It's been a year since I moved to Overland Park Kansas and after spending all winter cooped-up at home waiting for my broken ankle to heal I jumped at the chance to enter STEMS Plein Air at The Rice Gallery.   It's the premier plein air event in the Kansas City area. The task was to create plein air paintings with no studio touch ups. At the beginning of May, 2026 on nine sunny days I painted memorable views on location in Kansas and Missouri.  Three paintings could be submitted and I was excited that two of my oil paintings were juried into the show. The opening reception is June 19 and the show will be on display until mid July at 8130 Metcalf in downtown Overland Park Kansas.

Painting rippling waters at Corporate Woods Founders Park was my first session. I carried my backpack that holds the canvas, palette box, tripod, umbrella, paint tubes and brushes. Also I carried a handy mesh bag that holds palette knives, Q tips, solvent bucket, suntan lotion, bug spray, band aids, rubber gloves, paper towels and palette knives. Fortunately the view was nearby.

I visited the site twice to complete "Indian Creek at Corporate Woods." This painting was juried into the show and I am happy to announce that it received an Honorable Mention Award. The painting sessions were about ninety minutes and I didn't take my chair! Painting quick is a real test of observation, focus, and skill  assess perspective and mix colors. It's very different than using reference photos in the studio. Luckily there were no bugs on my canvas, or ants crawling up my leg.

On a pleasant Sunday morning I painted  "CPKD Stadium" for three hours. This is the first stadium in the world built for women's sports. It's home to the KC Current Women's Soccer Team.  Sometimes I stand to paint but when it's necessary to sit I like to be perched up high to paint! This painting was also accepted for the show on June 19, 2026.

On two sunny and often windy mornings I traveled to Country Club Plaza in Missouri to paint the popular "Fountain in Mill Creek Park." My push-pull wagon was useful to carry my equipment.

I also painted with other artists at the Loose Park on Arbor Day where a tree was planted as a tribute to a distinguished Kansas City artist Wilbur Niewald who painted daily in the park. "Loose Park Rose Garden" was completed on my second visit when the roses were in full bloom.

On another very windy day I painted at the Overland Park Arboretum. I will need to return to complete this painting.

The Rice Gallery sponsored a Quick Paint Competition in Downtown Overland Park so I perched myself near the Dragon Inn Restaurant to paint this iconic sign. Congratulations to the artists who complete a painting in two hours!!! I will need to return to complete my little sign...the time flew by!

This May Plein Air Marathon provided a foundation for my Heartland Art Collection that you can view on the website www.DianaCrow.com

Now I am busy reproducing this regional art into prints, note cards, bookmarks and magnets. I hope you enjoyed seeing these painting excursions. Many blessings and thank you to all my supporters.

It's a joy to be able to create paintings with personal memories that people will cherish for years or leave as a legacy for their family. Since 2021, Ednas' on The Green, a popular food truck dining and music venue in southern area of The Villages, has been the subject of four commissions that I painted for Villagers. 

 The moss in the trees was blowing as I painted for several hours and enjoyed the music of Johnny Wild & the Delights. At the VAL Summer Art Festival in July at Lake Miona a lady mentioned that she and her husband had watched me begin the painting on that windy day at Ednas'.  I said, "I brought it today, but it's not finished yet." She remarked, "We want to purchase it----if you will paint us into the painting." 

Then when I was revising the painting a couple came to my home studio to purchase another artwork. When they saw the Ednas' painting at my easel, they wanted to purchase it, too! But since it was sold, they sent family photos for the second commission Family Fun at Ednas' on The Green.

In September, 2023 a family member in that second version told her friend, Peggy, about their Ednas' painting. So Peggy called to commission a painting with ten family members at Ednas'. As Pegg and Joe celebrated their granddaughter's birthday with their family I took many photos and placed them in various poses in the oil painting. It was like putting a puzzle together: Fun at Ednas' on The Green. They also requested prints on canvas, personalized Christmas cards, magnets and placemats.

In December of 2023 Susie and Danny Smiley came to my home studio to purchase Christmas cards and noticed the third Ednas' at the easel. What a coincidence, his mother and her grandmother were both named Edna! On Jan. 28 Susie and Danny came to ARTS Around the Square to see the progress of their painting, Two Ednas. The completed painting took 49 hours and it was like putting a puzzle together. They sent me photos of friends and family from across the United States that I included in this memorable painting.

Change is in the air as the food trucks were replaced by an air conditioned kitchen that opened in May, 2024. It's for the comfort of the chefs, and rightly so...but through my artwork those quaint trucks can continue to tickle our hearts! 

During another sultry summer I moved my back-porch painting studio...indoors. Actually, it's in our living room, where it beckons me to pick up a paint brush to get lost in reverie. Reverie is what happens when an artist paints, we get lost in a dreamy world and time stops. I get totally absorbed in creation and need to be reminded that it's time to prepare dinner. During the day I can look across the room to assess what needs improvement "on my paintings in progress." This studio move was a good idea, but art storage has always been a dilemma.

In January 2020 before the pandemic stopped the world I was searching nearby hardware stores for a handy measuring tool to use in portrait painting. And then I saw a great workbench! For several nights I dreamed about how I could arrange my paints in the felt lined drawers. But I never imagined that assembly would be a two-woman task. Thankfully my neighbor, Mary, helped me assemble this sturdy workbench. Google and You Tube helped me install the drawers!

Now all my colors are easy to find and I even have a drawer just for portrait hues. The paint tube trays are made from sliced empty toilet paper rolls and clear tape.

For years I had searched for racks to hold my art and finally online I found these great Dryden art and canvas keepers designed by the husband of an artist. Methodically I persevered to assemble the rack, but I did it...solo this time! And then I ordered another rack!

These old trunks that were waiting for me at consignment stores provide more safe storage space.

Time spent sorting closets, bins and drawers during the world's timeout has been beneficial. I found more art supplies hiding under the bed and a bin full of  My Cozy Treehouse Creations™ that reminded me to revive my colorful storybook characters for my baby grandson.  I'll tell you about Smiley Tickles™ in another blog. I am more productive when all my tools are organized and readily available. The proverbial messy artist's loft isn't my style. But you should see my desk when I'm in the middle of a project. Have you also been sorting and cleaning everything in sight? Please share your art organizing tips.

I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well. Many blessings, Diana 

Greetings Art Lovers,

I always enjoy painting outside. It is known as painting “en plein air” or on location.

This is how I created many of the over 90 paintings of The Villages where I live.

You can see the collection “Views of The Villages” on my website www.DianaCrow.com

Diana Crow painting “Lake Sumter Waterfront”

Fourteen years ago I set-up up my studio on my back porch so I could work on oil paintings

in the fresh air in my Florida garden while listening to the symphonies of birdsongs.

Diana Crow at her back porch studio painting a commission.

But this year in 2019 after humid 90 degree temperatures in May it was necessary for me to move

my studio indoors to a corner of our large living room. 

Now I can paint in cool air conditioned comfort day or night with my Revelite Easel Light that is mounted on top of my easel. It shines on both the canvas and my Parallel Palette that is next to the easel. I originally purchased the Revelite EL to use

for Live Event Painting at weddings with a battery pack, but now I am excited to have it available whenever I want to paint.

To nurture my need for nature I surrounded myself with houseplants 

and started painting floral creations like the one below:

“Hummingbirds Love Geraniums” by Diana Crow

Moving my art studio to my living room in June definitely sparked my creativity!

As I gathered all of my supplies and canvases from under the bed and the far reaches of the closets

I created an organized, stimulating environment where my tools are more easily accessible.

With my easel in clear sight it beckons me throughout the day to finish my household chores

so I can paint more often. At 73 years of age it’s like I’m spending the summer at my own “summer art camp.” 

This organized set-up gave me the energy to finally make color charts to learn more about mixing my paints.

This process is described by Master Artist, Richard Schmid with Katie Swatland in the book”Alla Prima II”.

For years I avoided painting indoors because of solvent fumes.

But online research has guided me to safe methods that other artists use.

I purchased an air purifier that colorful floral artist Nancy Medina at www.NancyMedina.com

recommends and I’m removing the pigment from my brushes with baby oil. 

Recently I ordered Brush Dip that I learned about from artist,

Mark Carder at www.DrawMixPaint.com .

I am eager to learn other ways that artists paint safely, so please send me your tips.

My creativity is sparked and I have truly created an anchor for my artistry with my new indoor studio because now I have three paintings in progress and three recently completed, including a portrait!

“Looking Good” by Diana Crow

My creativity is sparked and I no longer have “to make time” to paint....my art studio is now “ready-set-go....”

and when cooler weather arrives I can always go out to paint “en plein air,” or even paint again on the back porch!

Le me know if my story stimulates your creativity and I hope that you enjoy following my progress.

In a future post I’ll show you how I store my artwork.

Blessings and Happy Summer, Diana

Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder

My grandmother told me that age was just a number.

Remember that you are never too old to pursue your dreams...we are all young at heart.

This is me, Diana Crow, preparing to trek from the parking lot to the painting site...72 years and counting.

In April I enjoyed a very exciting week attending the 7th annual Plein Air Convention & EXPO in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

But at PACE2018 I was surely challenged to PACE myself. My body was confused with the two hour time zone difference

and 7000 foot high altitude, though for twenty years I resided near Mile High Denver.

It was easy to get to the 6:30AM Breakfast & Art Marketing Boot Camp with Eric Rhoads, the publisher of Plein Air Magazine,

since that was 8:30AM at home in Florida,

but I was a no show at the late evening events....though I was often wide awake at 2AM.

Lesson learned: don't take cholorophyll to build red blood cells when you go to bed; take it in the morning. It's a stimulant!

Dancing for Prizes in Home Room if your name was drawn in the lottery.

It was exciting to attend Kevin Macpherson's pre-convention workshop

and have him autograph his new book, Conversations with Nature.

 His first book Fill Your Paintings with Light and Color was my constant companion when I started painting outside.

Kevin is such a genuine caring, down to earth person and I appreciated hearing about the evolution of his art since his visits to China

where he paints with the children. He believes that art has the power to change the world. You can learn more about his nonprofit, Art Ambassadors, and The Great Guatemala Building Project at www.artambassador.org.

Kevin Macpherson uses a limited palette.

During the week it seemed that the people I sat next to were the ones I was meant to meet.

Not only did we have art in common, but they understood when I shared how I was anxious that

my sweetheart was at home recovering from a stroke.

His family came to care for him so that I could  immerse myself in art for a week.

My seatmates consoled me and coincidentally often had been through a similar medical experience.

Imagine being in a convention hall with over 1200 artists, People Just Like Me.

People who drive down the street and notice the sunlight

glistening on a tree and think, "How would I paint that?"

We all took selfies to post: Wish You Were Here

Artists from across the globe displayed their art, and Diana Crow was one of them.

That's my painting of the man pushing the plow that I met along the road to Ghost Ranch seven years ago.

"Proud Abiquiu Gardener" by Diana Crow is Available.

The faculty of over 80 artists and speakers were so generous sharing their knowledge.

I was a sponge soaking up their wisdom. This is truly lifelong learning.

At times the schedule was overwhelming because each day there were a multitude of choices: there were demonstration

rooms for oil, pastel, and water media artists, as well as other artists doing demos in the EXPO Hall. But I remembered to PACE myself,

and I amso happy that I purchased the raw downloads of many of the sessions that I didn't see

so now I can view them at my leisure at home.

Of course I came prepared with a credit card because The EXPO part of this event was heaven!!

And I pledge to take care of my Rosemary brushes, they are great fun to use!

At the Opening Ceremonies the venerable, David Leffel was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

He did a demonstration on stage later in the week.

Alvaro Castagnet also received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

It was so exciting to watch him create a magnificent watercolor painting of the Plaza in Santa Fe!

After attending demonstrations and talks all day many of the 1100 attendees traveled

in the late afternoons to local historic sites to paint outside together, of course it was the Plein Air Convention!

Monday was a very windy day at our headquarters at the Buffalo Thunder Resort, but

when we descended into the Chimayo valley to paint at El Sanctuario de Chimayo the winds calmed a bit.

At the EXPO I had purchased Thomas Kitts' new DVD,

"Sorolla, Painting the Color of Light" so it was great to paint behind him and get his advice about my painting!

"Chimayo Pastureland" by Diana Crow is Available.

I was amazed when I walked around the property

at how quiet it was when all the artists were deep in the zone.

I carpooled to Chimayo with past attendees,

Gail Jackson, Valerie Chitvanni and her sister Lauren, and after painting

we enjoyed a meal together at the famous Rancho de Chimayo Restaurante.

Once again an angel was by my side, Lauren, who was a nurse understood about hospitals and strokes.

On Tuesday afternoon many of the painters went to the Plaza in Santa Fe to paint, but I chose to paint a view on Canyon Road.

"Canyon Road Blossoms" by Diana Crow is sold but prints are available.

Our destination on Thursday was El Rancho el las Golondrinas. It's a site where I could paint for days and days. Though this was a very, very windy afternoon many of us chose sheltered sites to set up our easels. I wanted to paint the tree in my view, but I didn't want to be out in the open wind so I changed my painting when I returned home. I was amazed at the sand I had to scrape off my palette.

"Plein Air Painters at El Rancho de las Golondrinas" by Diana Crow is available.

You are probably getting tired reading this...and believe me I was feeling tired by Thursday evening too! And once again, when I went to the Closing Party I found two ladies to visit with who lived in Florida and Colorado! Coincidences around every corner! It was necessary for me to retire early before the party got really hopping so that I could pack my bags and prepare for painting all day Friday at Ghost Ranch.

The picturesque drive into Ghost Ranch...along the way I saw the property where the proud Abiquiu gardener lived...it was deserted....he's moved on. I was bundled up painting this view because the temperature dropped in two hours and snow flurries were flying!

April at Ghost Ranch by Diana Crow is available.

I have read each issue of Plein Air Magazine from cover to cover since the first issue.

Now that I've attended PACE18 I truly feel like I am a part of this fascinating community of artists

who enjoy getting outside to paint in nature. We stay connected on the group page on facebook.

And though I didn't meet that many people at the convention, I feel like I know them all now through their posts.

And especially, I'm not intimidated by the master artists and faculty members,

but I am thankful to them for sharing their wisdom and knowledge, and encouraging each of us to learn more and more each day.

I know that we each share a creative soul that enlivens people's daily lives with our artistic expressions.

Thank you, especially, to the master mind of this plein air movement, Eric Rhoads, and his team.

His new book, Make More Money Selling Your Art by Eric Rhoads, tells the story of his endeavors and gives artists hope.

You may wonder why I chose to adventure to this particular Plein Air Convention. Well, I have family ties in the area.

This is my son, Brandon, who builds award winning Green Homes at Palo Santo Designs.

On this visit I got to see some of their projects.

And this is our New Mexico family:

His sweetheart, Renee and her mother Rosemarie. Renee is a Santa Fe City Councilwoman.

At the airport yet another coicidence ,an artist from the convention found me! How could she tell?

And you know why you never saw that hat in any of the plein air photos? It was TOO windy!

When I returned home I had consolidated all of my equipment into two hand totes on wheels by Coleman

and my sweetheart was doing much better and happy to see me!

Maybe I'll go to the Plein Air Convention again...when it's in Colorado

where my son, Scott and his sweetheart Claire live!

Will I carry my supplies in a backpack then? Stay tuned.....

Diana Crow is very excited, "It's been a year since I registered to attend the Plein Air Convention & EXPO 2018 in Santa Fe, NM and now it's two weeks til I begin intense art education at PACE. But first I need to pack up my plein air painting supplies. I chose to attend this year because my sons live in Santa Fe and Pagosa Springs, CO!  To make the most of my experience I've been researching the 80 member faculty, and I'm super excited to attend the Pre-Convention workshop by master painter, Kevin MacPherson whose book, "Fill Your Paintings with Light and Color," was my constant companion for many years.

Each day at PACE begins with a 6:30 AM marketing workshop with the creator of PACE and publisher of Plein Air Magazine, Eric Rhodes. (The early mornings won't be a problem, I'll be on East Coast Florida time, but I may not make it to the evening venues!) There are demonstrations by the prestigious faculty all day long on four stages. I will focus on oil painting. Then in the afternoon over 900 attendees paint together at sites like Chimayo, Santa Fe Plaza, and Ghost Ranch to paint "en plein air." Critiques, focus sessions and nocturnal paintings continue until 11 pm. When do we eat? when do we sleep? What about my nap?

El Sanctuario de Chimayo by Diana Crow

Shows Father Casimiro Roca, "the father of Chimayo"

It was painted from my photos.

Now I'm faced with the dilemma of packing my supplies. I need to be prepared for changes of weather, like blustery winds or snow, but also for painting outside! I'm familiar with New Mexico terrain because my first experience painting "en plein air," or from life on location, was in a workshop with artist Don Ward in Taos, NM in 2000. A backpack will be useful, but is it practical for me? I'm 72.

Pictured below are some of the items that go in the backpack! 

Paints by Gamblin. Paper towels. A full brush case. Sketch book and Markers. Panel Paks to hold wet canvases sizes 8x10 and 11x14.

(I prefer painting on canvases instead of panels. But I'm going to try them again.)

A tripod easel with compact palette from Jim Coulter at Art Box & Panel that weighs 3 lbs. A raincoat and a Best Brella for shade.

Snacks, sunscreen.....I intend to pack light. But of course I'll also need lots of water for high altitude painting (Santa Fe is at 7000 feet!)

If I forget something I can purchase it at Artisan, my favorite art store near Brandon's home in Santa Fe or at the EXPO.

Ready, Set, GO!

The backpack weighs 25 pounds and it's not full. Perhaps I won't be trekking far into the desert after all.

Maybe this is a better solution.

To glimpse some of my adventures in the Land of Enchantment sign up to follow my facebook page, Diana Crow Artist.

Or sign up at www.DianaCrow.com to Follow This Blog."

Every night of the year at each of three square in The Villages, Florida there is free nightly entertainment for all ages from 5 until 9pm...

or when as Villagers say, "Until the streets are rolled up."

 When the third town square opened in 2013 I created an original oil painting,  "Paddock Square at Brownwood."

At that time instead of filling the square with crowds of people I chose to paint two young grand kids and their grandparents

looking out at the newly built square before it was ready to open.

I imagined that they were thinking about all the family memories they would create at  the venue.

But truthfully I didn't put in crowds of people because at that time in my painting career the task seemed overwhelming.

But early this June I was enthusiastic about "bringing the square to life!"  

So on a night when the square was truly rocking with the jumping and jiving music of  "Johnny Wild and The Delights"

I photographed the entertainers, dancers and Villagers, grand kids and pups to help me depict

the fun and frolic that is uniquely The Villages.

Using my photos and lots of imagination I had fun painting a rejuvenated version of "Paddock Square by Diana Crow."

I hope you enjoy it!

See if you can find yourself in the painting....

In 2017 I believe that I felt more confident about putting people in the painting

because of my experience doing a Live Event Painting at a wedding in Orlando last year!

"Paddock Square" is now available in canvas print, matted prints, note cards and magnets.

Call Diana Crow at 352-430-1512 to purchase artwork.

There are many interesting ways to hang art on the walls of your home or office. I have photos of some clever arrangements from collectors of my art. I'll post a few in this blog. You can see more at Art on the Walls at www.DianaCrow.com .  If you have ever purchased one of my artworks, I'd enjoy seeing  how you've chosen to showcase Art by Diana Crow. Just email photos to [email protected]

In days past almost everyone had artwork framed. But now with gallery wrapped paintings where the art extends around the edges of the deep canvas the client has the choice to frame or not. I hope you enjoy browsing through these selections.

The client grouped the paintings of her Atlanta home with other special keepsakes.  After moving from the area she tells me that the paintings are fond memories of her East Lake home.

These five golf course painting commissions of the golfer's favorite holes are the focal point of this living area. 

The commission below Red Trees at Sunset was created with consideration for the client's color scheme. It provides a pop of color over the fireplace.

When clients who commissioned the three paintings of theaters at The Squares in The Villages, Florida had the walls of their media room painted the wall painter suggested that they have a large white framed made. Then he painted a contrasting color inside the frame. You can see the dramatic difference in the before and after photos below.

Maybe these interesting arrangements of art will spark your imagination. It is my pleasure to create art that speaks to others with colorful views and sometimes fond memories. I hope that art enriches your life each and everyday!

It's been months since I posted a BLOG because I'm been having many days of reflection since I tumbled in late August and broke a metatarsal bone in my left foot. Luckily I could still drive, but being immobile worked havoc with my exercise routine......surely I'm looking forward to a New Year and a new re-boot!

Some of my reflective time was spent in my garden reading several historical/fiction novels written by Susan Vreeland, Clara & Mr. Tiffany and a book about a Renoir painting, Luncheon of The Boating Party. At the end of the book about Renoir I was anxious to get to work on my back porch studio where I had fun creating an autumn painting commission from the client's photograph. Reproductions of the original painting Day of Reflection are available as prints on canvas sizes 16x20 or 27.5x36 or larger. I hope that you don't have a mishap like I did in order to give yourself some days of reflection!

On the last Sunday in May with delicious delight I delivered the two oil paintings of Marinna and Ryan's wedding at Paradise Cove! I was honored to be part of this happy family celebration. The bride's mom, Helene, requested this commission and I am thrilled that Helene introduced me to Live Event Painting, which means that Diana Crow painted live at the wedding!

Marinna and Ryan are now Mr. & Mrs.

Newlyweds at Paradise Cove by Diana Crow

First Dance at Paradise Cove by Diana Crow

Members of the families are pictured in this view and cardinals in the background remind us of departed grandparents. 

The 16x20x1.5 gallery wrapped canvas allows me to paint the view on the sides as shown on these prints on canvas.

On one side you see the artist painting!

On the sixth of May I arrived the morning of the wedding at picturesque Paradise Cove on Lake Bryan in Orlando, FL to begin blocking in the background.

I painted the exquisite moss laden cypress and palm trees at the ceremony.

It was fun to visit with the guests as I painted at the reception. My mother made my tuxedo apron!

The lighting at Paradise Cove creates magical ambiance!

During the evening my new battery operated Revelite helped me paint in the darkness.

Using photos I completed these heirloom paintings on my back porch studio.

Excitedly I delivered the paintings to the family at another magical setting that Helene chose in Jupiter FL, Guanabanas.

Doing two paintings was a challenging but very fulfilling experience! Now I look forward to doing more Live Event Paintings by Diana Crow. I am so thankful to Helene for giving me this opportunity to create such special paintings for their family. I hope to be able to delight other families who want me to create Celebrations on Canvas for them! Many blessings to all I hope you catch my enthusiam....