Dianne Roberson Hendrix was an American artist, writer, photographer, and designer whose career developed from Texas to Alaska. She became known for paintings of northern lights, Native Alaskan life, wildlife, and Arctic landscapes, while also producing photography, catalog designs, and charitable art contributions.
Background
Dianne Roberson Hendrix was born on January 12, 1946, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Thomas Glenn Roberson and Ella Mae Smith. She grew up in Atlanta and graduated from O'Keefe High School in 1964.
Her adult life included extended residence in Texas and extensive travel in Canada and the United States with her husband, Chuck. The family eventually settled in Laguna Vista, Texas, where Hendrix painted portraits and local scenery while raising two daughters. In 1994 she moved to Alaska, first living in Anchorage and later settling near Palmer in the Butte community.
Education
Hendrix graduated from O'Keefe High School in Atlanta in 1964. She later earned an associate degree in drafting and design technology from Tarrant County Junior College in Fort Worth, Texas. The college, now Tarrant County College, formed part of the public community-college system that provided technical and vocational education in postwar Texas.
Her training in drafting and design complemented her later work in illustration, commercial design, painting, and photography. It provided a technical foundation for visual work that combined representational art with applied design.
Career
Hendrix developed her artistic career in Texas, where she painted portraits and regional scenery and became a member of the Houston Art League. Some of her paintings were displayed in Houston and Dallas. Her work combined fine-art painting with photography and applied visual design.
After moving to Alaska in 1994, she worked for Sam's Club in Anchorage and designed multiple covers for the company's Bush catalogs. She subsequently established an artistic practice near Palmer under the name Art of the Northern Lights. Her Alaskan work included portraits of Native Alaskans, representations of Native culture, wildlife scenes, northern-light paintings, digital art, and photography.
Hendrix donated paintings to charities in the Anchorage area and participated in recurring charity events that brought public attention to her work. Her paintings and photographs were displayed in Alaskan buildings, including Mat-Su Regional Hospital. She also documented outdoor activities photographically and served as president of a local Mat-Su ATV club, organizing rides and club events.
Alongside her visual art, Hendrix worked as a freelance writer from 1998. Her artistic statements connected her Northern Lights series with observations of Arctic light, snow, wildlife, and the experience of northern landscapes. Her work appeared in online artist galleries and in cultural and literary presentations featuring Alaskan art.
Achievements
Hendrix developed a sustained body of paintings and photographs devoted to Alaska's northern lights, wildlife, landscapes, and Native Alaskan subjects, making the Arctic environment the central theme of her mature artistic work.
She designed multiple Bush catalog covers for Sam's Club and combined commercial design training with painting, photography, and digital art.
She donated paintings to Anchorage-area charities and contributed artwork to recurring charity events, while works by her were displayed in public and institutional buildings in Alaska.
As president of a local Mat-Su ATV club, she organized rides and events and documented the club's outdoor activities through photography.
Politics
Hendrix was associated with the Conservative Party.
Views
Hendrix's artistic statements presented nature and Arctic light as subjects of wonder, reflection, and artistic exploration. Her Northern Lights paintings sought to convey the luminous and mysterious character of the Alaskan environment, while her Native portraits and wildlife images emphasized visual remembrance of people, traditions, and place.
Membership
Hendrix belonged to the Houston Art League and the Bonanza Book Club. In Alaska she participated in a local Mat-Su ATV club, an organization centered on recreational trail riding, outdoor activity, and community events; her participation included service as president and coordination of club rides.
Houston Art League
,
United States
Bonanza Book Club
,
United States
Served as president and organized club rides and events.
Mat-Su ATV Club
,
United States
2016
Personality
Biographical accounts describe Hendrix as active, humorous, adventurous, and persistent during her long illness. She maintained an active life, continued to participate in outdoor activities, and remained engaged with art and photography in her later years.
Quotes from others about the person
Hendrix's art was remembered by acquaintances as bright and expressive of her love of Alaska. Her neighbors and friends in the Palmer area provided care and companionship during her final illness and were described as her Alaskan family.
Interests
Photography, all-terrain vehicle riding, Alaska's landscapes and wildlife, Native Alaskan culture, and dogs.
Sport & Clubs
All-terrain vehicle trail riding
Connections
Hendrix was the daughter of Thomas Glenn Roberson and Ella Mae Smith. She had two daughters, Tinara Dyan Hendrix and Angelean Oedra Hendrix, and was also survived by a brother, two step-daughters, grandchildren, and extended relatives. Her husband, identified as Chuck in biographical accounts, traveled with her during periods of residence in Canada and the United States.
Father:
Thomas Glenn Roberson
Mother:
Ella Mae Smith
child:
Tinara Dyan Hendrix
child:
Angelean Oedra Hendrix
References
Dianne Hendrix Obituary
Documents Hendrix's birth in Atlanta, education, residence in Texas and Alaska, artistic work, Sam's Club design work, charitable contributions, photography, ATV-club leadership, family, death on June 22, 2016, and wishes for cremation and scattering of her ashes in Alaska.
2016
Dianne Hendrix Artist Portfolio
Presents Hendrix's artist statement, biography, Northern Lights series, Native portraits, Arctic themes, photography, and selected works.
The Smoking Poet Winter 2009–2010 Issue
Features Hendrix's Alaskan art and identifies her as an Alaskan artist whose work was presented in connection with the literary publication.
