Welcome to Diane Shannon Art

 I am a painter living in San Francisco, with lifelong ties to the Bay Area stretching from Belmont to Berkeley. Grounded in the tradition of classical figurative art, my style has grown to emphasize simplified forms, allowing composition and emotion to lead the viewer’s experience.

 My paintings are a reflection of a lifelong study of form and emotion. I welcome you to look deeper into my collections and experience the journey for yourself. 

 The etching entitled “Close cover” is an early work of mine that established a dynamic composition that I return to frequently. The intersection of diagonal and horizontal lines create an area of interest to draw the viewer’s eye. To further emphasize the focal point, I use high contrast values to describe large and small shapes. This establishes an area to place the subject. In this case, the subject is the matchstick and matchbook cover. I find this method works not only in abstract painting, but in still life and landscape compositions. 

 “Lake Barcis” is a painting that is both idyllic and mystical. I used a favorite color palette, blues and greens, to portray a favorite subject, water, to evoke calmness and serenity. The color placement in diagonals, draw the eye to the vivid horizontal line creating a point of interest. The contrast of the white clouds create movement in an otherwise still landscape.