Hi, I’m Diane.
I was born in Boston, MA and educated at Boston Latin School, Salem State University (BS), and Northeastern Univ. (M Ed.). I taught in the Boston Public Schools for ten years before relocating to Loudoun County, VA. Here my career in education continued in both independent and public schools.
Throughout my years teaching, I took a variety of art courses from which I was able to transfer this new learning to my classroom and enrich the curriculum through both the visual and performing arts. Classes included book creating, painting, drawing, sculpting with papier mache, making art with items from nature, and art education. These classes took me to such learning environments as Boston State College, Jim Bottomley Workshops, Univ. Of VA, Natural School of Light, Art Square, local community centers, and private classes. My classroom was further enhanced through the writing of successful grants from both the Loudoun Education Association and the Washington Post Grants in the Arts Program.
After retiring from teaching, I was able to pursue a second passion, the study of art. I am currently studying under Carmen Barros Howell, internationally acclaimed painter and sculptor, to whom I am deeply grateful. Weekly classes in Carmen’s studio have awakened a love of abstract art. Bimonthly sessions in figure drawing are helping me to improve my observational skills, spacial awareness, and composition. I recently opened my own studio, Cherry Grove Art, in Round Hill, VA. I work predominately in abstract acrylics, but also enjoy mixed-media creations and the illustration of characters from children’s literature. My work has been exhibited at the Lovettsville Public Library, Waterford Fair, Art at the Mill (Millwood), Carmen Barros Howell’s Studio (Purcellville), Franklin Park Center for the Arts (Purcellville), Artists in Middleburg Gallery, Middleburg Library, Tryst Gallery (Leesburg), Ashburn Public Library, Rust Library in Leesburg, Purcellville Library, the Ashburn Library, Cascades Library, Lovettsville Library, Leesburg Law Library, Aldie Mill, Bluemont Fair, The Art Gallery in Ellicott City, Delaplaine Art Center in Frederick, MAX Studio and the Hamilton Art Gallery (Baltimore) where I am an active member.
Art is for everyone. I am happy to exhibit my work at local businesses. I have had my work at the ETC. SHOP in Round Hill, the Hair Mill, Bohemian House in Ellicott City, and Select Physical Therapy in Purcellville.
In the words of Brett Whitely, “Art should astonish, transmute, transfix.” I hope my art will do just that!