Page 25 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2024 - Online Magazine

MUSIC & ART
When she stepped into the teaching
arena, it was to a group of over
50s at the Osher Lifelong Learning
Institute at Texas Tech. With the
encouragement of a friend and
notes to help Dyan structure her
class, it became the first of many
opportunities she would have to
teach throughout Texas and New
Mexico.
Four or five years ago, Dyan was
offered a unique opportunity. She
received an email from a lady in
Alaska, asking her to come teach
a workshop. Her first thought was
that she had no intention of driving
all that way. “We got to talking back
and forth,” said Dyan, “and she had
enough points saved to fly me up
there. It was our anniversary, so my
husband David paid to fly with me.” says. “I can go out and see
Some of the attendees couldn’t afford
the retreat, so the host asked the
Newtons if they would be interested
in staying a week, with Dyan
teaching the next weekend. When Dyan is not painting, teaching,
Arrangements were made for or showcasing her delightful
them to stay with a couple, works of art, she is being MeMa
and with free time during to her grandchildren and great-
the week, they were able to grandchildren and just enjoying time
see the sights the area had to with her close-knit family. Perhaps
offer. It turned out to be quite there is another artist waiting to be
an adventure. discovered in her family tree, and of
course, we know the teacher who can
So, what advice does Dyan fill the bill.
give to her students to help
them hone their painting Dyan was the featured artist at the
skills? “Do not overwork Lubbock Arts Festival at the Lubbock
your work. As in watercolor, Memorial Civic Center on April
get in, get out, and let it dry. 13-14, 2024, and has been invited
Leave it alone, and when to showcase her work at the 10th
it dries you can go back in, Annual Art on the Llano Estacado
but you’ll leave some of the at the Texas Tech Museum on June
lighter behind. You can layer 12-23, 2024.
it that way. Often, students
don’t do that, and they go She is in the West Texas Watercolor
in and just make mud!” she Society and has signature status in
exclaimed. the Western Federation of Watercolor
Societies. Her work can be seen at
Dyan recommends taking all The Adobe Fine Art in Ruidoso,
the workshops and classes you can, NM and in Lubbock at Broadway
even if you don’t like the teacher’s Contemporary Fine Art.
style. You can pick up something
from everybody when you take a
class, no matter how long you have
been painting.
As to her own works,
Dyan finds the picture
she wants to paint and
then builds around the
rest. She takes a lot of
photos from New Mexico
outside of Las Vegas,
New Mexico and also in
the Hill Country of Texas
for her inspiration but
avoids using the local
color. “Maybe it is a little
run-down building,” she
a building but then bring
it back to life using just
about every color I can
think of in my pallet.”
Lubbock Senior Link 25