249. In a Row 2

Please see yesterday's blog to find a description of this scene.

248. In a Row

I have painted these trees many times and never tire of doing so.  There is a very long row of them that line the hills of Marjeyoun, Lebanon.  They were planted by my family so that they could have pine nuts readily available.  They also own olive groves in this unbelievably beautiful part of the world.  Have you ever had that feeling when you see something so beautiful that your heart skips a beat and you cannot help but feel so small?  That is how I felt when I visited this village, the land of my ancestry.

247. Lila

Meet Lila, a beautiful Golden Doodle.  This painting was a commissioned art piece, and a pleasure to paint.  The recipient was surprised and happy, which makes me happy.

246. Rodeo

Rodeo is my neighbor's dog.  He is a Teddy Bear (mix of shitzu, toy poodle and bichon), and is half-brother to my Oliver.  It's really fun watching them play together.

245. Path to Tranquility

My daughter took the reference photo for this painting in high school.  It was taken at a nearby park, Doctor's Park.

244. Common? Hmpf.

The Common Yellowthroat, (male in this painting) is a wood warbler.  It lives in moist thickets and grassy marshes.  Photographed by Brian Hansen.

243. Chewy-Chewy-Chewy, Chew Chew Chew

Well, I'm having trouble imagining this warbler's call, but that's what the book says.
He is an American Redstart.

242. On the Lookout

Male Rosebreasted Grosbeak, insect eating songbird, reference photo taken by Brian Hansen, with permission

241. Acapella

This tiny bird is a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a songbird, and was photographed by Brian Hansen.

239. I See You

Reference photo by Brian Hansen, with permission.

239 Cardinal

Reference phot  by Brian Hansen, permission granted

238 Blackburnian Warbler

reference photo taken by Brian Hansen, with permission

237 Black and White Warbler

Reference photo by Brian Hansen, with permission.

236 Patchwork

Having been a quilter for 30 plus years, I was immediately drawn to this scene, located in Marjeyoun, Lebanon, a beautiful village in the south.  I have always shied away from painting landscapes, but am learning so much by painting them, even if this isn't my usual style.

235 Path Among the Cedars

While in Lebanon, we visited the cedar forest at The Garden of the Gods.  Many of the trees are hundreds of years old with graceful branches.  It was a spectacularly beautiful and peaceful place.  Rather than taking down the dead cedars, a French artist carved many of them with faces and one with Jesus on the cross.  We saw the tree that is the image on the Flag of Lebanon and the image on the Lebanese passport.  Some of the trees were so large that when hollowed by time, two people could stand inside of them.  It was a memorable day.

234 Take Me Back Again

This is another painting of the same scene in Marjeyoun, Lebanon as painted about a week ago.  Please see my blog for the story of this painting.  I am having great difficulty getting the colors right in the photograph.  The background behind the trees is more greyish-light turquoise than appears here.

233 Inside of a Tulip

232 Exotic

231 Picasso and Me

I thought this would be an appropriate painting for today as I was in Chicago this weekend for the One of a Kind Art Show at the Merchandise Mart.  It was fabulous to see so many artists with their work.  I saw many familiar vendors but the biggest surprise was meeting fellow Daily Painter Angela Moulton there!  I recognized her work immediately before seeing her name and felt like I knew her.  I'm sure my bear hug and exuberance took her by surprise.  Her work is even more delightful in person--so fresh. 

230 Continuous

Apple peeling for Thanksgiving pie.

229 Sweetheart

228 Quartered

227 Fruit of the Gods

I have never eaten a persimmon, but I sure enjoy painting them. 

226 Take Me Back

This may just look like a row of pine trees to you, but to me it represents so much more, a feeling of solitude, of appreciation for the past and my ancestors, and awe for the sheer beauty and expanse of this beautiful place that is in southern Lebanon, the village of Marjeyoun.  I first saw this very long row of trees while visiting in 2008, and was so captivated by them.  I tried so hard to paint them several times, but no matter what I did, I was never happy with the painting.  Again in 2011, I visited and learned, to my surprise, that this row of trees was planted by my family so that they could readily have pine nuts.  With this simplified style of painting I am experimenting with, I thought it might work, especially in a smaller format.  I am pleased I could paint this scene and still have that special feeling inside of me as I recall this most spectacularly beautiful place.

225 Under the Golden Gate

224. Hen House at Beltane Ranch

223 Peter Piper's House

Trying something new.  Love the happy colors.

221 Silly

Portraits are so difficult.  This is one of my first. 

220 Calla Lillies

219 Sunbathing

Many years ago, my husband I visited San Francisco and at the time, everyone was so excited and baffled by the influx of sea lions who beached themselves at Pier 39 of Fisherman's Wharf.  We visited there again two years ago, and the sea lions are still there, basking in the sun, and now protected.  It's a very touristy attraction, but so much fun to observe these funny animals.

217 Echeveria Adorn

Needed a break from painting clouds and marshes.

217 Cumulus

No matter what adjustments I make, I can't get the colors to appear the way they do in the painting--lots of pretty blues and green-greys, and the white is much whiter.  Hopefully it won't look garish on your computer monitor.  I am continuing to work on clouds in preparation for a large painting.  They are so difficult for me, and I am hoping the larger format will be easier than the small.  Fingers crossed. 

216 Come Sit For Awhile

This is a scene from Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico outside of Georgia O'Keefe's little house. 

215 Silence at Dusk

214 Ominous

Studying clouds.

213 For the Birds

Crab apples trees in my neighborhood brighten up a dreary Autumn walk.

212 Low Level

Clouds are much more complicated than one might think.  There are many websites devoted to the science of clouds.  They have always been a challenge to paint, but I am determined to learn more about them.

211 Dock at Bluffton

210 Across the Marsh

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209 View From the drawing Room

dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/209-view-from-the-drawing-room/179825

207 The Marsh Stands Alone

206 Fishing Shack

Same fishing shack as in yesterday's painting, different view.  Pretty inviting, eh?

205 Stay Away

While we were in Old Town Bluffton, we were drawn to this cute little fishing shack, built on an inclining bridge.  These folks made it very clear that they did not want visitors with their signs and numerous barriers.  Much as I tried, I could not get a head on photo of it. 

204 Come Sit For Awhile

One day during my recent trip to South Carolina, we visited Old Town Bluffton,  a charming little coastal town, where we watched the fishermen washing and "shoveling" the oysters, and snapping the heads off and sorting the day's catch of shrimp.  The town has several nice galleries and it was beneficial to see how local artists painted the marshes.  We visited the farmer's market and had an opportunity to paint on the grounds of the beautiful Church of the Cross overlooking the May River.  I painted a water scene including a dock (which was a real challenge) and the lovely delicate lavender/pink plume like flowers/grass. 

This particular Live Oak was a lesser known attraction, but the shape of it begged me to photograph it.  I loved the shadows and the Spanish moss, which I hope to someday figure out how to paint more effectively.

203 Still

I love the tranquility of the marshes we visited in South Carolina.  In our group of 14 artists, there were at least a few self-proclaimed "marsh haters."  The more I paint them, the more I understand and love them. 

202 Stand Alone

The minute I saw this tree, I knew I had to paint it.  It was difficult to isolate it as it was a part of a clump of other less interesting trees that lined the beach of our rented home on Hilton Head.  I love the shape of it and I know I will have to paint it again.

201 Open Arms

Although I loved the ocean and the marshes, I was most fascinated by the Southern Live Oak trees while in South Carolina on my painting trip.  I love the twists and turns of the branches, and the tree's invitation to sit and picnic or rest.  The Spanish moss hanging from the branches gives a somewhat eerie feeling.  Although there are no leaves on my tree, this tree has leaves year round, as those that fall off are replenished.  I am sure this will not be the last of my Live Oak tree paintings.

200 Gratitude

Today's painting is my 200th posting for the Daily Paintworks.  I had hoped to make them 200 consecutive days, but I took a week off from posting ( but not painting) while I was on my painting trip.  I chose to paint and post this painting "Gratitude" today because I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do what I love each and every day.  I am grateful for all the loving support and encouragement I have received from friends, family, fellow artists and the DPW gurus, and very thankful to those who have liked my work enough to purchase it for their homes or gifts.  I am donating this painting to Ozaukee Family Services, a favorite charity of my art lady friends, as part of their art basket for their silent auction.  This flower is a Campanula, or Bellflower, and in the language of flowers, its meaning is gratitude. 

199 Path to the Sea

On Hilton Head Island, our group of artists rented a beautiful home on the ocean.  This is a painting of the sandy path leading from the home to the Atlantic Ocean.  The beach was pristine and we found many "treasures" to sketch.  It is a very peaceful place.

198 Marsh Grass

I just returned from a wonderful week-long plein air painting trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina.  We immersed ourselves (somewhat literally---my first kayaking experience) in an attempt to learn about the marshes' plants and sea life.  I found it to be fascinating.  The wildlife, the terrain, and the landscape are all so very different from anything we have here in the Midwest.  Painting the marshes was a challenge because they change so frequently with the tide and the light.  It took some getting used to.  I will continue to practice now that I am home.