Today we’d like to introduce you to Dyana Hesson.
Botanical artist Dyana loves a good adventure. She was born and raised in the gold country of Northern California. As a kid, she was always happiest exploring outdoors and rarely settled down to read a book all the way through.
When her father gave her his old 35 mm film camera in elementary school, her skinned knees and grass-stained clothes gave way to a quiet appreciation of aesthetic beauty. She was interested in the landscape, but more than just scenic vistas. At close range, the hues and contours of flowers and plants caught her eye. Some of the first things she photographed were the succulents growing in her mother’s garden.
A hard worker but a struggling student, Hesson found her gift of painting in an art class in college. She changed her major and studied art at Arizona State University where she developed her style of applying thin layers of oil paint with very little texture. After graduating with honors, Dyana combined her newly found skills with the work ethic of her childhood, and soon, art collectors eagerly invested in her radiant paintings.
Her work has received national and local awards and is collected worldwide.
Dyana lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband Randy, daughter Sydney and Jack Russell terrier, Boon. She has a case of incurable wanderlust, and a love affair with God’s creation.
“It is a privilege and pleasure to be a fine artist in today’s world. It is a pleasure because I get to wake up every morning and do what I love and pour my soul into creating something beautiful. It is also a privilege because with creating comes responsibility. My desire is to create a safe place where a viewer’s eyes can land and rest for awhile. It has been said that the only two things that can pierce our hearts are beauty and affliction, and if this is so, we need a measure of beauty in our lives in equal proportion to our affliction. My unspoken agreement with my collectors and fans is that I will always bring my very best to you. I will work hard to bring a measure of beauty to your world with all the ability God has given me.”
Has it been a smooth road?
No one has a smooth road in this life, that why we need beautiful art! As an artist, you will have good years and bad years. Years when you sell everything you create and years when you feel like you’ve lost your voice and direction. It’s important to listen to the truth of who you are and not be swayed by your own doubts or popular trends. For young artists, I would advise developing a strong work ethic. There is a lot of talent out there and what will set you apart is your desire to succeed. Develop your skills, network, create a professional artist’s statement, headshots, photograph your work, be ready. Join art organizations, enter competitions, encourage others in your field.
Don’t be tossed back and forth by waves, stand firmly on the shore and fix your gaze straight ahead, and press on.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Paintings by Dyana Hesson story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a fine artist specializing in painting in oil on canvas. My interest is primarily botanical subject matter, but occasionally I paint small landscapes. I enjoy the study of what God has created in the landscape and hopefully, that passion is evident in my paintings. I think my art speaks to people who have a similar appreciation of the natural world. In addition to painting, I have also developed a fashion brand based on my work. Also, my art gives me a unique opportunity to give back, donate and become involved in causes and projects that are important to me. I try not to be “proud” but, the achievement that has been most meaningful to me was receiving the Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine’s “Master of the Southwest” award in 2017. To be recognized by your creative peers is an honor.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Women artists are very underrepresented in museums and galleries. It is estimated that only 3-5% of the works in the permanent collections of museums in the U.S. is work by women artists. That’s disappointing because the work that women are producing right now is beyond belief; highly professional and technically exquisite. I choose not to see these disparities as barriers but rather opportunities. I serve on the Board of American Women Artists, an organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for female artists, including an annual museum exhibition. The fellowship of these women is precious to me. They are strong, talented, and capable. It will only be a matter of time before we see the disparities diminish.
Pricing:
- Note Cards from $15
- Scarves from $65
- Limited Edition Prints from $360
- Original Oil Paintings $490-$12,000
Contact Info:
- Address: Represented by Bonner David Galleries
7040 East Main Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 - Website: https://www.dyanahesson.com/
- Phone: 480-924-2610
- Email: Dyana@DyanaHesson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyhesson/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DyanaHessonArtist/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://vimeo.com/dyanahesson
Image Credit:
Dyana Hesson
Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
