Fan Art interview with Diana

October 31, 2017 by Nicole Oebel @philomina_

What are your favourite TV shows and what do you enjoy about them?

I don't watch a lot of television and that's why I don't know any other tv shows. There are things like "Game of Thrones", right? [laughs] So "Versailles" is a big exception. A friend recommended the show to me because I'm interested in French history, and I was immediately fascinated by the atmosphere, the beauty, the carefully chosen locations, the costumes and the wonderful soundtrack. The show isn't all historically accurate but for me it doesn't have to be. It's entertainment – real good entertainment.

Which is your favourite piece or style (of your own) and why?

My favourite piece is my first one. I felt very inspired and made a drawing of the Chevalier. A lady from the Versailles family was kind enough to spend a generous amount of money for it in a charity auction organised for Haiti. This is something I will never forget and I'm still so happy about it since the cause, helping the people in Haiti, is close to my heart.

I can't claim to have a preferred style. I studied fine art and work as a commission and portrait painter. I work with pastels, coal, pencil or drawing ink, acrylic, oil and sometimes I make aquarelles or mural paintings. I draw and paint what I see, which is called Realism but I hope that my paintings also reflect a bit of my own personality. It's for others to say if they really do. Recently I also discovered digital painting but it's new for me and I have a lot to learn about the different techniques. It is lots of fun though and I think digital paintings have their very own little corner in the world of the arts.

What is it about Versailles that inspires you and draws you to share your art with the Versailles Family?

That's an interesting question! I mentioned above what I love about the series but what inspires me maybe even more is what has been happening around the show during the last two years: the amazing fundraisings. I sponsor two children in Haiti, have been working in charity projects for 15 years and travel to different countries to help on-site. Charity work is a matter close to my heart and it's been an honour to add my paintings or drawings to these fundraising auctions. That's what inspires me most and I'm grateful to the artists who organised fundraising auctions as well, all the other wonderful artists who donated their work, and of course the wonderful Evan Williams, who started it all by sharing his idea of Loving Out.

What is fan art for you and does your style reflect something about your relationship with the character you are painting or drawing?

Hmm, I would say fan art for me is something fun to do in my spare time, a lovely relief with lots of passion which helps me relax. It's in contrast with my job as a painter and for me that's an appeal. Sadly I don't have a lot of time for Fan Art, so there aren't lots of pieces from me. As for the second part of your question, no, this has been my style before I started doing Fan Art.

What are the easiest and hardest parts of the artistic process?

To be honest I've never thought about that, I think this isn't the way I think about my work. First there is an idea, then there is the artistic process, which sure can be different, and it all leads to the finished product. I guess I don't think while I paint. Sometimes I'm happy with how a painting turns out, another time I'm less happy. I believe when you start thinking your art may suffer for it, for me it's all about feeling, inspiration, interpretation, or fantasy, passion, intuition. Painting from memory is a challenge for me though.

Do you feel like with your fan art you can put a lot of yourself into a piece, tell your own story?

Yes, I think so. Like most artists I guess I try to use my fan art to put a smile on the other fans' faces but I also show my appreciation for the show and a certain character. For me both the Chevalier and the actor Evan Williams are muses.

Thank you for the chat, Diana!

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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Diana Elisabeth Raum (@madamediane75) am Okt 1, 2018 um 12:32 PDT