Dear friend of AKG,

We are sharing a few responses from the Q & A with Diana Woods to uplift and inspire your Saturday, as well as a selection of the dream-like, nature-inspired paintings by the artist. Be sure to read the full interview with Woods here, and experience her work in the Extravagant Dreams exhibition on view through February 1 at Ann Korologos Gallery. 

Warm Regards,
Sue Edmonds
Gallery Director
(970) 927-9668

How does your art make you feel?

My art is my prayer and meditation.  The studio is a healing place for me, a refuge from the everyday craziness of life. When I paint, I lose myself.  If I am able to achieve what I set out to create, I feel amazing! 

What inspires the dream-like quality of your work?

I have always found my inspiration from the natural world. Animals, especially, come to me in my dreams. Much of my work is narrative and stories are woven into each piece. The stories may be from my own experience, folklore or memories from my childhood where my grandfather ignited my imagination with his tall tales. It is in nature that I feel my connection to the sacred. The world is a magical place if we just pay attention.

How do you feel when looking at a blank canvas or page? How do you approach a new idea?

The blank canvas is full of possibilities. When I begin a new piece, I usually have a story in my head that I want to tell. I have a sense of the feeling and the message I want to express. Colors, composition, references are sketched out. Often times, I can see it in my mind as a finished piece. It is important for me though, to allow the painting to have its a own voice and allow it to emerge.