Diane Ainsworth Fine Artist

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Wooden Boats 11x14

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Dockside 9x12

Red Sails 14x11

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Lately I have been painting small paintings...8x10. 9x12 and 11x14. Not my usual format at all but galleries want smaller paintings in hopes of selling for the holidays. Since I am most comfortable painting large to very large works I find this format most challenging.

You'd think smaller means easier or at least quicker, right? Well no. It takes the same amount of planning and designing your composition, deciding what you want to emphasize in the painting...is it light, color, mood or subject etc. In other words creating a painting instead of copying a subject or being literal.

Smaller might mean less paint and a little quicker execution but I find it harder to paint small strokes with brush or painting knives than the big swooping strokes using your whole arm and shoulder, like I do when painting large. They both take concentration and energy. The biggest challenge for me is to not overwork paintings because they can become very stiff. My favorite works are the ones that flow and are spontaneous.

Here are some of the newer paintings that are being exhibited in various galleries for this season. Hope you enjoy them.

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Exhibit at Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum thru Oct.1,2011

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In 1987 while taking a workshop in Taos...several artists and I founded the Oklahoma Society of Impressionists. It has gone on to be an active organization representing Oklahoma artists who paint in the Impressionists style. Since I live in Washington State I don't participate in some of their exhibits but am happy to be a part of the show "Pure Color" which is currently showing at the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum located at 1400 Classen Drive in Oklahoma City. (405) 523-3213

Here are 2 of my paintings in that exhibit.

Geranium oil 24x20 inches

As soon as the geraniums bloom I am so ready to paint them.

It is wonderful to have some warm colors...like red... to focus on and enjoy painting. This makes me happy,particuarly after a usual Pacific Northwest winter filled with cool colors like blues, grays and greens.

Summer Evening oil 24x30 inches

The boats and harbors here are among my favorite subjects. They offer constantly changing abstract shapes in the water and reflections. In addition to the challenge of painting boats without sacrificing

their important elements completely yet not wanting every little detail, rope or line to take away from the

painterly style I like. This painting was painted at Pt. Hudson in Port Townsend using oil and painting knives. I love the feeling of the light on the water and the warmth it brings to this work.

California Vineyard 24x30

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This was painted with painting knives and lots of thick juicy oil paint. Starting with a sketch in thin oil paint I then build the painting from thin brush work up to thicker knife work. I like the way it feels to use the thick paint and the vibrant clean color this makes possible.

This particular painting is not available for purchase because it was a wedding gift for dear friends.

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This was painted of my family..which includes husband Robert, the top cat Horatio and our baby cat Boo.