Location: United States
Diane Leonard is an award winning artist, and one of America’s most highly respected contemporary impressionists. A self-taught artist, Diane began painting in her early twenties while living in Boston with her son, Shaun. She has enjoyed great success with her artwork, including numerous One-Woman Shows here in the U.S. and Japan. She has studied with renowned painters, Bettina Steinke and Helen Van Wyk.
Diane is a published writer, photographer, filmmaker, and teacher. She is presently working on her new video series, which shares some of her "secret" methods of painting that produce that special "Glow" found only in her paintings.
Permanent Collections include: Long Beach Museum of Art, CA; University of Arizona Collection; Fox Network News, New York; Dante Alighieri Museum, Cambridge, MA; Long Beach Museum of Art, CA; Salem State College, Salem, MA; Spectrum Health Care Center, MI; Nagano Country Club, Japan, and the private collection of Rhonda Byrne, creator of “The Secret”.
Her paintings have been included in numerous national juried exhibitions including: American Impressionist Society, 2009; Salmagundi Art Club, NY; Allied Artists of America, NY; Audubon Society, NY, Great American Artists Show, Cincinnati; Art Kudos International Art Show; The Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, Mystic, CT; The Westmoreland Art show in Pennsylvania, and her painting, “Little Flower Girl” won Second Place in the The Louisiana Fine Arts Show in 2010. Her painting, “Peace”, won Third Place in the FineArtWorld.com competition in 2011. Her paintings were featured in Art and Beyond, June 2013 issue and South Shore Living Magazine, 2015.
People from all over the world are collecting her artwork and she can be found on all of the Social Media.
Leonard’s work is represented by: The TH Brennen Fine Art Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ, The Boccara Art Gallery, Monte Carlo, Monaco, The Wright Gallery in Cape Porpoise, Maine, Emillions Art in Naples, Florida.
There is something so magical about being on the beach. The smell of the sand and the ocean makes me smile. I am truly at "Peace" when I am on the beach, and photographing models and painting them has been my absolute joy throughout my career. I love the late afternoon light when the sun has warmed the wet sand at low tide. The reflections of the models and the colors on the grey sand bring my paintings to life. Each new season brings me back to the beaches with new ideas and new exciting paintings.
"Peace" was created on a beach in Mexico -- I found these vintage lanterns and wanted to capture the special light that happens when "twilight" arrives with its golden hues. There is only about a half hour of twilight before it starts to get dark, and as you wait for it, you can see the glow start to do its magic. The reflections on the wet sand are the most beautiful colors I have ever seen. The beach brings me peace, and so did this painting. It is hanging in the mansion of the woman who wrote "The Secret", Rhonda Byrne -- I created the painting especially for her. My intention was to have the viewer feel the beach and feel at "peace". Anything is Possible! I would love to hear from you, so please contact me at the above link!
This painting has won several awards in national juried art competitions, and images of this painting are sought after by many collectors.
When two mothers take their children to the beach, it is always magical. The sun and the ocean bring joy to everyone! These two best friends shared a special moment!
“Peace”
“Beach Time”
