Pastel Society of NC

  • Home
  • Our Artists
  • Membership
    • Membership Information
    • Signature Membership
    • About PSNC
    • PSNC History
    • PSNC Resources
    • PSNC Member Portal (login required)
  • Programs
    • 2022 Programs
    • 2021 Programs
    • 2020 Programs
    • 2019 Programs
    • 2018 Programs
    • Meeting Archive
  • Events
    • Exhibitions and Workshops
  • News / Announcements
    • Member News
    • Artist Opportunities
    • Member News Submission
    • Complete News Archive (2008-present)

Diana Coidan

Diana began painting at an early age; in fact, she can’t remember when she wasn’t an artist. A Business College graduate, she retired from dental office administration to pursue her love for art.Essentially self-taught in oil and acrylic for many years, she took a new approach, replacing brushes with palate knives in oils and added watercolor and pastel to her mediums.

Experimenting with soft pastels, she “fell in love” with the medium and became fascinated with creating works capturing the spectacular sky with its beauty of clouds that are ever-changing above us. Her paintings represent an attempt to capture a moment of inspiration and pass it on to the viewer with strikingly photorealistic cloud formations. She has an unconscious attraction to blue; therefore, most of her pieces display the sky and water and are set off by silhouetted foliage in the foreground to give the viewer a sense of vast space. Including figures to suggest a story from the scene is her most recent challenge, and this she feels is equal to creating the ever-shifting, captivating skyscape.

Needless to say, pastels has been the most expressive medium to work in, and she continues to explore new possibilities with them to enhance her art capabilities through workshops with well known instructors. A native of Vandergrift, PA, a small town east of Pittsburgh, she has resided in NC since 1982. With residences in Raleigh and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina’s never-ending coastline and beautiful ever-changing sky provides the artist with her favorite subjects to paint.

Recognized by many well-known jurors in local, regional, and national level exhibitions, Diana has been awarded place and purchase awards for many of her pieces, including a First and Third Place, and a Honorable Mention at the NC State Fair – Professional Arts Category for her pastels. With sixteen solo shows and two solo shows to her credits, she additionally completed two commissioned wall murals along with seminar and brochure illustrations. She was selected for the Best of State and National Artists and Artisans Juried Book Series 2005 by Kennedy Promotions receiving an Honorable Mention for one of her pastels. Diana instructs art each week through the Wake Technical Community College Adult Education Program.

A member of the Sertoma Park Artists Association, Fine Arts League of Cary, Watercolor Society of North Carolina, Pastel Society of North Carolina, Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalitition, Visual Art Exchange, and the Cary Gallery of Artists, Diana’s work can be found at Nicole’sl Studio and Art Gallery, Raleigh, VAE-Exchange Gallery, Raleigh, Mattie King Davis Gallery, Beaufort, Carolina Artists Studio Gallery, Morehead City, and the Cary Gallery of Artists in Cary. She is in various scheduled art exhibits and festivals throughout North Carolina.

News items for Diana Coidan

click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full painting

Diana Coidan

Upcoming Zoom Presentations for 2023

Programs are on the second Saturday of each month, usually from 10am to noon (US Eastern Time).

For details of upcoming programs visit our programs schedule page.

Membership Information

Fill out our online application and join us for an upcoming meeting.

Already a member and have something to share? Fill out our blog item submission form to announce your latest show, class, or a general announcement to the group.

Get PSNC updates delivered to your inbox!

Shows / Workshops

7th Annual PURE COLOR: Online International Juried Exhibition of Pastel Paintings 2023

Online Show Opens September 1st
Pure Color 2023 Virtual Reception: video of winner announcements

Light Up Your Still Life with Pan Pastels - Pastel Mini-Workshop

Join award-winning artist, Laurie Basham, in a 3-hour mini-workshop on Saturday, September 9th (1-4pm) where she will share her floral painting process. $50
See more details and sign up on Eventbrite

View all upcoming shows.

Recent News / Announcements

If you are a current PSNC member and want to share your news, fill out the form here.

In Memoriam: Betty Hendrix

“Tiny Summer Sunsets” Paint-Along with Rita Kirkman on Zoom

Member Spotlight, Janet Burgess

“Layering the Light” Pastel Workshop, with Rita Kirkman

Member Spotlight, Betty Hendrix

Member News, Jeri Greenberg

Eat and Art Workshops with Emily Thompson

Member News, Patricia Savage: 30 Year Retrospective

PASTELS-OPEN STUDIO Explore and Expand your Pastel Horizons

© 2023 Pastel Society of North Carolina | 909 Fairgreen Road Greensboro, NC 27410