Diane Morgan is an award-winning artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Michigan. After working for 20 years in advertising, and most recently as Public Art Administrator for the City of Palm Springs, Diane now paints full-time. She works in both oil and watercolor and her paintings have won numerous awards and appear in collections across the United States and Canada.
Diane is a member of the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Artists Council, Oil Painters of America, International Guild of Realism, California Art Club, American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor West, President of the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society and an award-winning member of the National Watercolor Society.
Morgan’s “Painted Poppies” was honored with the prestigious “Best of Show” award in the 2007 Coachella Valley Watercolor Society exhibition. “Cherries and Lace” was published as a finalist in the 2006 International Artist Magazine Still Life and Florals competition, and also as a finalist in the Artist Magazine’s December 2008 still life competition. “Heaven is a ‘57" won First Place at the Indian Wells Arts Festival and was a finalist in the Aaron Bros “Show us your America” competition. “Heaven is a ’57" was selected by f + w publications, publishers of Southwest Art, The Artists Magazine and Watercolor Artist as a feature in their advertising. It has also been selected by Starbucks, along with two other pieces, for display in their new location at the Palm Springs International Airport.
Diane exhibits annually at the Indian Wells Art Festival at California’s Indian Wells Tennis Garden. She was the Poster Artist for the 2009 Festival with her watercolor “Bird in Paradise.” This year “Eggs in the Garden” will be used for the Festival’s brunch menu and in advertising. Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit, selected “Bird in Paradise” for inclusion in the Senate’s Ninth Annual California Contemporary Art Collection exhibition. The artwork is showcased in the State Capitol through September 2010. International Artist Magazine selected “I Love Bees” as a Finalist in the 2009 Still Life and Florals competition. A full page is devoted to the art in the Oct/Nov 2009 issue. “Organized Chaos” was juried into the 2009 89th Annual National Watercolor Society Exhibition, and received the Watercolor West Award for transparent media. It was also one of only 30 chosen for the Traveling Exhibition touring the United States during 2010. "Raindrops on Roses" watercolor is a finalist in the BLOSSOM competition on display at Florida's Naples Museum of Art February 5- April 10, 2011.
I envision a painting in almost everything I see. Adding drama and mystery through the use of powerful lighting effects, reflected surfaces, exaggerated contrasts and unusual compositions, I strive to transform simple everyday life into un-ordinary, not-so-still life. I like to take an ordinary subject and enhance the perception of it, invite the viewer to take a closer look. If you look closer, you may discover something new about yourself. I love how the medium takes command. The artist starts the process, but the paint takes charge and leads the work to a sometimes unintended outcome. It’s always exhilarating.
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DianeM1111@aol.com 760-902-8855
HEAVEN IS A '57
