Having drawn and painted since she was a child, Diane Cardaci was classically trained at the Art Students League of New York City, Parsons School of Design, and the School of Visual Arts. Her passion for both realism and nature led her to start her professional art career working as a Natural Science Illustrator in New York City, where she specialized in medical and natural science illustrations. Her work has been published by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, as well as by major textbook companies such as Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Diane was also the director of her own art school, the Academy of Classical Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, for four years. After studying portraiture with such nationally acclaimed artists as Nelson Shanks and John Sanden, commissioned portrait work soon became an important part of Diane's artwork. She is a Signature member of the American Society of Portrait Artists, and has contributed writing for the organization's publications. Diane is also a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, the Graphic Artists Guild, and the Illustrator's Partnership of America.