Artist: Diane Rowen Garmire

“The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” Neil Gaiman

I have spent a lifetime feeling brighter and happier when creating something new and sharing it with others. Having retired after 39 years of teaching art and art integration in public schools I am now spending my retirement years in my studio as a painter and mixed media artist.
A commonly occurring theme in my work is the subject of Raven. Ravens have been a powerful inspiration and source for creative expression in my life for many years.

I have a wide range of abilities in the visual arts. Drawing and painting are fundamental to expression and are the source of inspiration for many of the art pieces I exhibit and sell. As a multi-media artist, I love to engage whimsey and surrealism in assemblage and collage processes. A more recent fascination with fiber art has opened a new world of needle felting and sculpting.
Having a home studio is a great blessing and opportunity to create two- and three-dimensional art. Even with many years of experience in teaching and practice, there is a great deal of starting over. Trial and error are two strong teachers in creative endeavors as are welcoming “mistakes” with an open heart to stretch skills and push boundaries.

To me, creating art for the rest of my life is my plan and my goal. After all, bringing about something new, innovative, and maybe just a bit quirky might make the world a little brighter!