Featured Artist - Dion Dior

It's that time again, another month has gone by and I'm featuring another artist in my continuing series that showcases talented, spectacular artists and allows you to get to know them better through the virtual interview they graciously participate in. This month I'm also doing a terrific giveaway so stay tuned, I'll tell you all about it and how to enter at the end of this post

(Please remember you can click on any picture to enlarge it!)

This month's amazingly talented artist is Dion Dior. I am lucky to count her as one of my new friends. We have been slowly getting to know one another over the blogosphere, reading one another's blogs, sending emails back and forth and each participating in an article I wrote for Featuring Magazine a few months ago. I have learned she is generous, kind and one of those special women who make you feel cherished just by talking with her.

Plein Air from her sister's garden (on vacation in Australia)

I started following Dion's blog many months ago, her art was different than most of the other artists I followed. It's the perfect blend of reality and the artist's eye. I've never really loved perfect art, the stuff that is so perfect you wonder if it's a photograph. I'm drawn to art that shows that there's an artist behind the creation, someone who sees the world a unique way and is willing to share that with us. Dion is one of those artists and I'm envious that she makes her art so elementally beautiful you want to study it.

I think Dion's genius is in her exquisite use of color. She uses the brightest, happiest colors in her art but more than her choice of color, she knows how to expertly blend and balance them to please the eye. That's actually REALLY hard to do and she makes it look effortless.

Jenn: How did you get started making art?

Page from Dion's sketchbook
in "The Sketchbook Project"

Dion: I've been making art since I could first pick up a pencil. I don't know what it was, but I always had a passion for art as a kid that just never went away. I never went anywhere without pencils and a sketchbook, even as a young child. Everyone thought I was so studious, but it was art that was driving me. I would draw, color, or paint every second I got. Even now my mother has my art framed and on display all over the house. The art from my early years is rather embarrassing, but it's all part of the journey.

Jenn: Do you sell your work, where?

Dion: I don't really sell my work. Most of the work I do is very personal and I never have a commercial perspective in mind when I create it. I'm not opposed to selling it, it's just not my focus right now. I get asked ALL the time, where I sell and can people buy prints. I may do it in the future, but for now I can't seem to find the time to put into it. I have been offered quite a number of comissions, some of which I've accepted, but most I turn down simply because I haven't had the time to really pour myself into the projects. All part of the future I suppose, however I do have a room full of art that would probably make a great exhibition.

Jenn: What is your process in creation? (do you like plein air best or use of a photograph, or your own imagination, or follow where the art supplies take you?)

Dion: I love plein air but I don't get time for it these days. I have two young children and I'm a full time stay-at-home mom right now so sitting for a while just sketching when I'm at the park is not something I can do. Most of my inspiration comes from my garden or around my house. I use magazines or the internet for reference, but mostly I play around with my subjects, apply my own flavor to colors and vibrancy. I love bold, colorful art that explodes with energy.

Jenn: What are your favorite artist's supplies?

Tulips painted using Twinkling H2O's

Dion: I use Twinkling H2O's mostly in my work. They are shimmering, luminescent watercolor paints that come in a staggering array of colors. They definitely lead the way for me and give my art a personality even I couldn't imagine. Luminarte, the makers of Twinkling H2O's has just come out with a new line of acrylic paint called "Silks". They are an acrylic version of Twinks and are very quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Another favorite of my is watersoluble mediums such as watercolor pencils and crayons. I use Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils and Neocolor II's a lot.

Jenn: How does making a spectacular piece make you feel?

Dion: The feeling I get when creating art is WHY I create. That rush in my belly, the racing of my heart every time I open a pot of paint is just perfection. I get my inspiration from nature because I seem to have an affinity with it. I see a garden through an artists eye, bursting with color and shimmer. My work never comes out like the real thing, but that's art. It's always my interpretation. I think I see color more vibrantly than it is in real life.

Jenn: What do you do with a less than steller piece, do you rework until you're happy?

Dion's interpretation of ocean waves.

Dion: Imperfect art is a fact of life I'm afraid. I never dicard imperfect art, I don't even spend a lot of time reworking it, I simply accept that it's not my best, I put it away and then start again. I love going back and looking at my disasters, it's great to see how far I've come, or what I could do better....which is a lot!! I'm never REALLY happy with any of my work. I'm always in pursuit of perfection, but know I'll never achieve it. Learning is a lifetime pursuit and I've lived long enough to know that everything waxes and wanes, especially my art.

Jenn: Is there anything else you'd like me to include about you or your art? (anything you'd like to elaborate on would be greatly helpful!)

Doodling with Color

Dion: I love what the interenet has done to enable sharing. The art community has benefited from this so much. Being able to share with, learn from, and befriend other artists has been the most enriching and inspiring thing that's ever happened to me.

Thank you Dion, for allowing me to interview you, I loved learning more about you, your process and your beautiful and unique art. I'm blessed to call you a friend, thank you for being so available and generous with your time. Before I get to the giveaway, though, I must show one more set of photos. Along with the three other courses Dion teaches, she also gives a class on Mandalas. Her class is called Wisdom Circles and is part of the 21 Secrets art class conglomerate where 21 talented artists each offer a class. Here are several spectacular examples of Dion's Mandalas. (click to enlarge)

Our Celebration Giveaway!

In celebration of Dion's classes (teaching Twinkling H2O's, Watercolor Pencils and the new Silks) and the launch of the new Silks acrylic glazes by Luminarte (Dion is their Premier Teacher of Silks!), we're doing a spectacular giveaway! Luminarte has generously donated (thank you Leslie) two introductory sets of Silks! Each set includes five colors, Olive Vine, Ginger Peach, Ice, Snapdragon and Gargantuan Green. If you'd like a chance to WIN your own set of these new amazing paints just leave a comment with this post. Please make SURE you leave your name and a way for me to contact you if you are the winner, don't just comment anonymously.

If you'd like to purchase Twinks (shimmering watercolor paints with mica) or Silks (shimmering acrylic paints with mica) just click on the product links in my sidebar, it'll take you directly to Luminarte's website, Dreaming In Color. The contest will run for one week and the winners will be chosen and announced next Tuesday the 29th of May. Make sure you check back here in a week just in case YOU were the lucky winner of an introductory set of Silks. I will be talking more about both Silks and Twinks in the weeks to come as I'm now taking the Silks course that Dion is giving. I've heard so many wonderful things about these products that I'm giddy to start playing. I just know they're gonna be fantastic and add such life to my artwork.

Dion's Links:
Blog
Flickr Feed
Workshop Info
Videos

I'll see you all soon for the APR wrap up and new theme announcement, tune in Saturday for that bunch of excitement. Hope to see your lovely artwork linked up this week!

Gosh, I need a cuppa hazelnut coffee. It's a serious addiction, people.
I'm out!

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