THE ARTIST
The Artist
Diana’s life long love of painting is an integral part of her life , with her great love of beauty and the outdoors, there is a heartfelt connection to whatever subject she paints.
Fortunate to have some wonderful teachers, she studied with Ron Crawford from 1976 for ten years and later with watercolour Artist David Taylor. Diana’s skill was acknowledged in 1984 when she was awarded the prestigious A.M.E. Bale Award for oil painting.
Living in the Christmas Hills near the Yarra Valley Diana’s love of the local landscape was the inspiration for an exhibition ‘Vineyards and Valleys’, golden moments of the Yarra Valley.
As a teacher of both oil and watercolour, she has taught in many Art Societies and at Templestowe Art Centre for past 16 years.
In 2010 she was awarded the Notable Women of Nillumbik Award for contribution to the Arts and Culture of this beautiful area.
Diana has painted in wonderful locations all over the world, painting plein –air where ever possible. Her love of boats , land and seascapes, street scenes, busy markets and people make for a wonderful variety of subject matter.
Her oil paintings can be vibrant and colourful to quiet and contemplative but always in an impressionistic way. She loves the translucent and magical qualities of watercolour and the subject will often dictate the choice of medium.
Diana has exhibited in many solo and joint exhibitions since 1987 and her work has been readily appreciated for more than 30 years with sales to private and corporate collections both in Australia and overseas.
With a move to Phillip Island and a new studio to be completed a new adventure begins. Through her passion and dedication for her artistic journey she will continue to develop and grow
My Inspirations
Since moving to Phillip Island in 2013 I have been endlessly inspired by the natural beauty of the Island and the Bass Coast.
The past 7 years have been some of my most productive as I explored my new environment with a passion for its beauty.
Much of my painting is En Plein-Air, this is where I find my greatest connection to my subject. My passion is to capture the essence of light in an impressionistic way. Light transforms something ordinary into something extraordinary.
In my studio I use my sketches, watercolours and photographs to work on major oil and watercolour paintings.
Light, tone and composition are important ingredients in my painting but more than anything it is the evoking of an emotional response in the viewer that makes the painting work.
Early morning and late afternoon are my favourite times to paint.
The light is softer, shadows longer and everything more magical.
The Artist Journey takes a lifetime but to me the most rewarding experience is to nurture the Artist Within and find my own unique voice.
I have been very fortunate to travel and be inspired by wonderful subjects all over the world.
I love the Magic of boat harbours, colourful buildings of Italy, Spain and France,
Always the landscape and sea hold an endless fascination.
I am blessed to be an artist.
The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention. More than anything else, attention is an act of connection, being in the now. Painting has a life of it's own, by paying attention we allow our creativity to unfold.
Diana Edwards - Biography
Studies
Ron Crawford 1976-1986 Tonal Painting Studio
Bruce Fletcher 1976-1986 Australian War Artist Plein-air
David Taylor 1992-1994 Watercolour
Exhibitions
2019 Joint Exhibition - Cowes Golf Club 20 x Watercolours each
2018 Medallion Exhibition AGRA
2018 Medallion exhibition AGRA 3 artists
2017 Australian Art Excellence Australia (AAEA) I was winner Artist of the Year
2016 Solo exhibition at Australian Guild Realist Art (AGRA)
2015 Solo exhibition at Wonthaggi Art Space 50 watercolours
2014 ILUKA Gallery joint exhibition with David Taylor
2012 Joint Exhibition with David Taylor at Tarentaal Gallery
2005 Solo exhibition at Tarentaal Gallery
2002 Joint exhibition at Tuscany Gallery, Healesville
2002 Joint exhibition with Barbara McManus AAEA Winners
2000 Solo exhibition at Lovegroves Winery Gallery oil and watercolour
1995 Joint exhibition with Pamela Moore at AGRA Gallery
1987 First solo of 50 oil paintings at Sherbrooke Art Society Gallery
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Activities
AGRA Council 1996
AGRA Vice President 1997-2003
AGRA Member
Victorian Artist Society
Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors
The Watercolour Society of Australia
Art Society Membership
Victorian Artist Society
Australian Guild Realist Art
Bass Coast Art Society
Art Society Phillip Island
Watercolour Society Victoria
2017 AGRAF
Represented
Private civic and corporate collections
Bibliography
Australian Artist Magazine 2000, 2004, 2008
Peoples Republic of China Publication of the Cultural Exchange Touring Exhibition in 1999, 2000, 2009
AGRA 2000-2010 AAEA WINNERS Publication
2010 Notable Women of Nillumbik Award and Publication
Teaching and Workshops
I conduct Watercolour classes on a Thursday morning at our ILUKA Studio Gallery on Phillip Island.
2014-2020 ILUKA Studio Gallery Watercolour Classes
– Thurs 9.30-12noon
2009-2010 Wyreena Art Centre Oil and Watercolour
2004 Malvern Artist Society
1998-2010 Templestowe Art Centre
1997-2010 Tarentaal Residential Painting Workshops in Oil
1999 Balwyn Art Society Watercolour
1995-1998 Wyreena Art Centre Drawing Oil and Watercolour
1996 Eltham Private classes in Watercolour and Oil
Travels
Traveled and painted plein-air in USA, England, Italy, France, Spain, Austria, Sweden and Channel Islands each year from 1987 to 2013
Publications
2017 Australia Artist Magazine December issue - Art Inspiration
2018 Australia Artist Magazine A Central Australian Art Exploration
Australian Artist December 2017
Australian Artist August 2018
Australian Artist March 2019
Awards
2019 Rotary Club of San Remo, Runner up to Best in Show YAC Award.
2019 BCAS Easter Art Show, Best Watercolour.
2019 Corinella Art Show, Best. Watercolour
2019 AGRA Winter Exhibition, Highly Commended
2019 AGRA Spring Exhibition Third Place
2019 AGRA Qualified for AAEA Exhibition (Artist of the Year)2018 ASPI CUP WEEKEND ART SHOW BEST IN Show YAC AWARD BEST Painting 2018 AGRA Spring Exhibition, Highly Commended.
2018 ASPI Easter Art Show, Best Painting in Show.
2018 Corinella Art Show Best Watercolour
2018 BCAS Easter Art Show, Best Painting in Show
2017 Korumburra Art Show Best Watercolour
2017 ASPI Easter Art Show Best Painting in Show
2017 BCAS YAC AWARD Best Painting in Show
2017 BCAS People’s Choice Award.
2017 ASPI Easter Art Show, People’s Choice Award
2017 AGRA Winter Exhibition, Best Painting in Show.
2017 AGRA Australian Art Excellence Award ( Artist of the Year)
2017 ASPI Cup Weekend Art Show, Best Painting in Show.
2017 Australian Art Excellence Award
2016 Korumburra Rotary Art Show Best Oil Painting
2016 BCAS Easter Art Show HC
2016 BCAS People’s Choice Award
2016 Inverloch Art Show YAC Award and Best Painting in Show
2016 ASPI Easter Art Show Best Painting
2016 Corinella Art Show YAC Award for Best Painting
2016 AGRA Autumn Exhibition Runner Up to Best Painting.
2016 AGRA Winter Exhibition Best Painting in Show
2016 AGRA Winter Exhibition HC
2016 AGRA Australian Art Excellence Award - Best Waterclolour
2016 ASPI YAC Award Best Painting in Show
2015 BCAS Easter Exhibition Best Watercolour and Best Group of Four
2015 Corinella Art Show HC
2015 ASPI Easter Art Show HC
2015 AGRA Summer Exhibition HC
2015 Inverloch Art Show HC
2014 Artist Society of Phillip Island (ASPI) Best Painting in Show
2014 Bass Coast Art Society Best Watercolour
2014 Inverloch Art Show HC
2014 Corinella Art Show HC
2014 AGRA Autumn Exhibition HC
2013 AGRA Summer Exhibition HC
2010 Notable Women of Nillumbik Award for contribution to ART and Culture
2003 Title AGRA
2001 AGRA Terry Collins Award at AAEA
1997 Waverley Rotary Art Show Winner Oil
1997 Best Painting AGRA Spring Exhibition
1996 Warrandyte Rotary most promising artist
1984 A.M.E. Bale Award (to stage 1st exhibition)