Dianna Fowler still considers herself an art student despite the fact that she's been painting for more than 10 years.
For the month of April, Fowler's artwork is being featured at Hawthorn Bank and online after she was chosen as the Featured Artist of the month by the Jefferson City Art Club.
For Fowler, who is a member of the club, art is a form of therapy. After a family tragedy, her mother encouraged her to try painting and Fowler quickly realized how calming it was.
"I think of nothing else when I'm painting," Fowler said.
Though she specializes in oil paintings, she still has a passion for music and other forms of art.
Her journey began when she started watching how-to videos and reading books to teach herself how to paint. From there, she decided to continue and find the right artstyle for her.
"I thought, I don't want to waste my time and money on just anything; I want to paint something that speaks to me and will speak to other people," Fowler said.
Over the years, she has won ribbons for her artwork and has been commissioned to paint pieces such as barns or brides at their weddings.
"Before everything I paint, when I put that blank canvas up there, I ask God to help me, because I'm self-taught. And he has helped me. I just give him the credit for helping me to be a talented artist," Fowler said.
She's found that mixing two mediums together, one to dry fast and one to dry slow, helps create just the right medium for her paintings.
"I have given myself a challenge: I say, 'I don't want to stay the same, I want to be better.' And so I'm trying to paint and add different things, different shapes," Fowler said.
One of the ways she continues to learn is by studying other artwork she sees in restaurants or places she visits and writes down what she sees to try later on. When her husband inevitably asks what she's doing, she said she always replies with, "I'm taking an art class."
Fowler now enjoys painting in the art room her husband built her in their home that has big windows that overlook a field.
"I may not be a big name, but I'm going to be the best I can be," Fowler said.
For the rest of April, Fowler's work will be displayed at Hawthorn Bank West, 3701 W Truman Boulevard, and a digital collection is available online at www.jeffersoncityartclub missouri.com/gallery.