Diana Rogers

Contemporary Plein Air Painter

The focus of my painting is the exploration of nature through color and emotion. Much of my work is done outdoors on location to create landscape and seascape paintings using a bold and colorful palette. Plein-air painting allows me to capture the gifts nature offers in an immediate and joyful way. I work primarily in the pastel medium because the pure, intense pigments allow me to capture the essence of nature during all seasons. When traveling in New England, across the US and abroad, I always pack my easel and paints so I can document each locale's unique vistas and light.

My work has been shown at many juried exhibitions and museums in Connecticut and throughout New England, and included in national and international juried shows. Recent awards include those from the Mystic Museum of Art, Connecticut Pastel Society and the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod. My work is included in private and public collections, including Yale Smilow Cancer Center, Yale Art Space and the New Haven Paint and Clay Club.

Contact Diana at diana@dianarogersfineart.com or Instagram @dianarogersartinnature or visit her website here: dianarogersfineart.com

Gallery One Featured Artist Interview with Diana Rogers

G1: What role does outdoor painting play in your art making?

Diana: I consider the vast outdoors as my studio. Painting on location in plein air is a way I can connect deeply with mother nature and show my respect for the environment. I take frequent hikes with my painting gear to explore nature in slow motion. I get to know a marsh, valley, or stream up close and personal.

G1: How has your style evolved over time?

Diana: In my recent work, I am exploring the boundaries between abstract and impressionist styles. In my paintings, I simplify the landscape by observing the abstract shapes that are before me. I use lots of bold color and energetic strokes to create loose and vibrant paintings. I see the world through a color forward lens and the pastel medium is ideal to use with pure, intense pigments.

G1: How do climate change concerns impact your work?

Diana: Painting outdoors lets me get to know the beautiful locations we need to protect before they are gone. I can call attention to special places in peril by painting them in a hopeful way. Art plays a vital role in raising awareness of the problems that mother earth faces. By creating art that is color-filled and exuberant, my goal is to share hope and raise awareness that we all can make immediate and lasting impacts in addressing these challenges.

G1: As a landscape painter, what role does the change of seasons play in your work?

Diana: Living in New England, I cherish the change of seasons. My painting practice follows the rhythms and cycles of nature. Each season has its unique color palette and plays a different role in our lives. It is exciting to watch the subtle color changes that occur in the landscape at the cusp of a new season. Salt marshes are a fitting example with their subdued colors of early spring that eventually transition to the rich colors of late summer and fall.