Within a short period of time, an appointment was set to visit Diane and witness first-hand the talent and skills that she possesses to create beautiful works of art. I want to thank John and all of the other residents who have responded to my request for individuals to spotlight in our newsletter. This has allowed me to feature the many talented and interesting residents of the Tuskawilla Community.
Diane greeted us at the door with a smile and welcoming demeanor. Upon entering the foyer, we were immediately treated with a visual array of realistic style paintings that included outside scenes of canoes near streams, street scenes, and still life subjects. These examples represented Diane’s preferred style early on in her career as an artist. Walking from the front of her home down a hallway toward the dining room allowed for the display of numerous other paintings that clearly depicted a transition in both technique and subject matter.
While many artists find a particular medium that reflects their “signature” style and are defined by that particular product, Diane’s techniques and subject matter have evolved dramatically over time. To say that her paintings evolved into abstract renderings would not fully reflect the creative aspect that provided a clear pathway to the final products. Indeed, she is one of those rare individuals who have the ability to be inspired by existential influences that are overlooked by most of us. This was quite evident in paintings that were on display in Diane’s living room.
We were treated to a variety of paintings that were clear examples of Diane’s creative depth and expressed primarily in acrylic paints on canvas and wood.
“Indeed, she is one of those rare individuals who have the ability to be inspired by existential influences that are overlooked by most of us.”
“A favorite tool was a putty knife…”
Our tour continued to the back of the house where Diane enclosed the original porch to create an “artist’s studio” with a soothing view of a small pond. This room contained the multiple tools, brushes, paints, easels and other necessary items for transforming inspirations into a series of paintings. While most artists rely upon brushes and paint as their primary tools, Diane has come to rely upon a variety of hand tools that are typically found in one’s garage. A favorite tool was a putty knife that was skillfully modified by a friend to help address special techniques that are necessary when applying paint. She went on to explain the practical applications for using the numerous tools to create her paintings, several of which are on display at the DBT Center in Maitland and the Osceola Center for the Arts. Considering this rather unique approach for creating paintings, it came as no surprise that trips to Home Depot play an important role in determining the number of paintings in a series. Prominent in the studio was a large silver can situated on her work table. We learned that it contained beeswax in combination with odorless mineral oil. This was yet another unique method for creating abstract pictures being explored by the artist.
… her mother provided her with a watercolor paint set when she was 8 years old.
Several photographs of what appeared to be close-up shots of road surfaces were displayed on a table in the studio. Diane explained that she often walks along Winter Springs Boulevard and became inspired by the weather worn texture of the road surface along with the tattered appearance of the white line demarking the bicycle lane. The photos were used to capture the metaphoric connection between what was once a new creation with crisp, well defined lines that became deteriorated as the result of time and external influences. Her next series of paintings will reflect this connection to the human condition.
When asked about the influences that steered her career in the arts, Diane shared that her mother provided her with a watercolor paint set when she was 8 years old. This led to high school level art classes and an interest in fashion design. Curiously, an instructor during a summer camp for art told Diane that she simply did not have talent. This only led to a stronger determination to pursue artwork and eventually led to a graduate degree in scenic design as well as a career in theater, film, television and themed attractions. Her love for the arts led to design work and extensive travel in the U.S. to secure theater locations for the Phantom of the Opera production.
We wish to thank Diane Stapleton for allowing us to visit her home and for sharing her talents. Diane was a gracious host who made us feel very much at ease as she explained the variety of works on display in each room. As always, thank you for your willingness to be featured in the Tuskawilla Today magazine.
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Enjoy quiet moments when viewing Diane Stapleton's exhibit of abstract art, Essential Uncertainty, on display through May 30 at the St. Cloud library. The silence of the library lends itself to these quiet paintings on wood panels. They have a stillness about them,...