Introducing Diane V. Nafash

Diane is a former Art Director, working in the fields of graphic design and advertising. She now continues to keep the creative juices flowing by exploring several styles, media, and techniques. She likes to use her talent to further help others by donating a portion of the proceeds of her work to a charity in need.

Artist Statement

From my deep love of natural beauty,I am inspired to paint. While painting,

I love to experiment with many techniques, with the added challenge of giving a contemporary flair to traditional themes..

Using my native aesthetic instincts, I like to creatively integrate my concepts to produce the best effects in expressing what I wish the viewer to see and feel of my experience. We live in such a busy world we just do not stop to enjoy the beauty around us enough. Even though you cannot smell the roses and flowers in my watercolors, look hard enough and you may sense something of beauty beyond fragrance.   

Many of my paintings depict evanescent moments, ones that have materialized but are transient. Both physical and organic phenomena can exhibit such transformation as you may see in some of my work. To name a few: reflections, refractions, spectra, shadows, raindrops, dewdrops, winds, shimmering light, and natures beauty that many of us miss in our daily routine.

Often, aroused by a feeling or inspiration — spiritual or conceptual —  I can attempt to paint an idea within the material image.  Even though I can paint a rainbow, a flower, and a tree, I can never produce one, only God can do that.  But I can paint a rainbow that reminds us of it’s message of peace. I can paint a flower that brings joy to the eye, and I can paint a shadow that was never noticed, bringing enlightenment to the viewer. Artistic revelation, which can sensually please or conceptually enlighten, is always a joy to discover.

My friends often say that you need to take a second look at my work, because they are always surprised by what they missed the first time around.

Art Education

Art Center of Northern NJ – Sylvie Covey- Contemporary Printmaking

Art Center of Northern NJ – Joe Terrone - Figure & Plein Air painting

Art Center of Northern NJ – Susan Manspeizer - Figure & Acrylic Painting

Apple “One to One” GSP – iweb,  iMovie & Final Cut Express

Art Center of Northern NJ – Florence Hurewitz - Figure Painting

Art Center of Northern NJ – Art Gallery Tours in New York City - Hedy O’Beal

Art Students League NYC – Floral  Watercolor - Mario Cooper & Janet Walsh

Parsons School of Design NYC – Watercolor - Richard Karwoski

The New School of Art NYC – Graphic Design, TV graphics, Children’s Storybook Illustration

Ontario College of Art, Toronto – Magazine Illustration - Gerald Sevier,  Advertising

Central Technical Art School, Toronto – Commercial Art - During this time she is proud to say she studied with renowned Canadian Painter Doris McCarthy.

Skills

Media:  Watercolor, Acrylic, Pastel, Collage, Mixed-media, Computer graphics and Contemporary printmaking.  More recently she enjoys photography, producing,  shooting,

and editing short documentary movies in Final Cut Pro.

She is also quite adept at producing and designing animations on the computer.

Exhibitions

Diane has judged several shows and given many demonstrations to most of the Art Clubs throughout New Jersey. She has exhibited her work in numerous group shows, too many to list. She is an active member of the Art Center Watercolor Affiliates. She has had numerous One woman shows in many local libraries in New Jersey and in the following galleries:  Avon Atrium Gallery 9 W 57 St. N.Y.C., New York Theological Seminary, N.Y.C., Gallery of the Presbyterian Church of Franklin Lakes, N.J., Studio 2, 105 W 28th St. N.Y.C. Other galleries are the William Carlos Williams Center, N.J.  the Marcella Geltmann Gallery ACNNJ (a retrospect) The Belskie Museum in Closter, Westside Gallery in Ridgewood, and Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.

The artist will take commissions: Still Life paintings of personal items to enhance decor, or portraits from life combined with photography.

Affiliations

Art Center Watercolor Affiliates of the Art Center of Northern NJ

Recognition

Numerous awards in watercolor, figure painting, and photography.  The recipient of the 2013 Senior Juried Art Show/ First place Professional Watercolor for the State of New Jersey, 2013 Senior Juried Art Show First place Professional Watercolor for Bergen County, and 2018 & 19 First Place Professional Photography for Bergen County.  Grumbacher  “Best in Show” Award  – 13 Still life paintings published in the Avon Products Annual Calendar for both USA and Canada. – 6 Liturgical Banners and 2 watercolors permanently hang in the South Presbyterian Church of Bergenfield.

Diane can be reached by email, [email protected], or phone 201-599-0147