Giclee – Dyana Hesson

Arizona Bonfire – Aloe and Amethyst 20×13

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 19:01:36 +0000

When I attended college and Southern California, a popular thing to do was to head to the beach in the evenings and build a bonfire. Our faces were radiant with the amber light as the cool night air swirled around us. The bonfire was entertainment, a reason to gather, and a chance to share stories, ideas, and dreams.

This blooming aloe glowing with light along the path at the Desert Botanical Garden reminded me of those days. Its radiance did not warm my face, but it did capture my attention as I marveled at its intricate design and dazzling hues. I thought about that young Dyana sitting by the fire wondering what she would do with her life. Had I dreamed about becoming a painter in Arizona? For me, reality exceeded my dream, and a spark became a bonfire.

Allow three weeks from order date.

In the interest of good customer service, if you are local in Arizona and would like to save on shipping costs, please write a note for us when you order. You can arrange to pick up your work at Altamira Gallery in Scottsdale, and I’ll refund your shipping costs.

This Limited Edition print comes ready to hang and is hand signed and numbered by the artist. The piece is suitable for framing, but is not necessary. Do you have questions about this item? Please contact info@DyanaHesson.com

Edition of 50

Giclee on Canvas

Chin Up Bee Happy – Saguaro and Sky 38×38

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 20:33:31 +0000

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Boyce Thompson’s Legacy – Agave 40×28

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 18:35:43 +0000

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a treasure to all who love nature. Founded in 1924 by William Boyce Thompson, near Superior, Arizona, it is 300 acres of botanical bliss. Because so many of the plants were established many years ago and cared for so well, you can find huge specimens that delight the soul. This painting is a portrait of one of the many agaves that are growing on the grounds. It is so large that it demands to be seen. I couldn’t help but paint it large with our famous Arizona Blue sky in the background. Boyce Thompson has been gone many years now, but his legacy grows on.

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The Anniversary Gift – Yellow Hibiscus on the Road to Hilo 20×30

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 20:46:55 +0000

On a recent visit to the Big Island, we left the arid, leeward coast and wound our way into the thick tropical area of Onomea Bay. On the way back we took the road to Hilo, and then ascended to the top of the island to see the volcano, Mauna Kea. The last part of our day brought us through the uplands of Waimea, and then back to Kona. bout midway through the day, we stopped at a snack shack in a tropical area. here was time to sit, talk, and have a smoothie. ll of the smoothie ingredients were growing near the shack: pineapples, bananas, all right there. This sunny yellow hibiscus was growing in the garden in front of the shack, as if to greet visitors.

The trip was diverse, to say the least. The Big Island, Hawaii, is only 93 miles long. Yet within this island, in one day, we went from very hot temperatures and dry conditions (sea level) to a humid tropical zone, and then near 13,000 feet. We experienced rain, had to wear our jackets, take off our jackets, and put on sunscreen. We were in the middle of the jungle at one moment and then in a large city shopping the next.

When we began our day in Hawaii, my husband and I knew we would have a lot of ground to cover, and that the conditions would be diverse. We prepared, packed a jacket, some snacks, made a plan, but remained flexible. The point here is that we took the journey together, the experience was worthwhile, and along the way there was beauty worth stopping to see.

To me, a journey like this is a lot like a marriage. To say that marriage is hard work is an understatement. “And the two shall become one” is a simple statement with far-reaching implications. There are good years and difficult years, for that matter, there are good days and difficult days, and sometimes it’s even a moment-by-moment thing. During the journey it will be important to take time to sit, talk and maybe have a smoothie.

This painting is dedicated to a very special couple who recently celebrated a wedding anniversary. They have built a life and a family, and seek God’s guidance daily. They have covered a lot of ground, and the conditions have been diverse at times. But like us, they have decided that the “long road to Hilo” is a worthwhile trip.

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Edition of 100

Giclee on Canvas

Pili-Lani – Close to Heaven (Hibiscus at Kona Village) 20×30

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 20:35:47 +0000

The Kona Village Resort is situated where an ancient Hawaiian fishing village and salt farm once stood. At one time, between 10,000 and 12,000 Hawaiian people called this village their home. Evidence of their lives can still be seen in the ancient petroglyph field on the resort property. After a lava flow in 1801, many of the residents moved north. A tidal wave in 1939 also changed the landscape. In 1961, Johnno and Helen Jackson arrived in their well-traveled schooner “The New Moon.” They began to build a true Polynesian resort, the “Kona Village.” The area was so remote that an air strip had to be built to bring in supplies, workers, and for the first few years, guests. Their schooner, which sank in the bay in 1967, still serves as the poolside bar.

On my parents’ first trip to Hawaii in the 70’s they spent their last three nights at the Kona Village before returning home. They instantly fell in love with the resort and have returned again and again.

When I was 14, it was my turn to visit the Kona Village, but like my parents’ first trip, they would save the best for last. My parents planned a trip that would introduce me to all the important historical and geographical parts of Hawaii. Our first stop was Honolulu, Oahu, to explore Pearl Harbor, the Punch Bowl and the Polynesian Cultural Center. We then flew to Kauai, which boasts the wettest place on earth. We took the little boat up to the fern grotto where a group of natives sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song to us.

Our last stop was the leeward side of the Big Island. As we drove down the long narrow road through the lava fields, I just couldn’t believe there would be anything tropical here. And then I saw heaven. Rivers of black lava had flowed all the way to the ocean, but the volcano has spared the ponds and lush vegetation had grown around them. We stayed in a grass hut called a hale (pronounced ha-lay) beside a natural alkaline royal pond. There were no phones or TVs just peace and quiet. It was here that I experienced my first luau, complete with pig in the ground, fire dancers—the whole shebang. In the evening, you could stand on the rocks over the water and manta rays would come up to the surface. I understood now why my folks loved this place so much. It was truly heavenly.

In 2003 my parents took our whole family back to the Kona Village for their 50^th wedding anniversary. The only thing that makes this magical resort more special is the time you spend with loved ones while you are here. We all went to the luau again, and swam, and ate dinner together, and my brothers and I even had an up-close-and-personal experience in our kayaks with a very friendly humpback whale. But that is a story for another time. On our recent trip, we were not able to stay at the resort, but they kindly let us in to replace our very tattered 2003 T-shirts in the gift shop. As we were walking down the path near the pool, I spotted this hibiscus, glistening in the tropical sun. For me, this special place is as close to heaven as you can get, a place to dream about returning to, again and again.

*Sadly, after 45 years of welcoming guests, the resort closed its doors due to the significant structural and property damage sustained from the March 11, 2011 earthquake-generated tsunami.

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Edition of 100

Giclee on Canvas

Arizona Sunset – Two Cactus Blooms 38×30

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 20:04:32 +0000

The iconic Arizona sunset–I sigh just thinking about it. Our sunsets here in Arizona are unrivaled, especially during monsoon season. The clear colors of the day transform into orange, purple, and pink as the sun sets behind deep blue mountains. The contrasts are wonderful, and I especially like the deep tones in the sky when the last light surrenders to darkness. They are colors that are hard to describe. The Arizona sunset inspired this painting of desert cactus blooms. I painted the bright colors of the cactus as if it were a blazing sun in a darkening sky sinking into the earth. Truly, our sunsets can take your breath away, if you stop to watch. The day melts away, and I find my shoulders drop a bit as I consider the care my Creator took in providing such a beautiful sight. I pray this painting provides you with a sigh of delight as well.

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Arizona Hotshots – Cactus Blooms 32×40

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 19:52:53 +0000

I had a different title for this piece until the very moment I was photographing it to post to my website. This painting is named in honor of the nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot team of Prescott, Arizona, who lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Fire on June 30, 2013. These brave men performed their work admirably, but were also outstanding young men in their communities and families. As you know, I believe an equal amount of beauty is required for the misery we experience in our lives. God provided for that need with sunsets, cactus blooms, and the smile of a child. When you gaze at this painting, I hope you are reminded of the beauty of Arizona’s deserts and forests and the courage that rests in the hearts of its people.

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Night Song – Cactus Bloom 30×30

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 19:47:39 +0000

One morning in early June, 2014, I opened my email to find a wonderful surprise. My dear friend had forwarded a photograph of a blooming “torch cactus” that her mother in law, Iris, had sent to her. Iris had explained in her email that she was delighted that the flower had bloomed and that she wished it lasted for more than a day. I know all too well that feeling. I have had the privilege of painting many amazing cactus blooms over the years, and the challenge is always to photograph them on the day they bloom before they wither in the heat.

I believe the photograph Iris took was just a quick snap shot, but it captivated me. I wrote back to my friend right away, “Wow, looks like a painting!” Secretly, I wanted to paint it. I rarely paint from another person’s photograph. The experience of seeing the bloom with my own eyes and feeling the moment for myself is missing. However, Iris had captivated me with her photograph and her enthusiasm for the wonderful moment when her plant had bloomed.

It was a delight to work on this special painting. Taking what Iris had seen and interpreting it though my eyes and the medium of oil and canvas, I created the painting “Night Song.” My prayer is that that Iris and her family will enjoy this painting for years to come. What started with a gardeners’ delight inspired a timeless piece of art.

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Rooted and Established in Love – Prickly Pear Cactus Blooms and Buds 38×26

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 19:43:07 +0000

Life in the desert is a special thing. Water is scarce, the elements can be harsh. But when plants take root, and the conditions are favorable, beautiful things happen. Such was the case for this blooming prickly pear one spring.

The Apostle Paul prayed this for his friends, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

May you bloom where you are planted.

Allow three weeks from order date.

This Limited Edition print comes ready to hang and is hand signed and numbered by the artist. The piece is suitable for framing but is not necessary. Do you have questions about this item? Please contact info@DyanaHesson.com

Arizona Candelabra – Aloe and Azurite 20×15

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 19:35:06 +0000

Arizona Candelabra, Aloe and Azurite
20 x 15
Edition of 50

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a treasure to all who love nature. Founded in 1924 by William Boyce Thompson near Superior, Arizona, it is three hundred acres of botanical bliss. Because the collection was established over half a century ago and cared for so well, you can find huge botanical specimens that delight the soul. As you have probably guessed, I go there often to find inspiration. It isn’t crowded, and has wonderful hiking trails. One of the most common plants you will find here is the aloe plant. It comes in many varieties and sizes. This painting was inspired by the bloom of an aloe plant that I came across on a spring trip with a friend to the Arboretum. The overall shape of this bloom impressed me. The more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of a candelabra, or, if turned upside-down, a chandelier. If I had a glass-blowing, metal-welding friend, I would commission such a piece for my dining room! The color in the background was inspired by a nice piece of azurite I found in a creek nearby. The whole Superior area is loaded with amazing gems and has several large mines. For me, a basket full of beautiful rocks that were found in beautiful places can hold more meaning than the “rocks” you can buy at a jewelry store.

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Arizona Wink – Cactus Bloom 15×20

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 19:31:43 +0000

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Arizona Lipstick – Cactus Bloom 20×15

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 19:20:03 +0000

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Great and Small – Agave and Vine, Fossil Creek 27×40

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:40:25 +0000

Late one spring, some wonderful ladies and I had the opportunity to hike to Fossil Creek, just outside of Strawberry, Arizona. A steep path leads from the top of the rim four miles or so to the creek bed. If you did not know the area, you might pause here, stare at the dry creek bed, and say “what’s the big deal?” Follow the creek bed for another mile or so and you will see why this area has been charming visitors for years. Suddenly the dry scrub of the region gives way to towering sycamores, lush grass, and the sound of running water. We in Arizona hold such a sound sacred as water is scarce and always cherished. Here, under the roots of a huge old tree is where you will discover a spring gushing twenty thousand gallons a minute at a constant seventy-two degrees. Turn the corner, and it gets better; a deep turquoise pool awaits you where you can rid yourself of your hiking clothes, and your cares, and swim the afternoon away. In the summer, this site can be full of hearty hikers and backpackers, but on this trip . . . we had it all to ourselves. Cool and refreshed, we hiked out of the canyon in the late afternoon. As we ascended, we enjoyed the diverse plant life of the region. There were many wildflowers blooming that even the most botanically experienced in our group had not seen before. At the top of the trail, we found an enormous agave that had sent up its stalk to flower. Winding in and through the rigid leaves were tender vines. It was stunning. The juxtaposition was irresistible to me. It reminded me of how truly our region is so full of contrasts. Dry creek beds and gushing springs, drenching monsoon showers on the hottest day, even the colors of the Grand Canyon are perfect contrasts to each other. Grateful for the day and the company of such wonderful friends, I photographed the great agave, and let it linger in my mind until it was time to paint it. Life is full of blessings, both great and small.

Allow three weeks from order date.

Edition of 50

Giclee on Canvas