Please join us for our February Art Wall Opening Reception on Sunday, February 4 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Explore the vibrant colors and (sometimes) familiar images of painter Stacy Diehl, an extremely prolific painter who rediscovered her passion for painting and never looked back. The show will run until February 25.

The year was 1998, and Stacy Diehl was feeling vaguely dissatisfied. A mentor sensed that Diehl was an artist at heart and recommended that Diehl do “The Artist’s Way,” Julia Cameron’s workbook for unblocking creativity. It was during “reading deprivation week” that Diehl rediscovered painting. Cameron encourages students to avoid reading and suggests alternatives, including painting. Diehl pulled out some old acrylic paints from her youth and started to paint. Of her first painting during this time, Diehl says, “It wasn’t ‘good,’ but I was hooked. Looking at it now, I see it’s simply unfinished. I kept painting and gradually figured out how to manipulate paint into the images I wanted to see.”

In that first year, Diehl painted 38 paintings. Nearly 20 years later, she estimates that she has completed 300 paintings.

As is evident from her works, Diehl loves color. “The more, the better,” she says. Pets are also a favorite subject. “It brings me pleasure to capture their likenesses and, hopefully, essences on canvas.” Diehl’s specialty is custom paintings - commissions from photos (cats, dogs, kids, airplanes, golf courses, gardens, sunsets, etc.). The paintings make meaningful gifts; people adore art based on what they love. Says Diehl, “Art is supposed to make you feel something, and I think my paintings do that. I enjoy collaborating with customers to help them choose great photos on which to base their paintings.”

Contact Our Art Director, Beverly Alison for further info about this show or about exhibiting on our Art Wall.