Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diane Larson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Diane, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

“IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!” At 65 years old I found myself in a place I hadn’t expected! Our retirement plans of sailing away, came to a halt when my husband became ill and we had to stop sailing. We sold our sailboat and moved inland to Raleigh NC.
What was I going to do now? Did I have a plan B?
Painting had always been something I did on the side as a hobby but now I made a decision to go full time and become a professional artist. It wasn’t easy. I’ve worked hard to make that dream come true.

I had tremendous success while we were living in the Carolinas. I was represented by 5 galleries and an interior designer showroom.
Moving back to Florida was my choice and I am happy to be here. I am starting over however. Here in Florida I have found one gallery (hopefully more will follow) but I’m making my way. I was just published in a book, The Great American Paint In and was an award winner at a museum show in Ft Pierce.
Hard work does pay off. So my motto is Never Give Up!

Diane, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Life Long Sailor turned Professional Oil Painter at 65!

I have been sailing for most of my life, in the Pacific, the Atlantic and Caribbean. From San Francisco to Mexico, from Maine to the Caribbean and everywhere in between. Now days you will find me in my studio on the Space Coast in Cocoa Village, Florida

Like many women of my generation, (I’m 71 years old now) marriage and motherhood became my main occupation for many years. They were fantastic years spent sailing with the family from our home in the Ventura Keys, up and down the West Coast and Mexico. One weekend, while in Catalina, we walked into an art gallery in Avalon and saw the breathtaking work of Denise Burns, founding member of Plein Air Painters of America. Those luscious oil paints spoke to me and I knew immediately what I wanted to do. My husband, a psychotherapist, recognized my excitement and was thrilled for me. He suggested I find a place to study art again. So, at age 45, I began by taking workshops in the nearby artist community of Ojai, CA and enrolled in classes at the California Art Institute. Even there I found drawing classes challenging due to my dyslexia. My mentor, Dottie Knight, encouraged her to just keep painting. It was just a hobby for many years. Something I loved but didn’t take seriously.

In 2012 my husband and I made the decision to leave Ventura, California and relocate to Florida. “I love the casual lifestyle here. The warm sea breezes and beautiful waterways inspire me. There is so much to explore!”

MEMBERSHIPS

American Society of Marine Artists
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society
Oil Painters of America
Marine Arts Guild, Founding Member – NC Maritime Museum
Women Painters of the Southeast

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Interesting question. Sharing what I love!
For me the reward comes from making something that brings joy to someones life.
Whether it’s in a home, an office or even on a yacht. (Yes, I have installed paintings on boats!)
I feel grateful when someone wants to own one of my paintings.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Dyslexia…..My lifelong Struggle. I don’t think many people understand dyslexia. It’s perplexing even to me.
Painting is a real challenge for me but there isn’t anything I’d rather be doing!
My style of painting is intuitive because I can’t copy a shapes, I struggle with that.
I start with a series of large marks, at first they are very gestural, almost as if I can feel the sea moving under my brush! As I keep refining those marks, I start to feel my way through the painting until I can see the whole thing come together. I surprise myself sometimes!
To me painting is a very physical activity, I stand while painting, sometimes 6 hours a day. I love pushing the paint around. I love the way two colors merge into a totally new and different color. I love creating something that didn’t exist before I thought of it. It’s exhilarating!!
I also love teaching kids like my granddaughters to paint. Seeing their joy makes me happy.
I work in my studio every day for about 6 hours. When I’m not in there I am planning my next painting in my head. I guess because I got such a late start on this amazing journey I am consumed by it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dianelarsonfineart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DLarsonPaints

Image Credits
Diane Larson