Here’s a Q & A with Diana Kosczor-Pfeufer

Pourquoi créez-vous de l'art ?
I enjoy playing with lines and colors. I love drawing black lines on white paper and filling them with my favorite hues. Looking at the finished work and seeing how the colors interact always brings me joy.

Depuis combien de temps peignez-vous ?
I’ve enjoyed drawing since childhood. At age 14, I received my first watercolor set—a key moment for me. During my architecture studies, I learned to sketch on location and enhance my drawings with watercolor. Since 2014, I’ve been part of the Urban Sketching community. Today, my main passion lies in nature sketching and painting animal portraits.

Avez-vous suivi une formation artistique formelle ?
I am mostly a self-taught artist and have developed my skills through practice and personal exploration.

Êtes-vous un artiste professionnel ou un amateur ?
I paint mainly as a hobby—art is my passion and what I do for enjoyment. However, I also teach online courses in sketching, so there is a professional side to my art practice.

Qui ou quoi vous inspire ?
I find inspiration in nature and in encounters with animals, which often move me to capture their character in watercolor. I enjoy expressing the world through my own perspective—shaped by mood and emotion—and aim to reflect both the atmosphere of a place and the personality of the animals I paint. I also love documenting my travel experiences through sketching and painting.

Quel genre de musique écoutez-vous en peignant ?
Lounge music.

Avez-vous eu un mentor ?
I haven’t had a personal mentor, but I’ve learned a lot from books, online resources, and other artists.

Vous peignez tous les jours ?
I try to draw or paint daily. Sometimes I only manage a quick sketch; other times, I return to an unfinished piece and add color. It’s not always a full painting session, but I make sure to stay connected to my practice.

Peignez-vous une pièce à la fois ou travaillez-vous sur plusieurs simultanément ?
I often work on several pieces at the same time. Sometimes I create a sketch and return to add color much later.

Créez-vous d'abord une esquisse conceptuelle ?
No, I usually start directly with a sketch on location or from an idea. I work intuitively and let the piece develop as I go.

Do you prefer painting in the studio or en plein air?
I enjoy both, but I especially love painting en plein air. Being outside in nature or the city gives me direct inspiration and helps me capture the atmosphere of a place. However, since I don’t always have the opportunity to sketch outdoors, I often work from reference photos. For animal portraits especially, I prefer to develop them calmly and in detail in my studio using photos as a guide.

Combien de couleurs principales utilisez-vous ?
I love colors—which is why I own many! I don’t limit myself to basic colors; for example, I often hold several shades of green watercolor sticks in my hand and mix them directly on the paper.

Tubes, casseroles ou bâtonnets ?
I have pans and use them occasionally, but I mainly work with watercolor sticks.

Utilisez-vous du liquide de masquage ?
I use masking fluid only occasionally and rather rarely. Since I often apply color selectively and in a more restrained way, many areas of the paper remain naturally white.

À quel moment sait-on qu'une œuvre est terminée ?
I know a piece is finished when everything feels balanced—when the composition, colors, and details come together harmoniously. Often, it’s also a feeling I get when I step back and see that the artwork expresses what I intended. I try to use color sparingly and avoid overworking the painting, which is why I often stop earlier—even when I’m still enjoying the process.

Rejoignez-nous en ligne chaque semaine via Zoom ou Facebook pour un Conversation intime avec John Cogley (Daniel Smith, propriétaire et PDG) ainsi que des artistes invités du monde entier. Le jeudi (14 h, heure du Pacifique), John et certains de nos Ambassadeurs de marque Mettez en valeur un groupe de couleurs et répondez à vos questions. Le vendredi (10h30, heure du Pacifique), un artiste invité propose une démonstration et partage ses astuces et techniques préférées. Cliquez ici pour accéder aux liens Zoom de la semaine prochaine..

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