L Diane Johnson

THANKS TO ALL who visited with me at the opening of my show at The Little Gallery on Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, yesterday! For those of you who missed it, the show will run through June 8th so you have lots of time to visit. We had a great turn-out and I appreciate all the comments and purchases regarding this latest collection of pastels, acrylics and oil paintings titled, Azaleas on Parade.

The collection is now posted on my gallery site here, except for sold pieces that will be moved to the archives online.

NEXT UP - Painting live in Raleigh, NC. The Collectors Gallery on Blake Street in Downtown Raleigh has invited me to paint on location in and around the gallery and park:
Wednesday, May 21st
Saturday, May 24th
Wednesday, May 28

from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Simply stop into the gallery or call beginning at 10:00 a.m. to inquire about where I am painting. I look forward to visiting with collectors, artists and the general public during this special, first-time event. Ya’ll come:)

The Collectors Gallery
323 Blake St
Raleigh, NC 27601
919. 828.6500

LAST EVENING MARKED MY FIRST SHOW WITH PAP-SE (Plein Air Painters of the Southeast) of which I was recently inducted as a member. We spent the last week painting beautiful St. Simons Island and surrounding areas which culminated in an exhibition and sale that will run through the month of May at Anderson Fine Art Gallery. Most of the exclusive PAP-SE group of 22, was out in full-force painting and enjoying the incredible weather.

This photo is of me painting just before the exhibition, followed by the final work. I did not realize until I was finished, that around the other side of this particular tree was a plaque. The text said the tree I had been painting was the oldest live oak on Jekyll Island! Of all the trees I could have painted, I was stunned to find it was an important tree indeed.


Here are just the two of the pieces that are available now at the gallery - not yet posted to my web site but are here for YOU to see now:

This painting is of historic Christ Church, on St. Simons Island. John Wesley preached in this church in the 1700's.

A lyrical painting of a village storefront in the morning sunlight. Cardboard models showcased colorful hats and garb - fun to cature. Just 4 days after I painted this piece, they completely changed all the clothes. I did not have time to paint the new display live, however, have good photos for a future studio painting.

JUST RETURNED FROM PAINTING AT EPCOT - a great honor for the third year. Here, I am painting en plein air during Disney's Garden Festival as a part of a group of fifteen plein-air (outdoor) artists. The photo shows me painting in "Italy."

I am traveling again in two days to participate in yet another event (Spring and Autumn are my busiest traveling times.)

I will post paintings from the Epcot event as well as the upcoming major paint out as a member of Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE) on St. Simons Island, GA in the coming weeks. If you are on St. Simons Island, you can visit me and colleague artists painting in and around the island from April 18th through 24th. If you are in the area and want to know where I am painting, you can call me at 919.412.7005. I only use this number while on the road.

A major exhibition of works by our in-demand group of painters (of which I have recently been accepted as a member among a mere 30) will be opening Friday, April 25th at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery.

Meanwhile, please plan to visit my first major pastel (for which I became known) show in over ten years at The Little Gallery on Smith Mountain Lake. The opening is on Sunday, May 18th from 1-3. I will be there to greet collectors, artists and anyone enjoys my, or many other exceptional painters works represented by the gallery. I have been with this gallery for over eighteen marvelous years!

My show is all about azaleas. Callaway Gardens in Georgia, was the inspiration for this new collection. Included, will be a large oil and two medium-sized acrylic paintings. Many created on location. They will be posted to my online gallery after the exhibition and sale.

Can't wait to tell you more!

INTRODUCING THE INAUGURAL ISSUE OF THE Traveling Painter Library - a brand new series of DVDs for beginning to advanced artists in acrylic, oil and pastel, both en plein air and in the studio!

With an ever growing demand for my workshops, I cannot reach everyone. Therefore, I have turned to producing videos that anyone can use via their computer or TV. Granted, you don’t have the personal interaction of a hand-on, in-person workshop*. Nevertheless, I promise, you will gain so much that whether you go it alone or when you do go to a workshop (whether mine or someone elses’) you’ll be well equipped! And, as a bonus, the first 50 artists who order can receive a 30 minute one-on-one with me via phone about their work!* This is not offered anywhere else! (Yes, you can email this around to artist friends for their benefit.)

Soft Pastel: A Painterly Approach, is the first of three offerings in 2008. If you are already a pastel painter, this is a great volume to help you loosen-up to capture the landscape. If a beginner, it will teach you pastel strokes along with countless tips along the way during the demonstration - even encourage to paint along, or from your own subject.

To view a listing of what’s included and a video clip of excerpt from the DVD click here. When you try this volume please send me your feedback - I want to serve you. My objective is simple - to develop extraordinary education for all. (A Soft Pastel Starter Kit for beginners will be available later in the series.)

Acrylic, Water Miscible Oil and plein-air painters stay tuned! A multi-disk comprehensive plein-air workshop is in the works along with many others listed here.

Thanks for your interest and support. I look forward to sharing my years of teaching and painting experience with you personally !

P.S.
All DVDs are in standard Letterbox format. As demand for high-definition DVDs grows will produced in that format as well.

* To qualify, you must email your invoice number of your DVD back to the original PayPal purchase email address along with your email address. Details will then be sent to qualifying individuals for their free consultation/critique.