About Diana Crow
Greetings Dear Hearts,
I'm delighted to share Smiley Tickles™ with you. My artistic expression,
Cozy Treehouse Creations, emerged during a life transition. I didn't always
paint, write, tell stories, or MiME. Raising my two sons as a stay-at-home
mother was a labor of love. Once upon a time I also expressed my gifts and talents as:
a kindergarten and first grade teacher, interior designer, PTO president, group facilitator, and home cleaning and organizing professional.
Learning to oil paint as a newlywed living in Japan I experienced
how art transcends language barriers. My teacher, Mr. Ono, spoke
Japanese. I didn't. Painting was relaxing, but regretfully when
life got busy I didn't "make time" to paint. For many years my
artistic passion incubated deep in my heart.
In 1996 I took face paints to Russia so I could get close to the people at summer camps since I didn't speak
their language. My first attempts at face painting were awkward, yet bright eyes and big smiles showed me how I tickled
their hearts!
Many clients, precious children and playful adults, continually brighten my life. Face painting brings wondrous surprises. One day when I was
feeling sad and blue, I was surprised to see — a hearty rainbow of love dance from my paintbrush! (Read About Smiley Tickles™)
Now I eagerly follow Smiley Tickles™into the universe of imagination as I create
Rainbow Tales and other books and cards that bring my whimsical critters "alive" to entertain youngsters with stories that open their hearts to "Care, Share,
and Play Fair" and to "Be Healthy, Eat A Rainbow."
Storytelling is a talent I inherited from my father. He continually conjured fascinating stories about his life experiences and told
them to anyone he met. No one was a stranger to my dad. Sharing his legacy enriches not only my life, but many others.
During my nine years of face painting children every Saturday at the Boulder County Farmers' Market I recalled how once upon a time I loved to oil paint so in 2001 I travelled to Taos, NM to learn how to paint outside, or "en plein air" from artist Don Ward.
I enjoyed painting the poppies that bloom in May in the foothills behind Chautauqua, capturing the beauty of the rose garden at the Dushanbe Teahouse and painting the splendor of the Rocky Mountains.
But in 2006 after living twenty years in Colorado I moved to central Florida to spend more quality time with my mother who was having the time of her life in The Villages; it's a community of 60,000+ very active young-at-heart seniors.
Now I enjoy introducing children on the east coast to Smiley Tickles.™. At Schools and libraries I teach them to "Be Healthy! Eat A Rainbow!"
I miss all the young cherubs that I met over the years at the market, but now I "make time" to oil paint and I'm deeply inspired by the natural beauty of Florida and favorite scenes from my travels. Click the green box FINE ART
at the top of this page to see a Portfolio of my oil paintings. I surely believe that it's never too late to pick up a paintbrush and that everyone has some form of artistic talent waiting to be awakened!
I hope this story of my artistic emergence encourages YOU to tap into your
expressive potential. When you "make time" to follow your heart, a hearty
rainbow of love can surprise you, too!
Let's be friends!
Diana Crow
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