Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Crespo.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Diane. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have been a hairstylist for 33 years. After high school I looked into Art School which is what I wanted most-to be a full time artist. However, 4 years of schooling was not appealing to me then so I changed paths and went to hairdressing school. Hairdressing offered a creative side which is what I craved as well as a social side which appealed to my ‘gift to gab’! I started my own business renting a hairdressing booth after three years working for someone, and to this day I still have many of the same clients. The desire to create drawings and paintings never left. Growing up in school-all through high school I took as many art classes as I could. I desperately wanted to get back into creating art.
When my two sons were about 9 and 12 years old I started college to get my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. It was grueling, I was taking classes, working as a hairstylist, taking care of my kids and a house. About two years before I graduated, I moved my hair salon above my garage, and I started teaching art classes from the same space.
This was the third place my hair clients had followed me too, and they got to hear all about my experiences from art school! In 2011 I graduated with my BFA-it took 7 years. I also got divorced in the same year. I had to find a place to live, and a place to run my business-a hair salon and an art studio. in January of 2012, I opened up ‘MacPherson Art Studio & Hair Salon in Auburn, New Hampshire. It was the perfect place to do hair, teach art classes, and I even had a room for my own painting.
I got remarried in 2016, and in September of 2017 I opened up my own art gallery, ‘Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery’ in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I still do hair a few days a week, I paint, sell my art and teach art classes.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As an artist, you have to build up quite a backbone. In Art School, critiques of your work are a huge part, and not always done tactfully. It is easy to throw in the towel and say to yourself, “my work sucks, what am I even doing here?” There is rejection when trying to get into juried shows. A lot of rejections. But through all of that, I persevered. For some reason it made me want to do what I believe in even more. I know art is subjective, but it is in my blood, something that I need to do-to create. There will always be someone that doesn’t like my paintings. But it is so worth it when I sell a painting to someone that makes them so happy that they send me a picture of it on their wall.
Please tell us about Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery.
Opening up my Art Gallery is a huge and exciting step! There is always competition in the art field, however, since my gallery is comprised of my own paintings, and I am there working and painting, people who come in can ask me about the paintings-where the scenes are from, my process…….I also offer hand painted glassware, hand painted slate, and other artsy gifts all of which I create. Having my own gallery also allows me to offer my paintings for sale at a lower cost since I bypass paying commission to a gallery owned by someone else.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One memory from my childhood that stands out, I was about seven, and sick in bed with a virus. My father came home from work and brought me a giant coloring book and a ton of crayons! I remember feeling like that was the best present ever!!
Contact Info:
- Address: 94 Pleasant St. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Website: www.dianecrespofineart.com
- Email: dianecrespofineart1@gmail.com
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