Meet the Board

"Quick Reset" Diane Hausmann 10"x14"

Diane Hausmann is a relative newcomer to the Board of Directors, serving as Signature Chair. She lives in Fairfield, Montana. Although most of her work and effort go into traveling to art festivals and horse shows throughout the west, her work is shown at Latigo & Lace in Augusta; Mountain Magic in Choteau; Wool House Gallery in Miles City; Big Horn Design in Billings; the Lewistown Art Center in Lewistown and at Thunder Mountain Traders in Flagstaff, Arizona

Following high school, and receiving a good foundational art background, Diane studied Drafting and Technical Illustration at a vo-tech, after earning her Associates Degree in Animal Science, from the University of Minnesota, in Crookston. She keeps current with her art training by taking workshops.

Diane describes her work as realistic, and equine art is her specialty. She has been drawing horses since she could hold a pencil, and has spent many years working in the horse industry. She paints landscapes because horses need a background, and because she enjoys plein-air painting. Her backgrounds tend to be looser saving detail work for her subject matter. Perspectives are still an inviting challenge to her, because of her technical illustration training.

Although Diane works primarily in watercolor, she is exploring options in oil painting and sculpture.

She uses transparent tinting washes for skies and water while selecting sedimentary colors to portray more density in the earth, trees and rocks and opting to use staining pigments where she need stronger colors. Diane chooses her papers to match her needs. Sometimes, she will accomplish a quick-draw on Winsor Newton Cold Press, using watercolor pencils, because she can draw quickly. Other times, she uses quarter sheets of Arches 140# or Crescent watercolor board. She chooses brushes to fit her needs, also. Backgrounds are accomplished by ‘slopping on’ wash areas with a hake. Smaller paintings require smaller brushes. She uses mostly rounds-8, 10, and 12, saving her #4 round for details. Sponges are used for trees, brush, rock texture, and arena dirt.

Diane lists Animal Painting and Anatomy, by W Frank Calderon, as one of her favorite art books, which she uses for easy reference of hone and muscle structure. Also, Exploring Color, by Nita Leland, is wonderful book for learning the properties of pigments.

She admires Oleg Stavrowsky for his exciting use of color; Joseph Bohler because he can capture any atmosphere, and transport her to the places he has painted, and Sam Savitt for his ability to bring a horse to life on paper. The person who has influenced her career the most is her husband, Vincent, because of his unconditional support and encouragement, which she appreciates greatly.

Diane remembers something she heard Judy Wagner say, and she always keeps in mind — “It’s only paper.” Don’t get too attached to it.  If a painting doesn’t work, call it a practice piece. Learn from you experiences with each painting you do.

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