Diane Oliva was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania to Jean and Thomas Jones. At an early age her parents kept her busy with a pencil and paper and soon drawing became her favorite pasttime. She studied pastels and oils for 17 years with a European master specializing in portraiture and still life. Her studies continued with 6 years of intaglio printing apprenticing with Joy Jervis, a Master Printer.

Diane received her BA from Adelphi University with a major concentration in Anthropology and Art History. On-site studies took her to Europe, India, Egypt, China and Ghana, West Africa. Because of extensive art educational travel, she has been invited to judge numerous art exhibitions on Long Island. In 1990, she began teaching portraiture and still life in oils, acrylics, pastels and charcoal drawing at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, New York.

Currently, she is working in oils, pastel, monotypes and photography. It is her belief that we can all learn and develop our special artistic talent to express our unique way of seeing the world.