Energy in Motion, painting by Diane Leon. See more of her work in the Online Gallery.

	"After Siesta", acrylic on canvas. Diane says, "Well, the treat to us for working so hard is our five weeks in Spain each year. "

Here is how I have managed to get it all in and still maintain my sanity. I am a native New Yorker. I grew up in a tenement building on Third Avenue. The old El train was outside of my window. I roller skated to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and was always creating art. I realized that art would always be a part of my life when I was a teenager. At the age of 18 I decided not to go to college and wanted to move out and be on my own. In 1964 I enrolled into a secretarial school to get some skills and began working in the music industry, full time.

It was the Cultural Revolution and I found myself working on visas for the Beatles and Rolling Stones to come into the US. From there I worked at various entertainment agencies with all the famous rock ‘n’ roll stars of the time. It was fun, I made a decent living and painted on weekends. I worked with the rock ‘n’ roll groups and the informal atmosphere made it tolerable. I painted in my studio apartment and had my first group exhibition in 1969.

In 1974 I enrolled at the Art Student’s League and began a four-year program drawing from the figure and painting. In 1978 I met a fellow artist at the school, John Ferdico and we married in 1979. In 1983 I decided to work part-time and teach art to children. In 1985-86 I worked as a studio assistant at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Young Peoples Program and then in 1985 I began to work as a part-time instructor at the Children’s Aid Society. I did that work for the next eight years. During that period my painting style evolved into abstract work, I exhibited and was thrilled. I also used that time to return to school for my BA in art history and continue for an MA in liberal studies so I could teach. By the time 1993 rolled around I realized, once again, I needed to work full time.

	"Mediterranean Passion" acrylic on canvas Diane's abstract works are a result of the three decades of internalizing the Iberian Peninsula. The canvases represent memory, imagination, personal experience, and cultural traditions.

I made the decision to work as an administrator at New York University. I also teach at NYU as an adjunct assistant professor of arts. My life is busy, but very full. I love teaching and, of course, I work on my paintings at least two nights a week after work (9-5) and then devote Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays to my work. In between, we share the usual house chores, cooking, shopping. Both, John and I maintain full time jobs, paint, exhibit and sell our work. It is not easy, but these are the choices I have made. I am also the person who shoots the slides, labels, sends out letters, etc. I am very organized so doing all this stuff is second nature.

Could I have made other choices in my life? Do we both have to hold full time jobs? Well, the treat to us for working so hard is our five weeks in Spain each year. If it were not for Spain we might be able to work part-time and have more time to paint, but Spain is worth every subway ride back and forth to Queens. Spain has been a part of my life since 1970 when I bought an apartment with money from an art exhibition. I paid it off in five years (the full time job helped that) and since then it has been my "place in the sun" to get away from everything.

I could have probably made a lot more money in the job market had it not been for Spain, but once again the choices. Should I earn more money and have a 2-week vacation or go to Spain for five weeks each year and take the jobs that would permit the time off. Definitely, Spain has been worth it. Spain’s influence is in all my abstract work. For 32 years I have made art and Spain a priority. The balance comes from realizing nothing for nothing.

Everything in life is a choice: Which is more important — a home or car or Spain and art? I couldn’t have both. The sacrifice is living in too small a space for two painters, but we manage. The entire apartment is a studio and we never entertain. If and when we see other people, we invite them to a restaurant in Greenwich Village where I teach at NYU. The only other socializing is at gallery openings and via email to clients, and other professional contacts. Our time is too precious and we want to spend it in the studio. More space to paint would also be nice, but I’m patient.

In Spain we rent a car, visit other cities, and carry small light supplies since we have everything in our apartment in Alicante, Spain. Once we settle back into our Mediterranean life, we spend leisurely days on the beach, do some small works on paper, cook delicious meals and enjoy the contrast of our life in New York all year. No telephone, fax, computer. It is truly a respite from what we do all year. It’s also a meditative period in which I reflect upon my life.

Once you know how important the creative process is to you, then the rest will work out in a way that supports your art. However, you must be true to yourself and realize there is a price to pay for whatever lifestyle you choose. Make things work for you and keep positive. Don’t listen to all the negative criticism people love to give. People thought I was crazy when I bought the place in Spain. People couldn’t understand why I went back to school at 40 years old, and not take a degree in which I could earn a lot of money. People can’t understand how we can live with all that "art stuff" around, why not buy a house and live away from New York. Each person is different and has different needs. For some people getting more space outside of New York is just what they need; they grow and flourish. For us, New York is in our blood — we grew up here. I was born in Manhattan and John, the Bronx. Our time out is spent in museums, galleries and jazz clubs. I don’t want the suburbs or another city. I like it the way it is right now…New York and Spain.

My advice is know thyself and work out some way that makes life meaningful to you. You come first, your art and what you want. If you work hard, you deserve to get what you want. If you don’t work hard at your art or life style, then you must decide what to do. The worst thing is not to make any decision at all. Staying miserable is no way to live. Your art suffers, and then it makes you feel terrible. We all have dreams, but the trick is to make the important ones come true. There is no easy way out… except for all of us winning a lottery! But, I don’t count on that. Instead I try to give 100% everyday to making my life with John a good one. Creating our paintings, good food, wine, jazz and then Spain. I guess we have won the lottery after all.


See more of Diane Leon's work in our Online Gallery.

Contact Diane Leon DL4@nyu.edu

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