Marian Dioguardi began her art explorations in oil paint from observation as an innovative realist and she continues to paint that medium and manner as a full time and professional artist. She considers herself a "purist" using a pallet knife, panel and oil paint while painting from observation. Her intention is for a painting to be true to its self as a painting; not an illusion of reality nor a recording. By using the pallet knife, the paint's own texture and flat planes of color against one another, she constructs her three dimensional subjects into compelling, often iconic two dimensional art.