Bold and vibrant, artist Diane Morgan’s colorful floral paintings are larger than life. Learn more about her art by visiting her website.
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“Poppy Shadows” Oil, 36” x 36”
I was going to be an interpreter at the UN so I started college majoring in French and Russian. I’d always drawn and painted as far back as I can remember, and a persistent little voice inside my head kept whispering that art was my love. When the whisper became a roar, I decided to switch to painting in my junior year. To apply to art school, I was asked to bring in a portfolio. I didn’t even know what a portfolio was. I took in five pencil drawings in a brown paper bag—I was accepted! It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
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“Rainy Day Rose” Oil, 30” x 24”
Timid at first, I painted on a small scale. My professor told me to paint big and look up Georgia O’Keeffe. That really opened my eyes.
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“White Rose” Oil, 30” x 24”
I began painting five-foot canvases of everything I could find—pears, lettuce, olives, bananas, fish—you name it. Can you imagine an entire five-foot square canvas filled with just lettuce leaves?
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“I Love Bees” Oil, 30” x 24”
I didn’t have a camera so everything had to be painted directly from life. Painting from life seems more authentic; your imagination comes into play and you see more depth and color.
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Left: Artist Diane Morgan at work on “Just Glorious” Oil, 60″ x 48″ Right: “Glorious Too” (Detail) Oil, 20″ x 24″
To pay for college, I worked as a waitress every summer and during school. My grades suffered a bit, but it resulted in my first real job. A regular customer said I was such a good waitress that he wanted me to work in his ad agency as soon as I graduated. It pays to work hard at whatever you’re doing, even if you don’t like it—someone may notice.
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“Gardenia Blues” Oil, 48” x 48”
After a career in advertising and as Public Art Administrator for the City of Palm Springs, I am now fortunate to be able to paint full-time. I love painting large florals, and well, anything really.
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“Liquid Sunshine” Oil, 30” x 24”
I see a painting everywhere. I want to paint it all. Florals are my favorite, though, especially if a bee happens to come along. I paint bees to spread the word about the bee crisis. Without bees we lose a large percentage of the food we eat.
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“Licking Roses” Oil, 8” x 8”
I found that a great way to improve my work was to help others improve theirs. Teaching makes you clarify your thinking and put your process into words. Plus, I meet the most interesting people—dancers, sculptors, nurses, brain surgeons, psychiatrists—even the prison warden for two of the Manson girls.
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“Red Hollyhock Bee” Oil, 8” x 8”
For four months I created a 6 x 8-inch painting a day, quickly resulting in 120 paintings. Amazing how much better you get when you paint a lot. Each painting took five to seven hours because I paint so much detail, but it was so worth the effort. I sold them all on eBay.
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Artist Diane Morgan with AIPP Signal Boxes she painted for the City of Palm Desert, California. Featured is “Desert Blooms” Acrylic, 4’ x 6’
One of my most challenging projects was painting signal boxes for the City of Palm Desert. It was so hot and windy that the paint would practically dry before I got it on the surface. I thought; how am I going to do this? Just put one foot in front of the other and keep moving. Each day I went home exhausted and covered in paint, but feeling exhilarated. We should always push ourselves to do more than we think possible; the outcome is so rewarding.
Artist Diane Morgan invites you to follow her on Instagram and Pinterest.
Diane, I absolutely LOVE your colors and your subjects!!! I hope you will consider entering ENDANGEREDArt4Apes Exhibit and include your bees!!!
https://www.therickiereport.com/2019/09/28/deadline-extended-until-october-6-for-endangered-exhibition-in-miami-during-art-basel-week-students-and-adults-encouraged-to-apply/