DIEGO #VOCI AND #PARIS!

 

Helga Voci, widow of Diego Voci shares her words:

“It was late 1960, DIEGO was living in a small Hotel near the Seine, he did not really work, just a few sketches from time to time and I was wondering how he was financing his living. He made a big secret about his finances.”

During this time period in 1960, Diego signed his works “Voci“.  At the time, he never foresaw later having a 20 year career signing “Diego”.

To read more click here: https://www.artifactcollectors.com/the-story-of-diego-voci-part-2-572.html

 

A SHOOTING #STAR!

The #Diego Voci Project wishes everyone and all a very #MerryChristmas filled with good health and many blessings. www.diegovociproject.com

IN THE #STUDIO #1980’S

Helga Voci, (widow of DIEGO Voci) shares the behind the scenes in these photos of DIEGO.

“These 2 photos were taken in Diego’s studio in Taunusstein, Germany sometime in the 80’s. This was his easel and the place where he spent most of his time.”

Versatility was Diego’s strength.  Driven to experiment in every genre while remaining distinctly DIEGO.

Click on YouTube Diego Voci to view more behind the scenes of DIEGO!

4 DIEGO VOCI TREASURES FOUND AT ESTATE SALE – NUMBER 1

When was the last time you went to a 2nd hand store, antique store, or even an Estate Auction? Tom in South Dakota went to an Estate Auction and found not just one oil painting by Antonio DIEGO Voci (1920-1985) but a total of 4 oil paintings by the internationally collected artist, mostly known as “DIEGO” to all who have been lucky enough to meet him during his short lifetime. Meet the 1st of the 4: “FISCHER”When Tom first saw “Fischer” come up for auction – he was taken by the rugged and well-lived look!  Diego was raised in Gasperina a small town in the southern region of Calabria, Italy. Diego loved people and proved this having lived his life loving people of all kind, ages, professions – as long as there was a passion of some kind. And,  Diego rarely used models, he created his subjects, places, things, all of it – from memory. Above, the brushstrokes show the wear and tear of life as a fisherman. But the glow in his eyes is alive.  Shown here are two more demonstrating DIEGO’s ability to capture the feeling of life experience:

Diego and Helga, his widow, spent much time traveling to destinations where Diego could enjoy the sun, the laid back leisurely life, and of course the water.  When little Alessandra came into their life, she too would be whisked away to the shores of wherever the auto at the time would take them, while Diego would take it all in, sketching, drawing. The artist would then turn these memories into surrealism, figurative or realism, to cubism or produce a fantasy visual.

“Versatility was Diego’s strength. Driven to experiment in every genre while remaining distinctly Diego“, Coop Cooprider – Diego Voci Historian since 1973

Check out every genre by going to GOOGLE or BING! Enter “Diego Voci”, & immediately click on “IMAGES”. Pronto!   You will arrive in GOOGLE’s Diego Gallery as Google themselves select their own, as do all other search engines. You will quickly understand why so many thousands of people worldwide have collected Antonio DIEGO Voci over the years. You too can find one that will match your tastes! KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!

Tom was fortunate to discover 4 DIEGO oil paintings. The DIEGO VOCI PROJECT is proud to share stories of our new DIEGO fans. Unfortunately, many older DIEGO fans have passed on or are downsizing.  The DVP will continue to bring you stories like Tom’s.

Tell us your story. Email us at diegovoicproject@gmail.com

Also, check out our PINTEREST DIEGO COLLECTION:  https://www.pinterest.com/diegovoci/

 

“#Paintings of #Soulful #Female #Faces”

John and Kathryn Marchi share their soulful story about how they met #Diego and acquired their two Diego works of art.

Kathryn Marchi reached out to the Diego Voci #Facebook page from a post yesterday title

“I LIKE DIEGO’S WORK BECAUSE…” .  Stephen Max, Canadian Diego Voci Project Team member asked Diego Collectors in the most recent Christmas Diego Voci Newsletter, what they like about Diego’s work.  And the responses are coming in.  Please share yours! 

“We are very excited about your Diego project!   

 Our Diego painting has been a centerpiece in our homes and admired by guests for over 40 years.  We’ve loved telling the story about how we met Diego and our visit to his studio in the Taunus in 1976. 

 We were a military family, stationed in Frankfurt, Germany from 1975-1977.  At that time, Diego was exhibiting and selling his paintings in the Frankfurt Officers’ Club.  We met him there and admired his work.

 In March, 1976, we received an invitation to attend an open house at Diego and Helga’s studio/home in Taunusstein-Neuhof near Wiesbaden, Germany. We were greeted at the door by Helga, dressed in black slacks and a sheer off-white blouse- a truly stunning woman.  Upon arrival, each guest was given a number and were told that later on in the day, a drawing would be held for a special prize, not further identified.  The home was small, cozy and decorated like one would expect from an artist…and quite charming.  Paintings were displayed everywhere.  Shortly after this, I noticed that Diego was sitting on a stool before an easel at the rear of his home, where I suspected he did all of his sketches and painting.  I stood nearby and watched the sketch of a gypsy woman unfold.  He created the picture, using one color and shades thereof.  Once completed with his brush, he took a black magic marker and put in appropriate highlights.  To my recollection, this beautiful sketch was created in less than 5 minutes.  I was truly astounded.  You can guess how we came by our sketch!  Yes, our number was drawn and we were the thrilled recipients of the Gypsy Woman prize.  Diego continued at the easel throughout the day and numbers were drawn periodically for the various sketches.

 As we browsed throughout the studio, we were also told that Diego had begun to paint landscapes and there were many being displayed.  However, my wife and I preferred what we considered Diego’s trademark; paintings of soulful female faces.  “Venus in the Springtime” caught our eye and we purchased the painting that day.  Unfortunately we have forgotten the price we paid; however, the enjoyment of this painting has been priceless.”

John D. Marchi

LTC (ret) US Army

Visit www.diegovociproject.com 

SEND US YOUR #PHOTOS and #MEMORIES OF #DIEGOVOCI

The #Cooprider family has never been distant from #ART. My mom Patti, an #ArtHistory Major, is having a show this weekend – with just a #Taste of her talent being shown in La Jolla, CA. Patti and my dad Coop raised us in Europe and always made sure we appreciated the cultures and the arts of each country we visited. My parents both studied Art – and even with seven kids we traveled, they traveled, seeing museums and collections we never dreamed of seeing in person. They continue with their passion of the “#Arts.” Check out my mom Patti’s Gallery Show link: http://www.1210gallery.com (FB, too).

Below are 2 photos. First shown are my dad Coop Cooprider (Diego Historian) with my 6 siblings (I took the photo in ‘72) with one of their first Diego Oil #Paintings up on the wall. “Friends” was bought from Naffouj’s Private Collection (see our heading on WordPress).

“Friends” by Diego with the COOPRIDERS, 1972

Antonio DIEGO #Voci is just one artist who graces my parents walls today in their home in California 40 years later. Best, here is the 2nd photo of my mom, #Diego, my younger sister Kendra– and myself #Kami – shown below. Diego took time (not much – maybe 5 minutes) to sketch for me my own personal “Clown.” It hung on my walls for many years. During my many moves over the last 40 years though – it disappeared.

Diego sketching a #CLOWN for #KamiCooprider, with mom Patti and Sister Kendra, ca mid 70’s

#TRIVIA: a point often overlooked in old photographs where Diego was captured there might be a hidden DIEGO we can identify – notice the “Flower” Painting in the top right corner? It could be the one that belongs to this day to the “Dr. Ogden Brown” family in Colorado. “Petit Fleurs” is one of the numerous DIEGO artworks in their family collection. https://www.pinterest.com/diegovoci/

“Petit Fleurs” by Diego Voci, PC. Dunne-Brown

Do you have old photos with DIEGO in them?   Send them to us: diegovociproject@gmail.comcom or post on Facebook “Diego Voci”

Search DIEGO VOCI on YouTube and GOOGLE

AC DV History #206 9/6/2015

Dozens of Collectors Still Have Dozens of Diegos’

Just one of many experiences with artist Antonio Diego Voci; “My parents collected over 15 pieces (mostly original oils) from our time in Germany in early 1980’s.  I used to play with Alessandra (daughter of Helga and Diego Voci) same age at the time. We had many trips to Diego and Helga’s house and Diego painted me a horse for my birthday in 1978!”

Today 37 years later, this horse drawing owned by Alissa Snow Skildheim hangs in her office.

This is only ONE of many collectors of Antonio Diego Voci works of art out in the world and many we have yet to receive images of and provenance information (including Skildheim’s.. hint, hint can’t wait to see them all.)

And, just one example of Diego’s characteristic and his obsession with capturing the moment.  Where ever, whenever and with whom… Diego would portray their wish with just a few moments and a few brush strokes… and all this is an appetite for more…

AC P of W #270 5/6/2015

This Story is Lots of #Bull!

I was tasked to find Bob Sholar 40 years after my father, Coop, Diego Voci Historian, had visited him in Lorton, VA. I had my father’s hand scribbled 1974 notes on yellow pad indicating Sholar owned 30 Diego paintings!

I found him in August 2014 in central #Florida. Bob and Gretchen Sholar, 4 decades later still have their halls filled with Diegos, their master bedroom is covered with Diegos, as is their bathroom. Antonio DIEGO Voci was and is a part of their life.

Bob reminisced with me about his memorable “Bull Story” when in 1973 Diego was a guest in his Lorton,VA home:

“My office was on the downstairs level. While visiting and sitting in the office, Diego said, “Bob, I want to draw.” Diego sat on the floor, pulled out his paper, and began to sketch. Diego grabbed whatever tools were available while I watched in amazement as Diego created one after the other. Each one took maybe 15-20 minutes a piece; so within two hours there were 6 or 7 artworks. Diego asked me if I wanted him to draw anything in particular, to which I told Diego “I had this farm in Kentucky where I raised Angus Cattle. I want you to draw me a bull.”

“The next thing I know,  the  BULL was there.”

While there, Diego offered to appraise Bob’s art, not just his DIEGO’s. Bob will be sending us here at the Diego Voci Project – that document when he locates it. Bob also has a photo of himself with  Diego – and Bob is determined to find it  for us as well.

Diego took off from VA to the West Coast – Bob recalls Diego had a show in Broadmoor #Colorado lined up with a collector he knew from Germany: Dr. Ogden Brown, curated by Marsha Largent (http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-history-4330818/Page3.html#90 )

When Diego traveled back to the East Coast, he stopped again to visit with Bob Sholar. When he arrived, one of the first things Bob remembers Diego saying, was

“America is a big country…so much open space …not so many people.”

Kami Cooprider, Research Assistant – www.diegovociproject.com

AC DV History #199 4/30/2015

DIEGO VOCI’s LAST HOURS

All of the fierce pain from cancer metastasizing and sapping what was left of his strength, #DIEGO could not stop drawing. Drawing was as important to Diego as breathing.

“Diego drew every waking minute”, said Tony Voci, nephew, of his 1957 trip in #Europe with his art compelled uncle Diego.

So weak he could barely hold the pencil in his last hours, this is his final artistic expression. A small sketch that Helga Voci treasures as much as her husband’s best #masterpieces.

Helga Noted “Mainz Pain Clinic”

Antonio Diego Voci (August 10,1920- December 10,1985)

Coop Cooprider, DIEGO VOCI HISTORIAN

http://www.diegovociproject.com

AC P of W #269 4/29/2015

AT LAST, … I PUT MY SNOW SHOVEL AWAY

When I lived in Germany, #DIEGO did a drawing for me of me. I have included it here. It’s called Tayna’s Drawing. I now live in the #Boston area.

We never had winters in #Germany as fierce as this last one here in #Boston! The 10 feet of #snow I shoveled felt like 50 feet in super frigid weather.

I am also including a #NewYorker cartoon that I can laugh at now that I am not shivering and thinking “where is global warming when I need it most.”

–Tayna Nakata

Read how the master DIEGO created this drawing…

  http://www.artifactcollectors.com/diego-voci-painting-of-the-week-5154118.html#30