REDLANDS, Calif. – The beautiful works of art lining the walls of Redlands Community Hospital inspired 29-year Redlands resident Diana McLaughlin to learn more about how they were acquired, which resulted in her joining RCH Foundation’s art program committee. This year, McLaughlin will participate as one of the featured artists showcasing their works at the annual Evening with the Artists, hosted by the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation on Friday, April 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The former elementary school teacher started painting in 2000 after her husband bought her an easel, paint and lessons as a birthday present. The lessons were with neighbor and family friend, Lucille von Wolffersdorf, and having her as a guide during McLaughlin’s early stages of painting helped to foster her talent and pushed her to continue creating pieces long after the lessons were complete. Since then, McLaughlin has taken art classes at the Art Center in Pasadena and the University of California, Riverside, as well as several other workshops all over California.

Diana's art includes landscapes, still life’s and figurative paintings. She takes inspiration from her travels, her home and daily life in Redlands.

"Oil painting is such a fun and incredibly difficult medium,” explains McLaughlin. “It is an extension of myself, which can make it hard to share my pieces with others. Almost every painting is my ‘baby’ that I have a hard time giving up. That's what makes participating in the Evening with the Artists such an exciting and daunting prospect.”

Diana is currently on the Board of Directors of the Redlands Art Association and very active in other community activities. She is a member of the local artists' group, Critical Eye Studio. She has been juried in to several local art competitions and was awarded 1st place in the RAA Multimedia Mini Show. She is part of both private and public collections.

McLaughlin joins local artists Bill Hudson, Charlie Ciali, Lisa McDill, and r. mike nichols at the annual “Evening with the Artists” event. McLaughlin’s artwork will be available for purchase at the Stan and Ellen Weisser Education Pavilion from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24. Proceeds will benefit the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation’s art fund. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served during the evening’s elegant event. Tickets are $20.

“I look forward to exhibiting and selling my paintings for such a good cause,” says McLaughlin. “As Picasso said, ‘The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life from our souls’ and that is exemplified in RCH's fine art collection. It was an honor to be chosen to participate."

The Foundation’s art program began in 1978 and today, the hospital exhibits a collection of more than 800 works of original art and historic photographs in the Redlands Community Hospital Art collection.

For more information on the “Evening with the Artists” event or to RSVP, please call (909) 335-5500. To see a sample of McLaughlin’s artwork, please visit www.dianamclaughlinfineart.com.

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Redlands Community Hospital Foundation supports Redlands Community Hospital, which is an independent not-for-profit, stand-alone hospital.