Featured Artist: Dianna Jacobsen

Anastasia: What is your background?

Dianna: I grew up surrounded by art. Many of my family members are artists. My father has been making a living with his paintings since I was about 5 years old. Oil paint and turpentine are my favorite smells! However, my first love was music. I later discovered graphic design.

I worked as an in-house designer at a software company for several years. I did all kinds of design work from tradeshow signage, print collateral, web design, logos, direct mail programs, training materials and manuals. After the company was bought out by a larger corporation, I stayed on for another two years. Time for a change was well overdue, and I realized that I really enjoy a more energized entrepreneurial atmosphere as opposed to a stayed corporate environment.

I have been working on my own since November of 2003. I really enjoy the flexibility, creativity and the variety. I am now working for all kinds of different clients from high tech start-ups to feng shui consultants. I am still doing a considerable amount of print design, but web design accounts for over half of my work.

I have also taken quite a bit of time this past year to learn digital audio, some video editing and have studied Flash extensively. With Flash I can bring in my musical talents and skills as well.

Anastasia: What is your involvement with the Guild?

Dianna: I joined the Guild about a year ago. So far I have enjoyed a few of the luncheon meetings. I have found them to be inspiring and insightful. I hope to be more involved this year.

Anastasia: Do you have a favorite client story?

Dianna: Recently I collaborated on a Flash website for my fiancé Peter. He is a multimedia artist. His work has included painting, sculpture, drawing, theatre set design, live painting, film making and art glass. I thought it would be really cool to have the site itself be a work of art and convey his process and thinking as opposed to just a simple space to display work. I had him dream up ideas for animations and then followed him around with a digital camera and shot all kinds of things. I then put it all together in Flash. It was a really fun collaboration. The site is http://peterrayart.com