Galveston County Woman Uses Watercolors to Tell Stories
Watercolor artist Dianne Owen says “every painting I do has a story.” In particular, she says “I love painting architecture, especially abandoned buildings, and I love painting dogs.”
Owen, who has homes in League City and Galveston, enters juried competitions held by the Galveston Art League (GAL) and St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church in Galveston as well as Texas City’s annual art show.
“My proudest moment was receiving the McGivney Award,” says Owen, referring to the annual Rosenberg Library purchase prize awarded to a painting with a Galveston theme that is accepted into the GAL Fall Juried Show. “I was stunned and thrilled. It was a painting of the Galveston Cemetery in bloom and a labor of love.” Owen, 67, sells her work at the Galveston Art League Gallery, 2117A Postoffice St. in Galveston.
Below she talks about her lift and art.
Q: What is your educational background related to art?
A: I collected works by Jackie Liddell [a fellow GAL member]. We became friends, and when asked if I knew anyone who’d want to take her watercolor course at Alvin Community College. I said, “Yes! Me!”
For two years she taught me everything I know about painting. She is a marvelous instructor and willing to share all of her knowledge with her students. When she retired, Cheryl Evans took her place, and I studied with her for a year. Evans showed me how to use color and shapes to create more-vibrant paintings.
I next took a course at College of the Mainland with Lee Johnson, another artist I admire and a GAL member.
Q: How does GAL membership benefit you?
A: Joining the Galveston Art League [$35 and up; details: GalvestonArtLeague.com] was the best thing I ever did. I admire the talented artists there. I have made dear friends and have been encouraged by members’ critiques and comments. It is also fun! I look forward to the monthly change of shows and seeing what fellow artists have done. It also makes you want to paint so you will have something exciting to show.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
A: I have always been very observant. I love nature, architecture, traveling, and animals. Even at home I love watching the sunset. I come up with crazy ideas and sometimes they actually work.
I love New Orleans, and after watching some street musicians, I did a Mardi Gras-themed background with smaller scenes of the street and featuring the man singing and playing the clarinet. I also love the Galveston Cemetery when the flowers bloom. I dragged my husband and daughter there to take photos and I did several cemetery paintings from that excursion. The flowers, the architecture there ― just breathtaking.
If you can see beauty in everyday things around you, it is all inspirational. One instructor had students do a painting on our interpretation of the fortune pulled from a fortune cookie. I painted a couple who have been together a long time. The painting turned into my personal story, and I used fortunes as the background to tell that story. It was the most challenging painting ― but the most rewarding.
Q: Briefly describe your start-to-finish process.
A: First I find a subject/photo that inspires me. I draw the subject on paper and then transfer it to watercolor paper on a light table. I use scrap paper to determine what colors I will use and make note of the mixtures. I love mixing paint colors. As I paint, I stop and look often at my progress to determine what it needs. I don’t rush because there is no time limit on art. Pausing between color applications is key throughout the process. Knowing when to stop is very hard.
Q: Do you have a goal?
A: My goal is to become a better painter, and I focus on painting what I love. I have entered the Texas City juried show for four years and have never gotten an award, so that is a personal goal. I would also like to take a course in pastels and see if that suits me.
Q: What’s the most rewarding aspect of art?
A: While I paint, everything else disappears and I am focused on that only. Time slips away sometimes. I f someone buys one of your paintings, it is a glorious feeling that you created something that someone will display in their home and love.
“Homage to Ricky” shows artist Dianne Owen’s love of mixing colors in her paintings.
Galveston Art League member Dianne Owen’s “The Fortunate Ones” was inspired by the fortune from a cookie.
“Glorious” is by Dianne Owen, who paints and coordinates volunteers for the Galveston Art League.
Dianne Owen and her dogs Lovey and Mika pose with her paintings of pets: “Coco,” “Fred,” and “Chagrin.”
