A Look at Art & Design

Artist Diana Lyn Cote - Master of Oil Paintstik

Original works & giclee prints
Landscape, Architectural, Still Life, Figurative

Diana has worked for the last 13 years using Oil Paintstiks.  This medium is different from traditional oils in that it is not necessary to use solvents, thinners or brushes in the application. The paintstiks allow Diana to hold them in her hands for a much more immediate approach of making marks on paper or canvas. Through this medium, she has been able to find an avenue to express her work more directly and with a child like energy. Diana has mastered the application of Oil Paintstik, which has been dubbed "the Cote Squiggle." Each day she attempts to resurrect her inner 3 year old to scribble layer upon layer until a deceptively realistic image emerges. She is also inspired by the color theory of the French Impressionists.

Inquiries

A Need to Succeed?

I've been told, more than once, that I am a workaholic. I have friends and family who share their concern that one day I'll drop dead of a heart attack or that my head will explode. When I confide in my best friend that I worked 15 hours non stop on Tuesday, she says to me "Why do you do stuff like that?"  My response is "because I love it", "because I have work to do", "because I run a business", "Why don't you?"

I'll admit there have been streams and rivers of days that have gone by in a blur as I endeavor to put out all the fires on my "todo" list.  But why do I do it? This propensity for my work isn't just what I do...it's who I am. Now I'll say this, and I can already hear the outrage...but I find the term "workaholic" to be just plain stupid. In fact, I find the whole notion of "workaholic" to be stupid. It's not a disease. It's not a negative thing to work hard and enjoy your work. I don't think it's a bad thing to get up every morning and want to be better, go further, or accomplish more than I did yesterday.

Yes yes...damn it. Even in my "off hours" I read art magazines, design books, blogs, exhibition catalogs. I go to museums and galleries while on vacation. I mean...come on...how wonderful is it to love what you do for living?

I met recently a man who has been able to afford himself a rather affluent lifestyle. He travels frequently, works occasionally and has been smart enough (and perhaps lucky enough) to enable his money to work for him so that he can fly off to Barcelona for a beer. Now I wonder...wouldn't I too love to live that type of life style. One where I could take off and enjoy a month sun bathing on some shore of the Caribbean. Well yes probably so...but I maintain that even being able to enjoy such a lifestyle...there would still be something that I'd be passionate about. Some thing that would drive me, compel me and excite me enough to fill my day with it. And, I bet this gentleman doesn't squander his days either and I am also willing to bet that this gentleman has a pretty full agenda...doing what he loves.

Again I'm going to refer to Eric Karjaluoto at ideasonideas, where he writes recently about balance. It seems to me that if we work too hard, it's bad.  If we don't work hard enough, it's also bad. I agree with Eric that sometimes balance is just counter productive. It's measure is mediocrity. A great saying my son brought home one day "If you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much space."

I suppose that our lives are determined by the choices we make. I choose to work hard and see what comes of it. Frankly to ask me to stop would cause me greater distress than an exploding head. For now I'll accomplish what I can...and who really knows if I'll ever be satisfied with just that. ~Reach higher.

Too much activity in too little time! Nah....

Whoa...I'm baack! Spent the last week with Finn photographer Jari Loisa, and Reka Palomaki, touring around the shoreline of Connecticut. Zzzzz...Not much to see here in CT but they seemed to like it alright. (It must have been all the beer and martinis we drank.) It is rather amazing; however, that even when you live in a place for years, seeing it through the eyes of someone new is an interesting experience. Of course the week also entailed the preparations for the Latitudes Show at Gallery at 85 Main Street. Preparing photos, matts, installations...all a part of the job. Having introduced Jari to many good people, I think all in all, Mr. Loisa enjoyed a very nice introduction to the US and CT art scene. The opening was a success, and the feedback on Loisa's work has been great.

After all the work was done we headed to New York City and that's where the fun began. Leaving all the work, business associates and buzz of a show behind, we ventured forth getting doused by the weekend rain storm. Meeting up in Grand Central we took off to enjoy all that is NYC. Yeah...it's hard work touring around with beautiful Finnish men and my gorgeous son to share a city that injects energy into my soul. Here we are by the Brooklyn Bridge, one of Loisa's missions for his US trip. There must be 500 beautiful photos that Jari took that I'd love to share with you. Ahhh...but you'll have to visit lisamikulski.com or loisa.com for the latest updates and online displays.

Much to my pleasure I'm discovering that my son, David, also has a nice eye for photography. Here's a photo he got of me at the Winter Garden.

Cheers for now. More to come...