437 For Pie

My favorite apple, the McIntosh, along with Jonathans make a great pie, in my opinion.
It was also the inspiration for the name of Apple's personal computers, also my favorite.

536 Meyer Lemons

The other day, I was at our local grocery store, and as usual, I spent a lot of time in the produce department.  I must have looked suspicious, because as I was slowly and carefully looking for the perfect vegetables/fruit, the produce manager approached me:
She asked,  "Can I HELP you?"
I replied, "No, but thank you."
She, "Did you have any questions?"
My reply, "Nope."

I have never tasted a Meyer lemon, but I was curious about them, so I bought a package.  I learned from an internet site that they are thought to be a cross between either a Eureka or Lisbon lemon and a mandarin orange, and they take on a sightly yellow-orange color.  The skin seems to be much thinner than a common lemon or orange.  They are supposedly sweeter than a lemon, and often used to make lemon pies.  My mother used to make a highly coveted lemon meringue pie.  I wonder if she used Meyer Lemons. Sadly all of her recipes are gone.

p.s.  The blue in this bowl is not screaming as it appears in this picture.

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

533 Cuties Piled High

This is a remake of  523 Cuties, Again.   I wasn't happy with it, and revised it today.  I think it is much better now.

532 Chester

Felt good to paint today after several days off.  This is Chester, a neighborhood friend's dog, a "teddy bear" mix of shitzu, toy poodle and bichon, we think.  Chester and our pooch, Oliver are good buddies. 

"Opportunity"

"Opportunity"

40" x 30"

acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

For my daughter

I have a keen appreciation for Wabi Sabi.  In case you are not familiar with the term, it is derived from the Japanese words, "wabi" which meant living in solitude and loneliness, but more recently means quiet, rustic simplicity.  "Sabi" meant withered, but the more positive, modern interpretation is the beauty that comes with age, faded or weathered, and includes such things as rust and patina, which I love. 

Several years ago, I visited an architectural artifacts store in Chicago, in fact it is called just that:  Architectural Artifacts.  It was a mind boggling experience---three floors of amazing old things filled with textures and hints of imaginable experiences.  I saw this gigantic door and was able to get close enough to photograph it.  I knew someday I would paint it.

There is much symbolism related to doors in literature, mythology, religion and art.  Being both an entrance and an exit, it can be a passageway to a new beginning or an ending to something, depending on if the door is open or closed.  It can symbolize a way out or give a hint at what lies ahead.  A closed door can symbolize imprisonment or a dead end.  If you notice, this door handle is slightly turned, so being the eternal optimist,  I say it is open just a crack, and the possibilities that lie ahead are endless.

I have many large products in the "UFO" category, as one of my artist friends calls UnFinished Objects.  In the weeks ahead I hope to get some of them finished including several paintings and a very large quilt that is sprawled out on a bedroom floor, waiting to be stabilized and sewn together.
I may not be painting small with much regularity but you can be sure I will be back to painting daily works as soon as possible.  I have struggled with making this decision because I am so afraid of losing momentum.  

531 Palette Knives on an Ampersand Hardbord

I have missed my regular routine, but travel and household projects have prevented me from painting.  I don't like looking at all the paintings on Daily Paintworks each morning when NOT seeing one of mine.  It felt good today to paint this still life, even though all the shadows and reflections were a challenge.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/531-palette-knives-on-an-ampersand-hardbord/313929

530 Leaving Town

 

I took this photo while entering the freeway spur and I guess the camera was off kilter.  I've been looking at it for many months, liking the odd angle and wanting to paint it.  Daily Paintworks' Challenge is 'Gritty City" this week, so I thought I might try it.  It's out of my system now and I can return to more enjoyable paintings.  (Phew, glad that's over.)  The funny thing is that even though I pass this scene often, I don't even know what it is.  

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/530-leaving-town/312056

529 Lineup

I thought I'd take a little break from painting animals.  I really enjoyed painting my 500th "Tools of My Trade" so I thought I'd give it another whirl.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/529-lineup/311380

528 Royalty

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/528-royalty/311077

527 My Teddy Bear, Oliver

Well, I ran out of polar bear photo references, and I sooooo enjoy painting all those luscious whites, so I looked around and there before me was my very own teddy bear (yes, that's the breed), Oliver, all fresh and clean from his New Year's bath.  He was a willing participant today--- he usually runs from the camera.

Happy New Year all!
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/527-my-teddy-bear-oliver/310515