WATCH YOUR STEP

THE ARTIST

     Diane Given Hayes has lived and painted on St. Croix for over 20 years, but Watch Your Step Art Studio is a new adventure in her art career.  She and her late husband, Gabby Hayes, shared a dream of having a working studio in town someday    . . . well, Diane's finally doing it!

     Originally from Southern California, Diane's love of nature was developed by her parents who took the family camping every chance they got. The beaches in Baja California,  the deserts in Arizona, and the California Sierras were favorite destinations. When Diane visited friends on St. Croix in 1987 and she saw the beauty of the ocean, its beaches, and even cactus!, she knew immediately that this is where she would become an artist.

     Diane's education included every art class available from elementary school through high school, but her college years were spent pursuing a bachelors degree in business administration/marketing (which she finally obtained from Chico State University, California in 1981.) Diane combined her artistic talents with her marketing skills by working as an ad designer for a local newspaper. And later when she moved to St. Croix, she worked as the graphic artist for Caribbean Printing.

     Most people in Christiansted remember Diane as the "friendly breakfast waitress" because over the years waitressing gave her the flexibility of time necessary for painting.  As Diane painted and discovered the beauty of watercolors, she also developed good composition skills, and a fine eye for detail for which she is now well known.

     Currently, Diane and her partner, Joe McCants, live on their 44 ft. sailboat, "Frolic" in the Christiansted Harbor and have travelled through the Caribbean and Venezuela. She "commutes" to her studio daily by dinghy and paints everyday unless it's raining.  So if you are in the neighborhood - please stop by and see what's up! 

Antonio & Friends making mango fish decorations  

Que Tal?

It's a Beach Party!