Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diana Dellos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Diana, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Creativity allows us to step out of our everyday lives and into a world that is just ours. When we create, we forget about everything else and are very present in that moment. That sacred place of creativity rejuvenates, fulfills, and restores us. I’ve seen proof of this in not only myself, but also in people that take my classes. Creativity balances me and brings me back to my homeostasis. It’s from here I remember all the things I’m grateful for and find my optimistic outlook on life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an acrylic and mixed media artist and class instructor. I help people make their favorite spaces more joyful with art and help them learn the fun & relaxing process of being creative. I earned two B.S. degrees and planned to be a hard working woman and mother. After one year with our first-born, I quickly learned I was being pulled in another direction. I decided to be a stay-at-home mom and raise our three children. I remembered the time spent at my grandma’s house as a kid and wanted my kids to have a similar experience. From 1999-2015 we played, read books, built with Legos, and did numerous art projects. This really instilled the values of time, peace, and joy in me.
As the kids got older, started driving, and having their own busy lives I dove in deeper to my creativity. It started with cutting wooden shapes and painting them for gifts, then photography & scrapbooking my favorite photos, then mixed media altered art, and finally acrylic painting on canvas. Once I found my passion, I devoured every image and tutorial I could find. I bought magazines, took online classes, and drove to 2-day workshops to learn more. Then I painted and practiced. Over and over. Every year, my painting process felt a little bit easier and a little more authentic.
In 2015, I decided to make my art passion my career. I started a website, social media accounts, and taught painting classes. I started looking around at local art galleries in 2019 and soon found my perfect place, the Blue Moose Art Gallery in Fort Collins, CO. The people are so friendly, there’s a huge variety of art, and they teach a lot of classes. I had found my creative happy place and applied to be an artist. Five years later, I’m now a co-owner at the gallery, teach several classes, and help with multiple committees. I also run my personal art business online at dianadellos.com. I’m active on social media and love to teach online courses that can reach people anywhere. Several more classes are coming next year.
What I want people to feel when they buy a piece of my art is joy and wonder. I intentionally use bright happy paint colors, fun patterns, and lots of layers that let the viewer keep searching for more. My painted subjects are often flowers, animals, or landscapes. If one of my paintings can brighten your day and make you smile every time you walk by it, my work is done. My painting classes (in-person or online) aim to show people how to trust themselves, relax into the creative journey, and jump into a different headspace. I don’t teach all the details of how to create the perfect fine art painting. I teach adults how to think like children, try new things, put aside perfectionism, paint with their fingers, and use creativity as a mental health practice. Life is too short to be serious all the time!
New happenings coming up are two things. One is that I will start teaching painting classes at my home studio in Loveland in 2025. The second is that I will be opening a photography studio soon! The front part of my art studio will be a place that photographers can rent out to bring their clients for photo shoots. These are becoming quite trendy! I’m putting my own spin on it by creating artistic murals for backdrops. This won’t be your standard photo studio with tan and white backdrops. My backdrops are full of color, patterns, and joy! Imagine bold street murals, but on a canvas.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. My personal journey – the arts are an outward expression of our inward journey. I learned I could force a painting, when needed, but I never loved it. I can look at majority of my art pieces and remember the headspace that I was in while painting it. I know exactly which ones were my favorite and which ones I despised. Inner work pays off in art. I had to learn how to handle my stress, anxiety, depression, and ADHD so they weren’t overtaking my life. Yoga, meditation, and journaling are important to my personal journey. They give me a key to entering my dreamscape of imagination. This is the place where great paintings come from.
2. Desire to learn – I’ve always had a strong desire to learn. My husband says I’m a perpetual learner. I’ll take that. It’s no different in art. In the early years of painting, I took online and in-person classes to learn techniques and tips. Then I’d try another instructor, style, or type of painting. All of them were so necessary. I learned painting skills, as well as figuring out what styles I liked and didn’t like. Very valuable.
3. Doing the work – Just like an athlete doesn’t become great by only showing up for games, artists can’t become great by only showing up to paint an important painting. There has to be ongoing practice in the background. This was the hardest skill for me. It still is honestly. My brain knows deeply that doing the work leads to results, but my ego thinks it’s mundane. Every single time I paint, I grow. No hour of painting is every wasted. I had an instructor once say, “We all have 100 bad paintings in us, so get started”. It wasn’t meant to be hurtful; it was meant to emphasize that your authentic style probably won’t show up until you’ve painted at least 100 times. This is so true!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to connect with two types of people:
1) Businesses that also have a goal of lifting others up so that we can work together to discuss ideas.
2) People interested in adding more creativity into their lives (newbies and experienced both welcome). I want to help you find your artistic self and create a practice that adds more positivity to your life.
How to get in touch:
[email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dianadellos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n2cre8n
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianaDellosN2cre8n
Image Credits
Artist photo by Sarah Hill of Sugarhill Studio
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
