Diane Banas
I attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, but graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in education. I got my Master of Arts degree from Concordia University in River Forest, IL.
I was an art major in college. I took classes in high school and college in various mediums. I took up painting again during the Covid 19 Pandemic in 2019. Since then, I have been influenced by nature, especially snowy winters, as well as my gardens. All of these have been subjects for my paintings and photography.
As a young adult I taught arts and crafts to children at the Park District. I was a teacher aide and school secretary before finishing my college degree at the age of forty. This enabled me to teach Language Arts to Middle School Students. During this time, I taught an extensive poetry unit which culminated in a voluntary and very successful poetry slam competition among seventh and eighth grade students.
I paint with oils on canvas. It is challenging, but I feel I have more control, rather than with say watercolors. It is what I have always used and with which I am most comfortable.
My favorite subjects are snowy landscapes, flower gardens and individual flowers, birds, and especially water and nautical scenes. I have experimented with expressionism and will continue to learn about that.
I have made gift enclosures and note cards from images of my oil paintings and photos from my gardens. Because of this and the many paintings I have done, I have displayed and sold my things at craft fairs, farmers markets, Hello Galena, Eagle Ridge Resort Peddlers Gift shop, Jo Daviess Local Food Market Place, as well as individuals.
This success has encouraged me to continue to paint and learn new techniques. I am especially heartened to know I am encouraging sharing gratitude by selling my thank you cards. I also love to make and sell Christmas cards with a local flair, something you cannot get in many places. All of this has made me feel very proud of my accomplishments.
My motto is “Snail-Mail-Smiles.” Isn’t it nice to get real mail!
Galena Center for the Arts has been a great encouragement for not only me, but a variety of others who would not have ever had the opportunity to display our work. I feel I have been well received, even sharing my woodworking items in the early books during the Covid pandemic. I think people have enjoyed my many paintings and photographs through the years. I am grateful to have had this wonderful opportunity. It is a joy to see other artists’ offerings and sharing my own at the Art Opening Nights.
I was an art major in college. I took classes in high school and college in various mediums. I took up painting again during the Covid 19 Pandemic in 2019. Since then, I have been influenced by nature, especially snowy winters, as well as my gardens. All of these have been subjects for my paintings and photography.
As a young adult I taught arts and crafts to children at the Park District. I was a teacher aide and school secretary before finishing my college degree at the age of forty. This enabled me to teach Language Arts to Middle School Students. During this time, I taught an extensive poetry unit which culminated in a voluntary and very successful poetry slam competition among seventh and eighth grade students.
I paint with oils on canvas. It is challenging, but I feel I have more control, rather than with say watercolors. It is what I have always used and with which I am most comfortable.
My favorite subjects are snowy landscapes, flower gardens and individual flowers, birds, and especially water and nautical scenes. I have experimented with expressionism and will continue to learn about that.
I have made gift enclosures and note cards from images of my oil paintings and photos from my gardens. Because of this and the many paintings I have done, I have displayed and sold my things at craft fairs, farmers markets, Hello Galena, Eagle Ridge Resort Peddlers Gift shop, Jo Daviess Local Food Market Place, as well as individuals.
This success has encouraged me to continue to paint and learn new techniques. I am especially heartened to know I am encouraging sharing gratitude by selling my thank you cards. I also love to make and sell Christmas cards with a local flair, something you cannot get in many places. All of this has made me feel very proud of my accomplishments.
My motto is “Snail-Mail-Smiles.” Isn’t it nice to get real mail!
Galena Center for the Arts has been a great encouragement for not only me, but a variety of others who would not have ever had the opportunity to display our work. I feel I have been well received, even sharing my woodworking items in the early books during the Covid pandemic. I think people have enjoyed my many paintings and photographs through the years. I am grateful to have had this wonderful opportunity. It is a joy to see other artists’ offerings and sharing my own at the Art Opening Nights.
