Posted on September 13, 2022October 10, 2022 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Questions Come to Bear

Popping on here with this doxazine purple beauty to let you know that Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods is on display at Hutchinson Center for the Arts until this Friday and to celebrate I am sharing one more of the newest pieces in the living body of work that you’ll see when you stop by. I was chatting about bears the other day (I mean, honestly, when am I not talking about bears, but I digress) and it got me thinking about this sweet fella surrounded by all the Question Marks, flowers, and the lovely, curling, permeating scents of spring🐻🦋🌫💙 If you like the deep purples shing through your screen on this piece just imagine how popping they are when you are standing in front of it at the gallery🤩 Here is statement that goes with the piece:

4:30 pm • Another bear! This sweet lil dude has so many questions like, ”when will the blueberries be ready?” or “why does bird seed smell so good?”

The Black Bear wanders the forest looking for answers and looking for food, making a racket as it goes. The Question Mark Butterflies surround the bear and the sugary flowers offering up more queries than explanations.

Featured flora and fauna • Black Bear, Question Mark Butterfly, Columbine, Daisy, Hawkweed

Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods tour around the state of Minnesota is made possible, in part, by a Region 2 Arts Council Individual Artist Grant Award with funding from the McKnight Foundation. See less

Questions Come to Bear

11″ x 14″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

Posted on September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Close to Hatching

Just a week left to go see my exhibit at Hutchinson Center for the Arts! Here is another sneak peek of what's on display👀

7:30 am • A red tailed hawk waits patiently high in the branches of its leafy home. This is one parent of two who both take turns sitting on this nest, guarding these eggs. The couple will mate for life and may even come back to this same nest year after year. We can tell by the more colorful shells that these are healthy eggs which means their parents are probably fairly well fed, boding well for the hawklets survival as well as the overall health of this particular ecosystem. The Trembling Aspen pods let loose their seeds as the breeze blows through. The Aspen’s offspring are hatching in their own way, taking flight on the fluffy white down that is so easily carried by the spring zephyr.

This piece is a comforting one, with soft colors, elements and lines. It was prompted by the spring 2022 Aspen hatching that happened this year. SO many white fluffs filled the forests this spring creating a magical and soft space, a sharp contrast to the anxiety-inducing drought in 2021. The magic whimsy reminded me of being home and being young. I didn’t really have a comfortable home when I was young, but my most comfortable and homelike space was my Grandpa’s home - you know, that place where you feel safe and welcome. Gramps had a sense of humor. His wit and intelligence was something I admired greatly. He was an appreciator of the wild world and a lover of birds. He had a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that nested in his yard year after year - it was their home as much as his and he loved me enough to share his love of the Red-tailed Hawk family with me. He would write about them in our letters or call me up on the phone when they experienced some big life change. Those calls and letters were love and comfort. When I would visit I would watch the Red-tailed Hawks out Gramps’ patio window as he worked in the kitchen or read the paper and I would feel at home. With Gramps around I always felt like I had my own dedicated parent looking out for me and I always had a place to go home too. Gramps passed away when I was 22 and I make lots of art about him now. This piece, with the watchful parent protecting the fragile eggs, the strong Aspen giving safe flight to the well protected seeds, is definitely about him too. That sparkling waggish expression on the Hawk's face is very Gramps like and I think he would really love this Red-tailed Hawk.

Featured flora and fauna • Red-tailed Hawk, Trembling Aspen, Rosy Maple Moth

---

Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods' tour around the state of Minnesota is made possible, in part, by a Region 2 Arts Council Individual Artist Grant Award with funding from the McKnight Foundation.

Posted on August 30, 2022August 30, 2022 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods goes on display at Hutchinson Center for the Arts

Diamond Knispel is an acrylic painter located in the Northwoods of Minnesota. Her work features flora and fauna in saturated, lush scenes. She uses her work to explore the emotions of daily life, using each painting to zoom in on a particular critter nestled among botanicals and butterflies as a way to give voice to the wild world. Her postmodern-narrative art aims to make the viewer more curious about the wild world that often goes unnoticed. She says “I want folks to walk away thinking a little bit more about the wild world that surrounds us; to pause and consider cause and effect, and the reciprocal nature of everything.”

Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods explores the wild world that hangs in balance with the human world but isn’t always visible to people – even those who travel to seek it out. Often things that are not seen are not considered which is why our ditches are filled with both wildflowers and trash. Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods looks past the ditches and into the forests to focus on the wildflowers, pollinators and animals giving credence to the act of looking closer and exploring farther. Done in acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas the lively, colorful, whimsical, body of work looks at one warm spring day and the hidden stories being experienced by the plants and animals in our forests to honor the often unseen and unheard world that surrounds us.

Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods is meant to set a scene. The show starts on an early spring morning and progresses through the day looking at different tableaus as the light changes and different flora and fauna make themselves visible. The pieces are organized in sequential order based on the time of day. Each of these pieces comes with its own short story that reflects on the subjects and digs deeper into the artist's human experiences that inform every paint stroke and color choice.

An artist and explorer at heart, Diamond has been making a career as an artist for more than a decade with her personal work, employment, and residencies at arts organizations around Northern Minnesota. Diamond currently lives in the Laporte (MN) area with her husband and beloved cat, Lady Gray.

Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods is on view August 9th - September 16th, with a reception on September 2nd from 5:30-7pm.

---
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

The upcoming tour of "Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods" around the state of Minnesota is made possible, in part, by a Region 2 Arts Council Individual Artist Grant Award with funding from the McKnight Foundation.

Posted on June 26, 2021September 25, 2021 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Aqueous Life

11:30 pm • The beavers are active again. This Beaver is joined by a River Otter under the moon, stars, and water lilies. They are in a space all their own, floating, flowing (almost dancing), as underwater critters do. The nighttime escapades of the nocturnal critters have taken over while the rest of the world imagines and dreams.

This piece explores life and the interconnection of sky and water. It portrays the feeling I get when surrounded by all three. The color of the sky and the feeling of ethereal hope remind me of late night/early morning walks. I hope that when you look at this piece you feel the longing to conquer your world. I also hope you feel the security of knowing that you are not alone. We are all swimming through this cosmic masterpiece, humans and non-humans alike.

Featured flora and fauna • Water Lilies, Northern Water Milfoil, Beaver, Otter

Posted on June 25, 2021July 6, 2021 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Starrey Nosed Gardener

10:30 pm • Somewhere in the Northwoods a Star Nosed Mole tunnels. It adeptly digs and claws through the dirt, aerating as it goes. The Star Nosed Mole is like a farmer and a fisherman. He tills the soil (from below) and harvests the odd bugs. He builds passageways in the dirt with tunnels leading to the water where he can then swim around harvesting even more bugs, larvae, leeches, and small fish. This little guy is a hard worker but knows how to live it up.

To be honest I think Star Nosed Mole look fairly weird but I also find them to be fascinating. I wanted to paint this sweet dude in the prettiest way possible, and in doing so I came to appreciate his appearance and tenacity so much more.

Featured flora and fauna • Club Mushroom, White Campion, Star Nosed Mole, Luna Moth, Ghost Pipe

Posted on June 24, 2021September 25, 2021 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Fly Me to the Moon

10:00 pm • The moon is on the rise. The clear lake captures it's beauty perfectly on the placid waters. A fish jumps here and there but they are beginning to relax. Now it is the loons turn. This bird has been making soft calls throughout the day but now it's time for the real thing. The moon is the spotlight as the loons take the stage. The frogs accompany backing vocals from the coyotes and eventually the wolves. The owl hoots it's appreciation from a distant tree. The lightning bugs flit on and off like lighters at a concert as the whole Northwoods listens in.

I live near a lake – not on it but close enough to enjoy the sounds of water at night. Sitting and taking in the evening sounds is one of my most favorite activities. I really like how the loon call makes the night feel full and thoughts of the day seem so far away. A person can just get lost in their thoughts and float away.

Featured flora and fauna • Lightning Bugs, White Water Lily, Common Loon

Posted on June 23, 2021July 6, 2021 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Dusky Duck

9:00 pm • The sun is setting over the lake too. The dragon and damsel flies are zipping around after mosquitos and the frogs are feasting on water bugs. This male Mallard, aka Greenhead, watches from his spot on the lake shore.

Mallards are very independent birds. The female's hatch the eggs without the help of the male and then she raises them quick, taking them to the water to swim on their first day out of the egg. The ducklings forage for their own food as they learn the ways of Mallard life alongside their mum and after just a couple months they are ready to fly. This Mallard isn't thinking about all that right now though, he is just taking in the dusky evening and keeping an eye on the dragonflies.

Featured flora and fauna • Spotted Touch-me-not, Eastern Tailed Pondhawk, Mallard Duck, Marsh Marigold, Northern Leopard Frog, Cattails

Posted on June 22, 2021July 6, 2021 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Sunset Washes Over

8:00 pm • The sun is beginning to set and the colors are mixing together. It has been a long day for this Grey Wolf. Tired and weary on the inside, this stoic wolf appears strong, confident, and in charge on the outside. But there is hope as evening comes. Maybe the Grey Wolf will find something to sustain himself this evening or in the coming days. Maybe not. Life is difficult sometimes.

This piece is about a lovely soul who passed away from suicide. He was too young, he was too sweet. He reminded me of a wolf. I thought he was strong and I thought his soul was fine but sometimes stoic appearances cover tired weary insides. We found wolf tracks right after we heard the news of his passing. It seemed very clear that I needed to paint a piece for him. Though this piece is about him it helped me work through my own stuff. In working on this piece I came to a clearer understanding that we need to tell others about times when we felt tired and weary. We need to create open conversations so other folks know they can tell us when they are tired and weary. In talking, relating, and really seeing we can offer a path towards healing.

I hope that you are finding comfort with whatever you might be struggling with. We are all struggling with something and taking a moment to connect with the folks around you - to say something kind, listen to their story, appreciate their wisdom, share your story - will make you feel less alone in that.

Featured flora and fauna • Orange Hawkweed, Common Wood Nymph Butterfly, Gray Wolf, Hepatica

Posted on June 21, 2021September 25, 2021 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Lettuce Love

6:00 pm • Wild lettuce is a delicious spicy green that can be harvested from almost any local, uncultivated area. It looks like a tall dandelion but it isn’t. It is sometimes considered a weed, but what is a weed but a misunderstood plant? Humans and wild critters alike are known to munch on wild lettuce, especially the young shoots. You know how conventional lettuce often tastes bland and watery? Well, wild lettuce does not. And unlike garden lettuce it pops up on it’s own and ya don’t have to weed around it!

This bunny knows what's up. And this unmown wild lettuce patch is keeping this dude busy while the lettuce planted in local gardens goes unharmed.

Featured flora and fauna • Wild Lettuce, Red Clover, Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

Posted on June 20, 2021July 6, 2021 by Diamond — Leave a comment

A Colorful Fishing Story

Happy summer solstice to you!✨

___

5:00 pm • The sun is starting to settle in. It has a while till it sets, but the mosquitos are coming out as the epic heat of the afternoon chills out. This raccoon found his dinner early. The sunlight plays on the water making rainbows as the fish start considering fetching some dinner of their own. They will all start jumping soon but this raccoon may not need to stick around to see it.

Featured flora and fauna • Pink Edged Sulphur Butterflies, Raccoon, Marsh Marigold, Cattails

Category: Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods