Strutting Your Stuff

Strutting your Stuff!!!  If you have ever watched the movie, “Staying Alive” and watched John Travolta dance his pants off -- well, literally, of course, then you know the feeling of giving it all -- 500%  Not only is John beautiful to watch, he is in incredible shape and you know that you are watching perfection.  There must have been months and  months and  hours and hours of practice to make that last dance work.

John was so HOT in this movie --  and when he danced, it was all of him -- every muscle, every movement was sensual and powerful.  Just watching him dance, makes me want to dance -- as his partner, of course!

He danced his heart out -- he broke the rules -- he was there in the moment with every part of his being!   And that fever, that intensity,  is what a painting cries out for -- All of you.

After his performance he just wanted to walk the streets of New York and Strut his Stuff!

And that’s how you feel when you do that powerful painting that makes you smile and makes you glad that you are a painter.

Soooo -- here’s the challenge.  Strut your Stuff!  Play the song, “Staying Alive” and paint your pants off and see what painting with all of you is like!  And let’s see these incredible paintings!

I look forward to seeing these great paintings and Strutting your Stuff!  Send me photos of your incredible paintings!

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Specialties

Watching Gregory Hines dance is so amazing -- his talent transcended dancing -- and it was a specialty -- tap dancing.  He had to overcome a lot of prejudice to find his way into Hollywood and into our hearts -- and that he did!  His feet moved and created their own music with his taps!

In art, there are so many specialties that we can choose from.  And when we find our way of making art, it becomes our specialty.  Today, promise yourself to try something new in art -- a new color, a new technique or even a new medium.  And, in life, do something new for yourself -- walk backwards, hug a tree -- hug your neighbor -- be outrageous and find that music in your feet that makes you dance.

In the movie, “The Cotton Club”, you see some of the most amazing performances of song and dance -- can you tell that I love movies?  Life is a movie -- are you winning an Oscar?

"Monday Afternoon"

9 x 12 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Forgiveness

If you haven’t seen the movie, “Invictus”, directed and produced by Clint Eastwood -- the movie is  about Nelson Mandella, run, don’t walk and rent it -- the man is my hero and has been for a long time.  After spending 27 years in a cell no bigger than spreading your arms (they show it in the movie), he was released and was elected as the President of South Africa.  He  forgave his jailers, and he taught the world about compassion and forgiveness and how to lead a country by inspiring others to be the best that they can be.  His inaugural speech says it all  ....... 

He inspired his ruby team to overcome their own prejudices an dissatisfaction and to help lead South Africa back to a  unified country.

In your life and in your art or whatever you do, when you are giving your best and you are pushing yourself beyond your own limits, then, you do fly, you do win, you do paint masterpieces.

Great movie -- great actors and great sound!  I love movies that are real and that make me want more out of my life!

He shared his own words of wisdom that kept him surviving his imprisonment -- and I shall share them with you here ----------- I am the master of my universe --

Thank you, Nelson Mandella -- for making me a better person.  

We are all masters -- let’s be the best in everything we do and share those gifts of love.  It is a great universe -- it is ours!

And here is a very special Thank You to all of you who are taking the time to read my blog!  When you take the time to leave me your great compliments and tell me what you see in my work -- you put a smile in my heart and I am every so grateful for the encouragement to be a great painter.  I promise to do the same.

"Summer Sails"

24 x 24 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Painting Tenderness

There is something quite beautiful about a pregnant woman!  It is an honor to paint a woman who is about to have a baby -- she glows with love.  I only use natural light to paint.  The light coming through my living room window provides an incredible atmosphere for painting.

When my friend's daughter arrived, we placed her in front of my window, and voila!  The light coming in behind her brought out that "glow" that we always see on pregnant women!  All I had to do was to paint it.

"Thoughts of Love"

40 x 30 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Painting Children

When you are commissioned to paint children, it is such an honor.  I had the privilege of meeting these four children while I was in Naples doing a One-Woman Show!  The sun wasn’t truly cooperating that day on the beach, and several times we had to wait for it to come out from behind the clouds.   These four children love the beach and I wanted to capture that special moment when they were playing together and were in their own “moment” on their favorite beach.  

I probably took over 500 photos that day, and after searching through the photos for hours and hours, I found the one that said it all.

My collectors loved the painting, and that is what it is all about -- making people happy.

"Family Time"

30 x 40 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com