Diana K. Gibson

Some quick tips that I offer to my students in regard to creating further distance in their landscape paintings are as follows: COMPOSITION: *Look for the ellipses in the landscape and translate them upon the canvas. The ellipses help to create movement and draws the viewers' eye through the picture. *Be aware of scale and perspective. Contrast and compare the shape and scale of the objects. Things get smaller as they recede into the distance. Think about how much of the sky will appear in the picture. By merely raising or lowering the horizon line, one can shift the perspective creating more or less depth within the painting. *Be cognizant of any kind of repetition that maybe occurring within the painting. We may sometimes be unaware of the consistent repetitive shapes or equally spaced out items we are creating. Shapes and spacing are quite varied in nature and are not as systematic as we sometimes unconsciously portray them. Constantly observe, compare your work to the ...

Ever become a tasty snack for a swarm of hungry biting insects and wish you had some bug spray? Ouch! How about having a sopping brush and realizing you forgot your roll of towels or rags or better yet you set up your pochade box and go for your paints only to realize you left them next to your easel at home? Maybe some of you are nodding your head and chuckling and know too well what I am relating. Sometimes forgetting supplies can be just down right frustrating though the forgetfulness does make for some good jokes and story telling. But the lack of efficiency can take away from constructive painting time, which is no joke. Through years of plein air painting experience I have learned to carry some extra supplies on hand because I have had those days where I in my haste I forgot something at the house or left it along the side of the driveway. So to prepare for those inevitable opps duh moments, I keep the following plein air staples in the trunk of my car: Bug repellant (seasona...

Well it has been a little while since I participated in the Cranford Artist Studio Tour and it would be remiss of me not to chat about my experience! I must say I had an awesome time! Many cheerful and supportive patrons of the arts poured out onto the streets to check out what Cranford had to offer. The drizzly rain did not hinder the fans of the fine arts nor we visiting plein air painters! Myself and Eleinne Basa were the plein air painters demonstrating plein air painting techniques, explaining about the easels we used, the colors on our palettes, and explaining exactly what is plein air painting, etc. I was absolutely delighted to meet the public and to meet fellow artists. I was extremely touched by the support of my students who showed up and remained with me for the entirety of the event. There was an energy that was positive and supportive and the buzz that was created from this event left me feeling very happy. I would like to recognize Deborah Leber and Paul Casale fo...

Hi out there to you all in blogger world! It has been quite a long time since I have updated my blog and I promise to get some new images uploaded as soon as possible! This Spring has proved to be a rainy one and the Summer looks to be a continuation of the Spring, wet and rainy. The rain has been an hinderance to plein air painting, however I have managed to get out there and do some work. So please check back soon to view my latest work and read some of my painting tales! Cheers!

The results are in and I am happy to announce that I am one of five finalists for the American Artist Showcase Your State: New Jersey plein air competition!  To view the American Artist on-line article just click on this link -> "Showcase Your State: New Jersey Winners."  Thanks to all of you for your support and vote of confidence!  :) Congrats to the other finalists!  You rock! FINALIST #5: DIANA K. GIBSON (from Ringwood, New Jersey) Springtime in the NJ Highlands by Diana K. Gibson, 2006, oil, 18 x 14 In the Words of the Artist: "The New Jersey Botanical Garden (NJBG), in Ringwood, New Jersey, is one of my favorite places to paint in the spring.  Each spring a week prior to the bloom, I drive through the NJBG observing the buds on the cherry blossom trees.  Often, the buds show no signs of blooming.  Then, as if by magic, the buds burst into flower overnight and within a week drop their petals.  I was walking about the gardens looking for a subject to paint when ...