Cycling in a Dream
The French art critic and writer Guillaume Apollinaire coined the term surrealism in March 1917. Some 100 years later artists still find this style that calls for the juxtaposition of uncommon imagery as if in a dream, irresistibly pertinent. It was exactly in 2017...
A Grain of Sand
Staying with the Sea World theme which often re-occurs in Diana's works, let's take advantage of the good Scottish weather (a rare occurence!) and head to the beach. No need to break the lockdown restrictions and venture too far for too long to reach the shore. Just...
Longing for Biodervisity
Following the slow curatorial quest of finding out who inspires Diana to go to her studio every day even in these times of quarantine, I stumbled upon the kindred spirit of the fellow artist Nicoletta Tomas Caravia. I was intrigued as the quest led us to Mohammad...
Kindred Souls
Who are the artists' influencers? Who are the kindred souls that artists can identify with and feel propelled by in their artistic inquiry and expression? These are some of the curatorial questions I had in mind but the answer that Diana provided came somewhat...
Pedal Power
Here is another dispatch from my virtual curatorial residency at Diana's studio. The freedom and aesthetics of cycling seem to revolve around her work. At least two watercolours and four paintings invite us to pedal through city centres and country lanes, even through...
Sketching Sunflowers
Seedling nurseries at the nation's windowsills might be one of the pandemic lockdown subcultures. While watering my daughter's sunflower buds this morning, I was reminded of Diana's painting of ripe with seeds yet rather melancholic sunflowers here. It was a...
Curatorial Mentorship under Lockdown
I am very pleased to share the good news that I was awarded a small professional development grant from VACMA – the Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award programme administered through Creative Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council. The award will enable me to work...
Waterlilies
With the feature documentary Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Mattisse still on my mind, I have found the motivation to finish my new diptych of waterlilies rondos. Still wet and fresh off the easel, I offered these new paintings of mine for sale at £100 each as...