Penrose Horse Stable by Diana Dee
Art DeTour, an annual event of Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival has become a don’t-miss-this-if-you-can-help-it tradition for us. We block out this weekend each year because it’s a rare invitation to see the inside of an artist’s studio and get to know artists in our area more personally. For this year’s Festival ’15, we began by meeting Diana Dee Sarkar in her spacious, well-appointed studio on Kingston Pike. And you’d be impressed as we were right when you open the door.
Welcoming area of Diana Dee’s studio on Kingston Pike in Knoxville.
Diana, formerly an emergency room physician, greeted us and walked us through rooms of this office suite turned studio.
An easel holds art in progress in the studio of Diana Dee.
The tour became an educational one as Diana shared her techniques with us, teaching us about her media of choice from oil on linen to pastel pencils and even silverpoint.
The Bandana by Diana Dee. Pastel Pencil.
She’s a scholar of art, even though she began as a self-taught artist. But workshops in Santa Fe, Woodstock, and Foster City, California, broadened her perspective and provided the guidance she willingly accepted. In 2014, she received an MFA in Figure Painting from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.
Charcoal portrait by Diana Dee Sarkar
Subject matter ranges from equine studies to portraits — all capitalizing on the detail Diana deftly manages no matter the medium. In 2011, during a study abroad program with the Academy of Art University, Diana captured scenes of Venice and Florence as well as life in Corciano, a small hillside village in Umbria, Italy, where she lived for two months.
Venice Small Canal with Laundry by Diana Dee
Bigness of heart also comes through. She pointed to Willis, the man in this painting who was touched by rescue efforts for abused horses but had found no organization or efforts on the behalf of abused donkeys. As a result, he began his own charitable activities designed to care for the animals he loved.
Willis & Donkey, George by Diana Dee
Her oils on linen were perhaps our favorite pieces — not just for the textures they offer but also for the bucolic scenery and restful nature of her subjects.
Oil on linen by Diana Dee
Her philosophy of art is embedded in this quote from her website: Even as a child, I took much pleasure in drawing and painting people and landscapes, and as I matured I realized how important creating art was for me a process of centering and finding a place of joy.
This is one Art DeTour we won’t soon forget.
For more information:
The studio of Diana Dee Sarkar: 6906 Kingston Pike, Suite 203 in Executive Place, Knoxville, TN 37919; 865-603-4465; http://www.dianadeeart.com/
prior
Diana’s work is great – diverse yet I can feel her essence in them – I like the charcoal drawing the most – for the mood and personality she seems to capture – and I normally do not like charcoal pieces – but that one spoke tome the 3 times I scrolled her work.
and so nice to hear biographies – from ER to ART – ha! gotta love it… <3
Oh, the Places We See
Love your comment: ” I can feel her essence in them.” I totally agree. And the charcoal drawing? One of my faves, too. Diana has captured that “attitude,” I guess you could call it!
prior
yes – I felt that too – and I also felt a slight norma rockwell feel to her paintings – with the arch of the old guy and maybe the colors – I don;t know – but I do know that I have to try and come visit your blog more regularly – <3
Oh, the Places We See
Your comments are so kind. It’s a pleasure to share what resources we have in Knoxville with others. We so much enjoy seeing beautiful art.
prior
🙂
Camp That Site
Beautiful art, thanks for sharing.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for taking a look. We love touring art shows and studios. Since we’re not artistic, we’re happy to be patron of the arts instead!
Curt Mekemson
Sounds a bit like a Renaissance Woman, moving from being and ER Doc to the multiple mediums she paints in. –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
Have you noticed as we have that doctors with hobbies are quite good at whatever they take on other than their doctor duties? This lady is quite the scholar of art and meticulous, too. Great combo.
Curt Mekemson
Had a girlfriend or two in my ancient past who were doctors. And yes, they were quite talented at most things that interested them. –Curt
Amy
They are wonderful artists! Such a pleasure to see their beautiful art works here. Thank you so much, Rusha!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks, Amy. Her art is beautiful and so is she. Her paintings draw me in closer to take a look at all the detail. I’m especially taken by the ones with a background story.