Dianna Shomaker

Dianna Shomaker began her education as an artist at Central Washington College in Ellensburg, Washington. but later diverted into nursing. That created a hiatus in art for about 15 years. However, after moving to San Antonio, Texas she began studying art again under the tutelage of Ray Cox. He was very instrumental in helping her see art in a more experimental way, using charcoal and collage in her compositions. That experimentation continued and expanded when she moved to Germany where she studied abstract art using palette knife with Frau Sachweh in Zweibruken. Germany. Since then she has studied in Albuquerque with Sam Smith at UNM, Ted Hogsett at his Southwest School of Art, and Charles Dunbar at the Albuquerque School of Fine Arts. She enjoys drawing and traditional painting, but most recently the thrill of an artistic experiment readily captures her attention. 

Her approach in these experiments has been in extensive use of collage, charcoal and palette knife. The excitement of seeing the unexpected form by experimental application of color through these media oftentimes creates a stronger statement for her than the more traditional methods. She draws heavily on her life experiences and travels for her source material. Every observation brings a panoply of possibilities. Art is a means of extending her lifelong education, of learning to see and appreciate the world around her, the shadows, the colors in juxtaposition, the animation of the figure. 

Recently, her work has been juried into the “Encantada” show 2008 (2^nd prize) and 2009 (4^th prize); “Faces of Women” International show 2009 (2^nd prize); Oklahoma National Watercolor Association; El Paso International Art Show 2008 (juror’s award); Expo 2008 (2^nd prize).  She has exhibited in So. Carolina; Birmingham, England; Landstuhl, Germany; San Antonio and El Paso, Texas; and, Taos, Los Alamos, Portales, Albuquerque, Placitas and Corrales, New Mexico . Currently she serves as the President of the Placitas Artists Series Board of Directors.

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