David J Diamant is a visual artist who works with pen & ink, photography, digital imaging, acrylic and spray paint on floated plexiglass, wooden panels, canvas, paper and recycled materials. His artwork will be on display at Standing Sun Wines in Buellton through September 8, and there will be an artist reception on Thursday, August 18 at the winery located at 92 Second Street.

A Santa Barbara, California native Diamant attended University of Colorado at Boulder for undergraduate and University of New Mexico for graduate school with a concentration in Organizational Communication. Currently he works on the luxury catamaran “Channel Cat” located in the Santa Barbara harbor.

“I make unique connections experiencing people, geography, texture, patterns, sounds, smells, shapes, shades and colors. Inspiration lies between those sensual experiences and specific interactions I have with nature and technology, and ideas and emotions. I believe “Inspiration” IS. I believe the Muse IS. I believe the Muse is there to be used. Meaningful creativity is what drives me. I am compelled to be in a state of “flow” and normally, the hardest part is being fully engaged while simultaneously getting out of the way,” Diamant said.

For the past two years Diamant has been creating images on, behind and through floated plexiglass to produce what he calls “shadow art.” Using acrylic, spray paint or ink, the wide variety of subject matter changes with each series (“Heavy Is The Head,” “Squares Fit,” “Pork On Tap,” “Tiny Bubbles,” “CityEscapes,” “El Matador,” “Ski Altar,” “Surf Altar,” “Space Communication” are a few).

In the past several years Diamant has completed murals, curated and participated in public, solo & group art exhibitions, including fundraisers that benefit the arts, in Santa Ynez, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA.

Some of the local organizations he has been involved with are: SB Creative Arts Workshop, SB Arts Collaborative, SB Museum of Art, SB Museum of Contemporary Art, SB Arts Fund, SBHS’s VADA, the Funk Zone, GONE Gallery, Youth Interactive, Pianos On State, Art in the Mayor’s Office, and First Thursday Downtown Art Walk.

Diamant would like to give credit to those individuals that have supplied him with materials, inspiration, kindness, opportunity and compassion.

Standing Sun Wines is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Mondays. Log onto www.standingsunwines.com for more information.

Contact Diamant at david@davidjdiamant.com,