grace diehl » Blog

I was raised in a single-parent household with a mother who faced challenges settling in a new country. Our home had empty walls and I wanted to bring some happiness to my mother and sister, so I started making paintings to fill them. My desire to become an artist grew from there. Living in a rural area made it difficult to find a teacher, but I eventually took art classes at a community college and later, from private teachers. Despite this, most of my knowledge and skills came from books and experimenting on my own. I worked in a computer science field for 10 years but always found time for my art. With the advent of the internet, it's easier than ever for anyone to learn and market their art. Today is a great time to be a fine artist.

I'm in the middle of a new artwork, but first I have to do some research. This time I'm incorporating a couple of hummingbirds into my floral painting, as I wanted to add an extra element of interest. I felt that my composition needed something to make it visually appealing and to guide the eye around the painting. My husband and I have developed a recent fascination with birds, their sounds and behaviors, and we have a hummingbird that regularly visits our garden. Although the bird is fast and often flutters away before I can get a good look, I still try to capture its essence in my painting through photos and imagination. I'm currently in the early stages of creating the artwork, where I'm establishing the composition, adding in values and color.

Spring is one of my favorite seasons because I get to paint some of the beautiful flowers from my garden. I grow a variety of flowers that bloom at different times, so there's always something in bloom. I'd love to paint outside with my easel, but the wind has been a hindrance lately. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to do so soon.

Wishing you all a joyful painting experience!