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 Artist
Statement

 

I have always admired artists such as Henri Matisse and/or Chuck Close who used their advantages as a positive. 

 

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Acrylic painting

Sized: 16 x 20 inches on stretched canvas

Completed 2022


at the
Edge Coffee Shop
in MAY of 2025

1366 Main Street, Crete, IL 60417

During the month of May in 2025

art by Diane McGarel was for sale at the Edge Coffee Shop in Crete, IL  

Click  HERE to see the art that was shown

three art pieces were sold

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Current Art Works

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Me in 2023 for cover .jpg

Love creating!!

Arts helps me explore and interprete the world around me.

 

As an artist, my objective is not to reproduce exactly what is but to produce what can be.

Diane McGarel, Artist

Bio
      &
     Resume

Awards:

2014 Honorable Mention    Explosive Impressions Juried Exhibition

2013 Second Place                All About Color, Juried Exhibiton  

2009 Honorable Mention    Governors State University Students’ Exhibition

2007 Honorable Mention    Illiana Artists’ 11th Juried Regional Exhibition 

 

Instructor

2024   Meditate to Create, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL 

2023   Art that Heals Workshops, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

2023  Creating Art that Heals Workshop, Crete UMC, Crete, IL

2023   Creating Art that Heals Workshop/ Book Signing, Trinity Church, Monee, IL 
2018   Return to the Edge, Solo Exhibition, Edge Coffee Shop, Crete, IL
2016  Coloring to Hear, Two Hour Workshop. Crete United Methodist Church, Crete, IL
2016  Coloring Class, Two week course, Flossmoor Public Library, IL
2015  Mixed Media Techniques, Six week course, Flossmoor Library, IL
2015  Mixed Media, Two week course, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL  

Selected Art Shows and Exhibitions:

2025  At the Edge Coffee Shop, 1366 Main Street, Crete, IL 60466

2025  Group USG Artists Guild Show, Crete, IL 60417

2024  Annual Studio and Guild Art Show, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

2023   The Edge Coffee Shop, Crete, IL 60411

2023   Virtuosity in Unity, Guild & Studio Artists, Union Street Gallery, IL 60411

2022   6th Annual Showcase, Crete Creative Gallery, IL 60417

2022   TA-DA. Tall Grass Arts Gallery, Park Forest, IL 60466

2022   Parallel Visions, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL 60411

2021   Reunion Show. Tall Grass Gallery. Park Forest, IL 60466

2021   Union Street Gallery's Artists Invitational, Chciago Hts. IL

2021   Edge Coffee Shop, Crete, IL

2021  4th Annual Regional Show. Crete Creative Gallery, Crete, IL

2019  The Sky the Limit, Tall Grass Gallery, Park Forest, IL

                Juror:  Richard Schmidt, Claudia Craemer, Deborah Craemer.

2019  Reginal Artists Exhibition, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL

2018  Returning to the Edge, Solo Exhibition, The Edge Coffee Shop, Crete, IL.,

           Sold 3 Pieces
2016  At the Edge. Solo Exhibition, The Edge Coffee Shop, Crete, IL.,

                                   Sold 33 Pieces
2014  Explosive Impressions. Tall Grass Arts Gallery, IL
                     Entree entitled: Just Because awarded Honorable Mention
2014  Connections, Pop-Up Gallery, Main Street, Park Forest, IL
2014   Union Street Show. White Ripple Gallery, Hammond, IN
2013   All About Color. Arterie Fine Arts. Naperville, IL
           Entree Earthbound award second place

                         

-   view the art shows by clicking the underlined text  -

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Seu

título.

Diane J. McGarel

Age: 63

Never smoked

Baby blue Eyes

shoulder length sandy brown hair.

Scroll down
to hear my story:

Upon first hearing the news, ‘you have cancer,’ by my new oncologist in the office, of late January of 2026, I am very thankful both my boyfriend Rick as well as my mom were right there by my side. It’s not news anyone wishes to face alone. 

It is NOT news you or anyone else wishes to hear at all.



I am not sure what I am feeling- then or now- 
shock? 
Anger? 
Or just numbness? 

A part of me, felt disconnected, in disbelief, thinking, “this cannot be happening?” When it first began, even to till day.
 


I never smoked, except in my late twenties, back in the bar days. Although, as weird and fake as this sounds, I never truly inhaled. 

My dad, Alex was in AA, quit drinking when I was about eight years old. Admired, when he did quite there was no in-between time, back and forth. He put down the drink, joined AA, and that was it. 

Dad smoked though. Died at fifty-two, of lung cancer.

 



 

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