Live it to Give it Interview with Encaustic Artist Dianna Woolley

faciliated by Kayce Stevens Hughlett

Last week I interviewed Carolyn Riker, a friend I met in 2014. Today, it's my pleasure to introduce you to a woman I've known my entire life: encaustic artist, trail blazer, and my beloved big sis - Dianna Stevens Woolley. 

"As a little girl, I remember peeking out at my sister as she prepared to go to prom or some equally glamorous event... While we did not 'know' each other for much of our lives, she is now one of my very best friends." excerpt from "Sister, Sister" - As I Lay Pondering (November 30)

June, 2011 @ D. Woolley's One Woman Gallery ShowingKayce: While it would be easy to drift into a conversation between siblings, I love hearing how various people respond to similar questions. So, I'm going to start with my standard lead question: What’s one of your favorite readings from “As I Lay Pondering”? 

Dianna: November 17, Web of Life, is one of my favorites and is about the concept of being connected with everything/everyone in the world. “If indeed the world is one connected web, then our daily intentions matter greatly. We can change the world. As our capacity for love and compassion increases, so does the world’s.” (KSH)

Kayce: Say more, please...         

Dianna: The idea that one’s personal actions of kindness or daily intention may be felt in some way or another on the other side of the globe is an idea that opens the mind to endless possibility and thanksgiving - heartening.  While, on the other hand,  recollection of selfish acts or what one could consider minor, inconsequential acts of prejudice or personal gratification at the expense of the “other” taken to the same iteration - disheartening!  How much easier is it to live our lives in a small, protected, perhaps unconsciously selfish, sphere rather than pondering the thought that the actions we participate in daily may affect a global family we’ll never know on an intimate basis……

Kayce: Ah, indeed. My sense is, however, that you've chosen to step out of that 'small, protected sphere' and expand further into the world. So... along those lines, I am personally fascinated with the uniqueness that each of us brings to the world and our innate ability to impact the world for good. Please tell me… what is your super power and do you have a sidekick?

Dianna: Hmmmm, my super power and sidekick - a trick question? - but nothing ventured - my super power(s) is that of listening and observation.  I have the power to just listen and I believe that the global family I spoke about above would be better served if more of us just listened and weren’t busy formulating our own response, our own worse situation/story/event. 

Kayce: Beautifully said. I wonder if this stems from our early days of hearing "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?" It sounds like during the listening you also tuned into observing. I'm going to ponder this one some more!!

Listening. Celebrating. Laughing.Dianna: My sidekick - an enormous capacity to laugh at myself, to view darkness with a slice of sunlight surrounding it, the thrill of loving a victory whether in a foot race or a juried art competition and the courage to recognize that inner thrill as something worthwhile, not a bad trait to be overlooked or minimized.

Kayce: YES!! Laughter, seeing both sides of the spectrum and having the courage to celebrate. I'm thrilled we've both come to acknowledge and live these 'sidekicks' as you say!

In closing, I’d love for you to tell the readers what live it to give it means to you?

Dianna: Wow, I remember the days of your “live it to give it” being birthed, the phrase, the action, the reality of proving that taking care of one’s self in an unselfish, non-judgmental way is as important for personal mental and physical health as it is to care for another in that same way.  Putting on one’s own “oxygen mask before helping others around us” is truly a standard we can all yearn to live by.   That’s what “live it to give it” means to me.

Kayce: Amen, Sister!!

This is just a tiny peek into the woman who is Dianna Woolley. I hope you'll check out her site and feel free to leave comments or questions here. I know she'd love to engage with you!!

Artist and creator of the site, DIANNA WOOLLEY - THE FINE ART OF ENCAUSTIC PAINTING - It'll Make You Happy, and the works shown there,  invites you to become part of the formula - "artist + art = ardent admirer".

In order to produce colorful, playful - always beautiful pieces meant to bring joy to viewers and owners of my work, I’ve spent the last number of years playing with hot beeswax.  Hot Beeswax, also known as Encaustic Medium, is actually an ancient art component - resurfacing in popularity here in the U.S. in the last few decades.

I’m honored to be featured here on Kayce’s site and hoping that something you see or read about me will intrigue you enough to visit my site, diannawoolley.com, sign up for my newsletter - get to know my style, my work, my explanations of the art being formed - maybe to even persuade you to become one of my, ever-growing list of purchasing clients!

How would this small (6” x 6” - $125.00 - Sun Screen) piece look on the wall of your home or office?  Don’t know encaustics - this would be a sweet introduction for you:)

Questions/comments - contact me at:  diannawoolley@mac.com or 509-386-6649

Comments

[Dianna Woolley]

Thanks Kayce for the interview!! ......and for the nice pics of my first solo show and your book signing in Walla Walla! Oxoxo