776 Thinking Spring

"776 Thinking Spring"
oil on canvas - 12x9 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/776-thinking-spring/446062

dianecampion.blogspot.com

736 Tightrope

I have been working tirelessly on portraits to the point of frustration.   Portraits are very tricky because if you know the person, you will see subtle errors in the painting that no one else would pick up on.  So it behooves a person like me to paint portraits of people that no one else knows.  Hmmm....

I desperately needed a break from portraits, so when Whole Foods had mandarin oranges complete with leaves, I bagged several of them with such fragile care and was eager to set them up to photograph.

Thanks to all who visited the Tall Tree Gallery Gift of Color and especially those who brought donations for our charity, Addulum Outreach, and to those who purchased gifts of artwork and cards. 

"736 Tightrope"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/736-tightrope/432113

701 Free Spirit

This is the second painting started after the visit to the Taos Farmer's Market.  I purchased the hand made vase from a cute store called something like Taos At Home or At Home Taos.  I wish I had paid closer attention because I always like to give credit to the artist.  I worked on this painting and yesterday's post simultaneously, but this was finished here at home.

I'm not sure this qualifies as a legitimate "floral arrangement" but the flowers had a mind of their own, so they were "free spirits."

"701 Free Spirit"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/701-free-spirit/417838

672 No Worries

I am trying to loosen up with my painting.  It's really tough for me because my natural inclination is to want to keep at this.  It took every ounce of restraint not to add a lot of fussiness to these flowers.

The title of this painting, "No Worries" refers to a message to Lisa Dara Kennedy, who I have been hoping would come to my neck of the woods to conduct a workshop, that she has no worries about this artist ever infringing on her territory.  yikes.  I guess Lisa would rather teach in Italy than in Milwaukee.  Imagine that.   hmmmpff.  Ha ha, Lisa. 

"672 No Worries"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/672-no-worries/405726

661 Red Bowl with Olives and Rosemary

I was in Lebanon for two weeks and although I loved every minute of it, I certainly missed my daily painting.  I purchased this handmade bowl by artist Micha Paniouni at the National Museum store in Beirut.  I wasn't sure how it would work in a painting, but I am happy with this first attempt and I think it has many possibilities.  The olives and rosemary were picked at a winery in Batroun, Lebanon called Ixsir, a very beautiful place in the mountains.  The wine was great too!

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/661-red-bowl-with-olives-and-rosemary/402793

657 Reminiscence

My neighbor, Vicki is a fabulous gardener and I just realized today that she has hollyhocks growing in her garden!  Hollyhocks remind me of my childhood as we had them growing so tall in the alley behind our house when I was growing up.  I remember the bees especially liked their nectar.  Their beauty has stood the test of time.

Side note:  I painted this entire painting upside down.  Don't ask me how that happened, I don't even know, but it did.  I just know that I signed it and something felt wrong....could be that the pollen defied gravity. 

"657 Reminiscence"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/657-reminiscence/398743

653 Frilly Lily

I saw this lily in Chicago, not your standard day lily, as it has more petal layers. 

"653 Frilly Lily"
acrylic - 7x5 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/653-frilly-lily/397450

634 Two Mighty Oaks

Today was a day to experiment after completing two larger paintings.  I started out using India ink and acrylic paint, intending it to be a black/grey/white painting, but somehow it evolved into a painting with limited colors.  It felt good just to play around on this rainy day.

One of the really nice things about painting on a daily basis is the opportunity to try new techniques and subjects.  It's been a wonderful experience for me, with 634 daily paintings under my belt.

"634 Two Mighty Oaks"
mixed - 10x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/634-two-mighty-oaks/391344

564 Misunderstanding

I

Yikes.  I just realized I painted this once before, but I thought I was painting a different view.  I guess you can paint the same thing several times and the paintings will never be exactly the same.
To me, the onions look like they are at odds, perhaps there was a misunderstanding. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/564-misunderstanding/348639

538 Meyer Lemons in a Portugese Bowl

This is a new bowl and we are still getting acquainted.  I love the irregularities in the glazing and the polka dots.  It is a little more modern than my other blue and white bowls, but I am hoping to find the perfect items to put into the bowl.  I have some ideas.  Let me know what you think of it.

535 After Dinner

I recently learned that mandarin oranges are used to cleanse the palette after a meal.  My garden club is holding a Chinese Tea Tasting next weekend to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and we will be serving them after tea sandwiches and cookies.

535 On the Edge

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/535-on-the-edge/327286

506. Persimmons in a Blue and White Bowl

My Jean Wells bowl is getting quite a showing.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/506--persimmons-in-a-blue-and-white-bowl/293068

Yesterday Jean delivered my order of her meticulously crafted pottery.  Some people in my family will be happy to receive it.  (Shhhh....)  She has changed directions on her designs to appeal more to the "modern" set.   Check out her work at her Etsy store here: 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/jeansclaystudio.com

Here sugar skull mugs are now sold at Colectivo Coffee.  Very cool.

489 Ripened

The peppers ripened from green to orange seemingly right before my eyes!

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/489-ripened/275812

482 Eggplant in a New Blue Bowl

You will obviously gather from the title that this is a new bowl, which I purchased at the Whitefish Bay Farm gallery in Door County when we painted there en plein air in early-September.  There were so many beautiful bowls and other items, including hand spun and dyed yarn,  that it was hard to choose what to buy.  I love the dark stripe in this bowl, calling out for an eggplant, and the irregular colors of the glaze. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/482-eggplant-in-a-new-blue-bowl/274293

479 Eggplant Variety in a Yellow Bowl

I believe these are Asian eggplants, and I bought them from the farmers market because I thought they were so pretty. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/479-eggplant-variety-in-a-yellow-bowl/273533

475 Lavish

I was stumped as to what to name this painting so I did a little online research on the lowly, unappreciated onion to gain inspiration.  I learned that "onions are an ace ally in your fight against disease. A prized member of the lily family, they lavish you with health benefits."  These beauties are from our farm CSA, Springdale Farm. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/475-lavish/272828

473 A Turban, Oak Leaves and Grapes

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/473-a-turban-oak-leaves-and-grapes/272415

472 Symbols of Strength

The oak leaf is a symbol of strength.  It makes sense, doesn't it?--"The Mighty Oak Tree."I love the graceful shapes of the leaves and have pressed oaks and other leaves between the pages of many books throughout the years.  I am now trying to preserve colorful autumn leaves with a glycerin formula, hoping for success.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/472-symbols-of-strength/272208

471 Green Acorn

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/471-green-acorn/271972