About the Artist

Dianne Munkittrick has been a nature lover since childhood. Her early career was spent outdoors in the natural resource field. She's done everything from radio-tracking deer and elk to cooking and eating rattlesnake.  She's worked on vegetation studies in Maine, Idaho, and Montana. Dianne now paints the things she loves - nature and wildlife.

After working for a number of years as a forester in north Idaho, Dianne took a break from field work to stay home with young children. When the children went to school Dianne also returned to school to get her degree in graphic design. While there she discovered her long lost love of drawing and painting and decided to channel her efforts in that direction.

With her love of wildlife and nature, the choice of subject matter was a foregone conclusion. Dianne drew her inspiration from the countryside of north Idaho where she lived for over 30 years. She now lives with her husband in a rural area of South Carolina and has new and inspiring sources to draw from. "We live on the shore of Lake Marion and have kept most of the shoreline in it's natural state. So we have frequent visits from all kinds of birds, turtles, raccoons and 'possums, and the occasional alligator."

Dianne strives to paint beyond the literal interpretation of nature and tries to instill the awe and wonder that nature inspires into each piece. Her paintings portray wildlife in a way that captures the spirit of the animal while reflecting the essence, color, and changing light of the moment. Her use of fine detail makes her animals come alive. Dianne says, "Every animal has a unique personality. I try to capture that special look and put it on canvas. It is especially important to get the eyes right - they are the soul of the animal. If you get that right everything else falls into place."