Diane Killeen
As a child, Diane Killeen was captivated by the beauty of the ornamental plaster moldings, gold-leaf accents, and hand-painted murals that embellished the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library in her hometown of New Orleans. Her sense of awe and wonder led her to a career as a decorative painter, creating and restoring architectural art for historic spaces in New Orleans and beyond. “I’m a true believer in keeping the craft alive,” she says.
Killeen studied studio art and psychology in college in hopes of becoming an art therapist but realized this wasn’t the right fit for her. With encouragement from her art teachers, she bravely decided to focus on her artwork even though the path to a viable career was uncertain. “It was a bumpy start,” she admits. “I was determined to follow my passion but did not know what the future actually looked like.”
A transformative moment came when she discovered a decorative painting and restoration program run by the renowned London City & Guilds taking place at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. During the year-long intensive program, she received hands-on training in gilding, glazing, and wood graining, learning about materials, tools and equipment, paint chemistry, and preservation protocols from highly skilled artisans. “It was a soup-to-nuts program, learning everything from basic construction to the fine art of gilding,” she says. The experience ignited a passion for historic preservation that has only grown stronger over time.
“I was intrigued by the chemistry of everything—what’s compatible, what isn’t—and all of these authentic ways of doing things.”
The skills Killeen learned at the Biltmore mansion led to an opportunity to work with International Fine Arts Conservation Studios, restoring historic sites around the country, gaining knowledge and honing her skills at every opportunity. “Everybody has different techniques, a different style, so the more you learn from other people, the more you can adapt and find your own technique,” she says.
An expert in the restoration and preservation of historic spaces, Killeen launched her own decorative arts firm in 2001, specializing in plasterwork, faux marble, wood graining, and gilding. “I’m a total nerd when it comes to gilding,” she says. “I love learning about different climates and techniques.” She enjoys collaborating with experts in different fields and loves the variety of the work. “Every job has its own set of challenges,” she says. Most recently, she has treasured the experience of helping to restore the Latter Library in New Orleans, coming full circle to where her love for decorative painting first began.
Killeen restores old buildings with loving care and consummate skill, striving to exactly replicate the style, techniques, brushstrokes, and character of the original work. Her goal is historical accuracy and authenticity, so that her restorations are indistinguishable from the original. “When we finish a restoration project, I always say that the biggest compliment is when people ask, ‘So what did you do?’”
