Diane Abt

Chicago, my hometown, gave me a certain gritty, no-nonsense approach to life. Seven years in Japan instilled the discipline of calligraphy and an appreciation for minimalism. My journalism career impacts my artwork, though it may live beneath the surface. Now in California, I am surrounded and inspired by the raw splendor of the natural landscape.
My paintings often juxtapose the understatement of a brush stroke and the happenstance beauty of nature with political upheaval and the dilemmas of our personal lives. Sometimes, intuition alone drives my work. No analysis, no planning. I gather my tools -- brushes, rollers, ink stick, whatever -- and let my spirit guide the marks.
Making art helps keep my mind and spirit alive. Celebrating wonder encountered on a morning hike. Reflecting anguish provoked by a dreadful story in the news. The challenge of creating graceful, energetic calligraphy. Regaining the adventure of child’s play. Sometimes just the struggle to keep working... until something works. These are foundational elements in all my art: monotypes, collage, ink paintings and calligraphy.