Bio

After a full lifetime using all her artistic energy raising five daughters, sewing complete wardrobes for the entire family, designing and maintaining perennial and rose gardens for the ancient homestead property in the small Pennsylvania town where she and her husband live, Diana Williams then overcame some major health issues and set out to develop her latent fine art abilities. Her husband presented her with a gift of a small oil painting set and suggested she move forward from the many pencil sketch portraits she had always drawn of her family.  Another artist friend, Jackie Dixon, became her mentor and greatest inspiration, helping her to believe that her talent was great enough to offer a wide range of potential. Although each of her daughters have found their way into some niche of the art field, Diana has only in her later years pursued the difficult task of self-training to create the quality of portraiture, landscapes and still life that she has dreamed about since she was a teen. Her works show that she has a unique ability to capture an accurate likeness and present a vivid representation of the true spirit of the subject. For those who invest in this time consuming and specialized art, a traditional portrait has the potential to become a conversation piece of priceless beauty, an heirloom, and a solid record for the genealogical history of ones’ family.

Objective:    To conquer the unknowns which challenge me because of a lack of formal training, to gain as much knowledge and skill of painting as I can during the years ahead and to successfully paint true works of art.

Education   Laurel Valley High School

  • Graduated 12th out of a class of 55  May 1962
  • Academic Class -3 years
  • Vocational Class -1 year – Changed courses as a senior to obtain specific course studies not available to academic students.
    • Beginner Typing – United High School 1972

Self Study    Spanish in preparation for Mission trip to Honduras

Italian in preparation for visit to AFS student in Sardinia and Rome

Oil painting and some watercolor

Work Experience

  • June 62 – July 63  Bestform Undergarment Manufacturing – Johnstown, PA –  Machine operator
  • July 63 – Feb 64  Child Care (Private Home) – Home care and cook –  Pittsburgh, PA
  • April 64 – May 66  White Manufacturing  – Machine Operator
  • Oceanside Masterpiece Playhouse –  Designed and constructed costume for actress in lead role
  • 1968 -1970  Kay Artley Manufacturing- Machine Operator – Fine detail work and samples
  • 1971 – 1973 Trimble Manufacturing  – Machine Operator

Accomplishments

  • 1958 to present time

Design and cut patterns, choose proper fabrics, fit and construct most clothing for myself and family including baby layettes, toddlers dresses and sportswear, swimsuits, shorts, jeans, dresses, coats, men’s and women’s suits and dress slacks, prom gowns and wedding and bridesmaid’s gowns, coats.

  • 1985 – 2000

Raised and exhibited English (show stock) and American (pet stock) Budgerigars.  Studied and applied concepts of line breeding to improve size, color and comportment of stock. Developed and taught methods of care and training to aid pet owners.

  • 1983 – 1984

Hosted American field Student from Venezuela.

  • 1994 -1995

Hosted American Field Student from Sardinia.

  • 1962 Managed household for between two and nine persons including all  planning, shopping, cooking, budgeting, bill paying, cleaning, decorating, wardrobe planning and constructing, gardening, food preservation, child care and instruction, transportation, entertaining and all other duties involved in creating a loving home environment.

 

 

Art Background History

          *    Shows interest in art as a child.

          *    Teacher in High School saw my sketches and encouraged me.

  • No art courses available in High School.
  • 1973- Husband bought first oil paints.
  • 1972 -1983 Attempted first paintings.
  • 1998 – Fifteen years till I had time to begin painting again.
  •  2001- Attended a water color class.  Met my mentor, teacher, friend, Jackie Dixon.
  • Since 2000 totally self-taught in Oils.
  • April of 2012 completed two week study with Douglas Flynt, Florida, featured in Artist’s Magazine, Jan, 2012.

Shows to date and other Honors

  • Latrobe watercolor color class exhibition, 2001
  • Allied Artists of Johnstown Summer show, June 2003 Juried
  • Latrobe Art League Annual Open Show, April 2004
  • Allied Artists of Johnstown Spring Show April 2004 Juried
  • SAMA Art Exhibition, Loretto Juried
  • Latrobe Art League Intra Club Show Sept. 2005   1st Place
  • GLSD Art Conservation Trust purchase of “Paschal Birthday”
  • Latrobe Art League Open Show  April 2006  Award of Merit
  • Latrobe Art League’s Intra-Club Show 2006  First Place
  • Latrobe Calendar Winner 2008 Calendar
  • Latrobe Art Show 2009
  • The Loyalhanna Review front cover photo selection 2009
  • Latrobe Art League Intra Club Show 2009  BEST OF SHOW
  • Latrobe’s Paint the Town Calendar Winner  2010 Calendar
  • Latrobe Art League Open Show  2010  1st Place
  • Latrobe Art League Open Show  2011  Honorable Mention
  • Mr. Fred Rogers Fine Arts Regional Juried Exhibition 2011  Award of Merit
  • Latrobe Art League Intra-League Show 2011 BEST OF SHOW
  • Seton Hill Women in Art 2011  1st Place (BEST OF SHOW) and Honorable Mention
  •  SAMA 16th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition People’s Choice Award 2011
  • Sothern Alleghenies Museum of Art Biennial 2012 at Loretto, PA Award for Painting
  • Member- Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
  • Member – Latrobe Art League
  • Member –  Latrobe Art Center
  • Member – Allied Artists of Johnstown, PA
  • Mr. Fred Rogers Fine Arts Regional Juried Exhibition 2013  BEST IN SHOW
  • Allied Artist’s Winter Exhibition, 2014  Second Place Donna Housel Award
  • SAMA 18th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Ligonier

List of Awards