"Seeing how everything is connected and how much tenacious life and beauty there is in the harshest places will always bring tears to my eyes. I hope to convey all these things in my work."

Artist Crystal DiPietro paints majestic scenes drawn from her personal trips to beautiful, untamed places in Nevada. Her solitary hikes not only bring inspiration to her works but also help her overcome uncertainty and physical limits, all while connecting more deeply with nature. She paints en plein air and in her tiny home studio in Las Vegas. When not painting or hiking, Crystal enjoys reading, eating, and attending live concerts.

In this interview, Crystal shares about her adventures in the wilderness and how they fuel her passion for art.

What are your special interests?

After spending many vacations out West, my husband and I finally moved to Las Vegas from Washington, D.C., over 20 years ago. We both love the West and the outdoors, and he's very supportive and encouraging of my solo hiking and painting. I've always loved the desert, but once I started living here, I became obsessed with its sights, sounds, and smells. As a lifelong avid hiker, I spend as much time as I can in the wilderness, often alone. Since moving here, I've climbed hundreds of mountains, mostly solo, and recently started making nature videos of my hikes as a hobby.

What breakthrough in your art are you most proud of?

In the last couple of years, I've really been "letting go" of my art. I'm experimenting, using different materials, and loosening up. I'm learning to trust myself and follow my whims without caring so much about the results. This was a huge block for me, and I'm proud of how far I've come with it, especially in the last year.

Do you have any studio rituals that help you get into a creative flow?

I first go for a hike or take a longer hiking trip. I often do sketches while hiking and sometimes make larger plein air pieces. I take many photos to use as references in the studio.

When working on a painting, I tend to make a mess! So, the first thing I do when I'm ready to start a new one in the studio is to clean up and organize everything. I usually take a few minutes to meditate before I start painting for the day. I find this helpful in clearing out all the noise and stress we are bombarded with.

When I paint in the studio, I listen to music but otherwise close myself off from distractions. Once I start a painting, I'm obsessed with it. I can't think about anything else until it's done. After finishing a large landscape painting, I allow myself to play a little with a free-form abstract piece—a palette cleanser, if you will.

How do you structure your day?

I try to get any chores and administrative stuff out of the way early because once I go into the studio, I'm not coming out except to get food and drinks! And sometimes, not even for those. I work until I'm either too tired or the painting is too wet to continue.

Where do you find inspiration for your art?

In the wilderness! It's not just the beautiful scenery but the blood, sweat, and tears I shed out there climbing a challenging peak or descending a wild canyon. Overcoming obstacles and setbacks are common themes in my work. Seeing how everything is connected and how much tenacious life and beauty there is in the harshest places will always bring tears to my eyes. I hope to convey all these things in my work.

Tell us about your evolution as an artist.

I got my BFA at the Corcoran School of Art. At that time, I was painting figures in oils. After I graduated, I started to gravitate to what really moved me, and that was landscapes. I just find them so much more interesting! For the longest time, I was only trying to copy what I saw. As I evolved, I realized that, for me, art isn't about copying what I see; it's about expressing the things that I see and experience through my own filters to create something entirely new. I am currently moving more and more in that direction.

I put away the oils for a couple of years to concentrate solely on watercolors. I love the way they flow. I've been doing them on canvas and paper, and I've learned so much about painting. In the last couple of months, I started doing oil paintings again. As a result of all the work I did with watercolors, I think I'm painting better than I ever have with oils. I really love both mediums, and I'll probably work in both for the foreseeable future.

How do you decide when an artwork is finished?

Generally, the painting tells me! I get to a certain point where the piece conveys what I want, but there are still small details that bug me. I let the painting sit for a few days, and when I come back to it, I can usually see what's bugging me. I start making those final changes, and at a certain point, it's like an epiphany—"I'm done!" It's a feeling that washes over me.

Is there an artwork from another artist that has had a significant impact on you?

It's really hard for me to narrow down to one work, so I'll list a few that are currently influencing my work. Charles E. Burchfield and Emily Carr have such a way of expressing the energy and interconnection of all things in the world. That is something I strive for.

The old Chinese landscape scroll paintings are so moving. They have a real feel for using landscape to convey meaning beyond the literal representations. I recently read a book called An Essay on Landscape Painting by Kuo Hsi, and it was a revelation—it helped me get to know places, feel confident in my work, and clear my mind.

What’s your favorite museum?

The thing I miss most about Washington, D.C. is being able to visit all the Smithsonian museums. I loved that I could see so many types and eras of art for free. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Hirshhorn. I had the chance to visit it recently and enjoyed seeing all the modern-era art immensely. It has everything from paintings to installations to sculptures and more.

Is there anything else you’d like to share to help viewers better understand your work?

Go outside! Get in touch with the natural world. Sit and listen to the wind and the birds and the babbling stream. Feel the bark on a tree. Look at the stars. Smell the flowers. Study the shapes in rocks and mountainsides. You don't have to climb a mountain, but you can observe and try something new or test yourself in a variety of ways. You are stronger than you think!