Cournoyer, Diane

Diane Cournoyer earned her BFA from Swain School of Design (New Bedford, MA) studying with Ben Martinez and David Leoffler Smith.  She received her MFA from Parsons School of Design (New York, NY) under the direction of Paul Resika, Leland Bell and John Heliker.  Resika and Leoffler Smith both were students of Hans Hoffman.  Continued studies followed at the Vermont Studio School and The Studio School of the Aegean in Greece.  Ms. Cournoyer was a founding member of Gallery X in New Bedford, MA, and shows regularly at Studio Hop in Providence, RI.  She also sat on the local Massachusetts Cultural Council in Fall River. Diane presently lives and teaches in the Berkshires where she takes inspiration from the nature around her.

“Needing to paint is a mystery, but in this experience I sense a connectiveness to the world and a grounding to my occupancy. As I plod my way through self imposed studies, I’m pulled towards movement and lyrical lines that weave space together. Enjoying the constructive phase, whether it be landscape or figure, I respond to and build shapes / color as the image transcends from person / place to expression… allowing the answers to unfold, never going in with a preconceived idea.  I’m often absorbed in a dance, or pull in the form, as contours /shape /color play within the structure… this movement holds my attention while planes and space are developed. In the end, I try to bring a simple authentic vision to the canvas.”

Education / Informal Education / Continuing Education

Parsons School of Design, MFA, New York, NY 1985 Instructors: Paul Resika, Leland Bell, Jack Helika

Swain School of Design, BFA, New Bedford, MA 1882 Instructors: David Loeffler Smith, Ben Martinez

Studio School of the Aegean, Samos, Greece, – Painting 1986 Instructors: Charles Cajori, Jim Lechay

Vermont Studio School, Johnson, Vermont – Painting 1985

Rhode Island School of Design – Computer Aid Design 2003

Brown University – Macintosh 2001

Bristol Community College – Algebra, Trigonometry, Drafting – intro to CAD 1993, 1994

University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth) – Art Education 1988 / Adobe Photoshop 2002

Exhibits (one person show)

Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA 1989

Exhibits (Selected) 2014 – 1985

University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA 2014, 2011

Studio Hop, Providence, RI 2000 – 2012

New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford MA 2010 (four person exhibit), 2011

Provincetown Art Museum, Provincetown, MA 2010

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield, MA 2010

Crowell’s Fine Art, New Bedford, MA 2009 – 2011, 2009 (two person exhibit)

Gallery X, New Bedford, MA 1990 – 2005 (many small group exhibits)

The Painting Center, New York, NY 2001

AS220, Providence, RI 2000

Providence Art Club, Providence, RI 1999

The Donovan Gallery, Tiverton, RI 1997 (featured artist)

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Gallery, Boston, MA 1996

Tsetse Gallery, Providence, RI 1996 (featured artist)

Grace Works, Essex, CT 1996

Facets Gallery, Fall River, MA 1993, 1995

Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA 1985, 1998

Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI 1990

Water Street Gallery, Mattapoisett, MA 1988

Art Related Experience

Private instructor: painting / drawing 2009 – 2014

Pittsfield School Dept., Pittsfield, MA, Special Education Dept., Painting Instructor for autistic student 2011

Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA, Continuing Ed. Drawing Instructor 1994 -2000

Massachusetts Cultural Council, Board Member, Fall River, MA 1993-95

Co-founder and member: Gallery X, New Bedford, MA 1990 – 2005

MA Migrant Ed. Program, BMC Durfee High School, Fall River, MA, Art Instructor 1987-89

Awards and Honors

Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant 2009, 2001, 1999, 1997

First Place Prize, Little Compton Art Exhibit, RI

Honorable mention, Providence Art Club, RI

First Place Prize, Fall River Art Association, Fall River, MA

Second Place Prize, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI

Helena Rubenstein Scholarship, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY

Bibliography / Reviews (Selected)

Don Wilkinson, The Navigator, 4 Painters, 4 Seasons, Dartmouth, MA 10/10

Keith Shaw, The Eagle, Moderns Take Momentum from Rebellion, Pittsfield, MA 4/10

Rhode Island Monthly Magazine, Photo Display, 4/08, Photo Display 3/97

David Boyce, The Standard Times, Gallery X pays tribute to Swain legacy , New Bedford, MA 7/03