The Palo Verde Artists have named Dianna Parirokh its October artist of the month.

Parirokh has always had a deep admiration for those who can draw or paint. However, she never imagined that she would take on the challenge of doing it herself. She moved to Arizona 27 years ago but during those years when she was busy with a career in finance she never got around to art. That changed when she moved to Sun City.

Four years ago the Sun City clubs were just beginning to reopen after the Covid shutdown so she joined the Sun City Grand Clay Club. She had taken a few classes in sculpting at Shemer Art Center in Phoenix and found she really enjoyed working with clay. She picked it up easily but had an allergic reaction to the clay or the glazes and had to give it up. She reasoned that if she could pick up sculpting easily, perhaps she could learn to draw.

Parirokh began by drawing portraits. She was coached once a week at Artists by the Lake but gave up after a few months. She then enrolled in a drawing class at Palo Verde Artists, where she learned about the tools necessary for drawing. It didn’t hold her interest.

In 2023, Parirokh met Carree Tolle, a local artist at Ground Floor Artists, and was drawn to her paintings of animals. Tolle uses many different mediums but the ones Parirokh liked the most were the animals she created using acrylic ink. Parirokh began private lessons with Tolle and worked diligently drawing animals which she would show to Tolle, who would teach her how to do the shading. After a few months, Parirorkh started painting her whimsical animal drawings with acrylic ink. She had found her passion. Parirokh’s love of animals gives her a subject matter that she thoroughly enjoys.

Parirokh is currently learning calligraphy at the Sun City Calligraphy Club with the goal of integrating calligraphy into her art work. She has also taken a few Zentangle classes and incorporates that into some of her art as well.

View Parirokh’s artwork on display in the showcase outside the Palo Verde Artists clubroom on the second level of Sundial Recreation Center, 14801 N. 103rd Ave. The gallery inside the club room is also open to the public for viewing.

Palo Verde Artists offers classes in oil, acrylic, watercolor, graphite drawing, alcohol ink, and Zentangle for all levels from beginner through advanced. Membership in Palo Verde Artists is $10 per year and is open to Recreation Centers of Sun City cardholders only.

Visit paloverdeartists.com for more information.