Diane Castle Babcock

Diane Castle Babcock has created linoleum block prints for more than thirty years. In her work, she combines her love of the outdoors and love of her craft to create beautiful impressionistic landscapes. Her images are based on her experiences in parks and trails near her home in Boonville, New York, and images of the finger lakes of New York State.

“I choose to work from nature because I walk daily with my dogs, Sunny and Ginger, and my friends; I find that this is often the most enjoyable part of my day. While being outdoors I have come to experience peace with myself and harmony with creation. I am also interested in observing the affect of light, wind, temperature and humidity on a particular place and how these elements change its appearance from day to day. My goal is to create work that is constantly moving, changing, and growing just as nature evolves. I invite the viewer to come into the landscape and be part of the experience.

Babcock begins each print with a drawing from nature. In this drawing she plans composition, and colors. The drawing is transferred onto battleship linoleum. Using a variety of v-shaped gouges, she carves into the linoleum to create the image. She then inks the raised or uncut area of the block and hand presses it onto Japanese rice paper. Each color is carved and printed separately. Using a variety of cutting and printing techniques, she creates nuances of texture, light and depth that make her work so intriguing.

“I don’t have to go to exotic locations to find inspiration. There is beauty all around us. My role is that of interpreter, to help people see the world around them with new eyes.

Diane is a native of Spencerport, New York. She studied printmaking at Nazareth College where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art and as well as certification in Art education. She received her Masters Degree from Binghamton University and her teaching certification from Nazareth College.

In the past, she has owned her own picture framing business and worked in galleries and museums, including the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. She exhibits her work in galleries in Ohio, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. She has received awards at many outdoor festivals, such as the Cornhill Arts Festival and the Clothesline Festival. Diane worked as a visiting artist affiliated with Young Audiences of Rochester and currently teaches Art at Adirondack High School in Boonville, NY. She exhibits her work at outdoor are festivals during the summer months.

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