Our Creatively Mindful Artist, Diane Pearl, owns and manages a very successful gallery and gift shop in the town of Ajijic in southwestern Mexico. Ajijic is known for its large colony of expatriate artists and English-speaking writers. Her shop, Diane Pearl Colecciones, features the work of many of Mexico’s finest artists and craftsmen, and has been voted the area’s People’s Choice, Best Gallery & Gift Shop for two years in a row.

While Diane has proven to be an outstanding businesswoman, her first love is art itself. Her drawings and paintings reveal a natural affinity for color, texture, movement and composition.

Eighteen months ago, Diane began a daily ritual to stimulate creativity and enter a relaxed and stress-free mental state. She set aside 40 minutes in the morning and 40 minutes at night. The result is over 500 beautiful drawings inspired by nature and her own creative inclinations.

Recently, as the astonishing benefits of coloring for all ages began surfacing, Diane realized that others could also enjoy her drawings by bringing them to life through the addition of color. So she selected 64 of her drawings to reproduce on two types of heavy, high-quality paper: one that is suitable for colored pencils or crayons, and another designed for watercolors.

She offers coloring workshops at the local level, and retails sets of her drawings in plastic sleeves and also in rigid, reusable boxes with or without colored pencils.

“My life’s dream is to create art that makes a deep connection with our inner selves. The opportunity to share that dream with others is now laid out in black and white,” says Diane. “I invite others to join me in experiencing the fulfillment of the creative process. So, let’s collaborate … let’s color!”