883 George

Say hello to George.  Isn't he cute?

"883 George"
acrylic - 6x6 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/883-george/640959

882 Hidden Away

In all the visits we've made to Door County, I had never seen this little vignette.  When we were there last month, there was a "Stop the car!" moment, when I got out to photograph this little house amidst the trees.  I love when that happens!

"882 Hidden Away"
acrylic - 20x16 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/882-hidden-away/640387

881 Things Are Looking Up

Here is another painting where my inspiration came from a recent visit to Venice.  The original scene was mostly black and grey and I enjoyed employing a complimentary palette for the painting while still respecting the aged nature of the building.

"881 Things Are Looking Up"
acrylic - 16x20 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/881-things-are-looking-up/638629

879 Golden Globe

Door County has many beautiful farms that pepper the landscape, and sometimes I stop to photograph them in all their majesty.  This particular silo is located on a farm on our way in or out of "town" but I recently discovered that this "golden globe" is not one of a kind at all.  I still find it beautiful and enjoyed painting it.

"879 Golden Globe"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/879-golden-globe/637722

This painting has sold.

879 Simply Irresistible

Today is Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving when we are encouraged to donate to our favorite charities, where often our donations will be matched by a generous donor.  ANERA is one of my very favorite organizations and if you follow my blog, you know that I have been supporting them for a long time.  My "near and dear and close to my heart" project, The Innocents Project, features paintings of Syrian and Palestinian refugee children in the Middle East who are served by ANERA, including this little girl.  This is my 20th painting so far and I will continue to paint the children for as long as I am able, to raise awareness of what is needed and the good work that ANERA does.

ANERA makes a big impact, but still there is more work to do.  Here are a few facts: with assistance from ANERA 8,658 refugee youth have returned to school to learn basic skills so that they can help support their families and themselves.  2,000 preschoolers have received school supplies and reading materials.  25 communities in Gaza, and 1,000 people overall have benefitted from being connected to clean water. $49 Million worth of medicine and relief supplies have been delivered to Palestine and Lebanon.  There is much to read at ANERA's site www.anera.org   I do hope you will go to their web site and read about their good work.  I could go on an on, but you should see for yourself. I have met this wonderful family of devoted servants to the cause and am so grateful to them for their tireless efforts and the great work they do.   I hope you will consider a donation to them on this Giving Tuesday.

ANERA stands for American Near East Refugee Aid. 


"879 Simply Irresistible"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/879-simply-irresistible/637147

878 Water View

Our recent trip to Italy included a few days in Venice, a most unusual and interesting city on a giant lagoon.  I loved the color of the shutters on this building in contrast with the stucco.  The Hotel Caneva boasts that 17 of their 23 rooms have a water view, and often the gondolas pass and guests can hear the serenading.  How delightful!

"878 Water View"
acrylic - 20x16 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/878-water-view/635354

This painting has sold.

877 Narrow Streets

Many of the streets of Venice are so narrow that you must take a deep breath in to get through what feels like a corridor.  It is impossible to get a straight-on photo of a scene like this, hence the wonkiness, which I kind of like.  I was attracted to this because of the lovely blue shutters.

"877 Narrow Streets"
acrylic - 20x16 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/877-narrow-streets/634684

This painting has sold.

876 View From the Courtyard

There is a term in Japanese culture, "Wabi Sabi" which refers to finding beauty in the aged and the imperfect.  Here is a very nice article, The Art of Imperfection by Robyn Griggs Lawrence, that I think you might enjoy.  https://www.utne.com/mind-and-body/wabi-sabi

I love this concept and honor it.  I love to paint aged subjects--rusty old cars, weathered barns, old door nobs,  peeling paint.  This painting shows a scene from Venice, where my husband and I recently vacationed.  We had lunch in a lovely little courtyard and this was my view. Italy was "Wabi Sabi" heaven with all it's weathered buildings, imperfect walkways, monuments and historical sights.

"876 View From the Courtyard"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/876-view-from-the-courtyard/633215

875 Blue Umbrella

It rained miserably on one of our last days in Venice, but it didn't stop us or any of the other tourists from enjoying the day.  St. Marks Square was packed with people wearing plastic ponchos, vying for a bit of covering near the shops.  At a certain point, the crowds were too much to deal with, and so it was quite a nice reprieve to have a recommendation for dinner at a restaurant in an out of the way area, still not far from our hotel, but away from the tourists on a quiet Giuseppe Garibaldi Street.  I loved the perspective of this scene and definitely needed my ruler to sketch it on my canvas.

The evening was one of our most memorable as we went to an orchestra concert of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Le Quattro Stagioni at "Vivaldi's Church," Chiesa Della Pieta.

"875 Blue Umbrella"
acrylic - 20x16 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/875-blue-umbrella/631410

874 Afloat

I couldn't have been any more tickled to find this little snippet of New England when we visited Brewster, Cape Cod this past summer.

"874 Afloat"
acrylic - 20x16 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/874-afloat/630585

This painting has sold.

873 The Gift of Silence

My husband and I recently traveled to Italy for a long-anticipated visit to four cities, the first being Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast.  Due to long travel delays, we arrived very late at night, and upon awakening in the morning, we were delighted to see such a breathtaking sight of the sea outside our window.  Located high up on a cliff, our hotel was a beautiful blend of old and new with the most elegant blue and white tiles of different patterns throughout, and furniture modeled after mid-century modern, also in blue.  I was in heaven.  The grounds were exquisitely designed with 70 different varieties of plantings from all over the world.

Located next to the hotel and its grounds was an old, seemingly abandoned building with all the weathered paint and texture that delivers to me that compulsive surge of desire to paint.  I photographed it from several angles during those golden moments when the light is just so perfect.  During the visit, I was unable to get information about the domed building, but finally received an email response from the hotel with explanation.

In 1597, this building was constructed by the Jesuits as a convent in what was then a rural area with orchards and citrus grove sloping toward the sea.  "According to legend, the gods had given custody of the secret garden to the nymph Colomeide that to all those who would have entered into that magical place, she would have given the gift of silence."  In 1777 the building was converted into a hotel, now called the Grand Hotel Cocumella and is the most ancient destination of recreation and rest in the Sorrento peninsula.  I wish I had known this information when we were there.  I would have looked closer to see the hotel and would have entered the grounds, which are bordered by a tall stone wall.

Throughout Italy I took well over 1,000 photos of unimportant buildings and windows with weathered paint that I find so charming.  I took a few hundred of the historical sites.  I suspect you will see more paintings of the old buildings/windows than you will of the Colosseum.

"873 The Gift of Silence"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/873-the-gift-of-silence/629117

This painting has sold.

872 Autumn Beauty

There are many indicators that Autumn is here---a nip in the air, darkness setting in too soon, falling leaves, acorns, and apples!  When our children were little, we picked apples at a local orchard every year, apples which were then made into delicious chunky apple sauce.  I love Fall, but don't like what follows.

This painting has sold.

871 Skilled

Joumana, a teenage refugee in Lebanon looks proud because she has just crafted a doll from a wooden spoon,  and a lovely bouquet of paper flowers in a skill course provided by ANERA that is designed for older teens so that they can work for a better future for themselves.  Joumana has participated in a certified early childhood education training course, but many other courses teach these young people computers, hairdressing, cooking, sports, and other life skills.

"The non-formal education and job skills courses are part of ANERA's project, "Quick Impact Skills for Development for Youth and Adolescents Affected by the Syrian Crisis," implemented in partnership with UNICEF and with funds from the governments of Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

This is my ninteenth portrait of a refugee child served by ANERA, American Near East Refugee Aid, a non-profit, non-political organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.    The Innocents Project is my attempt to raise awareness and money for ANERA so that they can continue their good work serving these Innocents.

Look for more on this in the coming days.

For more information, please check out their website:  www.anera.org
You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

870 Weary

This is my 18th painting for The Innocents Project, my effort to raise awareness and funds for the Syrian and Palestinian refugees who are served by a non-profit, non-political American organization called ANERA, American Near East Refugee Aid, located in Washington DC.  ANERA provides whatever is necessary to serve the refugees---education, supplies, food, clean water systems, etc.

In April, violence erupted in the Ein El Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon, and hundreds of families were displaced.  In August, fighting in the camp intensified and 47 families were displaced.  Six refugees were killed and 15 wounded.  ANERA provided hygiene kits, baby supplies and quilts, and distributed medical supplies to a local hospital.  The folks at ANERA are angels.

In recent weeks, we have seen massive destruction caused by hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.  The conditions in which so many people are surviving are deplorable, and surely, they will be affected for a very long time by these disasters.  

There are a lot of similarities in living conditions for the Syrian and Palestinian refugees, but their problems have existed for many, many years, and are a result of man-made complications rather than Mother Nature's wrath.  Lack of electricity, food, clothing, heat, water, education, are shared experiences with the hurricane victims, but the one difference is that that is the "normal" in their world.  

"870 Weary"

acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/870-weary/626018

869 Education is Key

The new school year began this week in my community and many others, and as I watched neighborhood kids trot off to school with their new paraphernalia and school clothes, I couldn't help but think of the children in Palestine and Lebanon, where education for many is not readily accessible due to poverty and conflict.  Stress and anxiety can prohibit the learning process and development for these children.

In Lebanon, not only is the economy left in turmoil by the 1.5 million Syrian refugees, but so is the education system.  But so many of the Syrian refugee children drop out of school to work to support their families, and many of them have not been enrolled in school at all.

If you have been following my blog, you may recall that I have been painting the refugee children as part of my effort called "The Innocents Project."  This is my 17th painting in the series, which I'm hoping will raise awareness of the innocent children who are caught in the middle of a turbulent situation.  (More on that in the weeks to come!)

I am also working to promote the good work of a Washington, DC headquartered organization called ANERA, American Near East Refugee Aid, a non-political, non-profit group of devoted people in the US and in the Middle East who are committed to restoring dignity to those who live in sub-human conditions.  ANERA provides early childhood education to those like this beautiful young girl, incorporating expressive arts as part of their curriculum.  For older students, they provide non-formal and flexible education to teens so that they can try to go to school and help support their families.  It is often difficult and unaffordable for the children to get transportation to schools outside of their camps, so ANERA is working to educate them in or near their camps.

ANERA seems to cover whatever is needed for the refugee families, renovating schools, improving water systems, distributing medical supplies and relief materials, including shoes and boots for children who otherwise would be barefoot.  I cannot say enough about the work they do, which is so much more than I have described here.  Check their stats and you will see.  Please consider donating to ANERA or at the very least, check out their website to learn about this crucial situation.  www.anera.org.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

"869 Education is Key"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/869-education-is-key/621756

868 Nasturtiums

My new floral infatuation is with nasturtiums, a beautiful and edible flower.  I have a few multi-colored plants--yellow, red and orange, in a pot on my patio and they are hardy and beautiful.  I love how the stems go every-which-way.  I am sure this is the first of many more nasturtium paintings.  Next year they will have a more prominent place in my garden.

"868 Nasturtiums"
acrylic - 6x6 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/868-nasturtiums/620375

This painting has sold.

867 Hideout

Somewhere in Wisconsin...

This painting has sold.

866 Kate and Will

I just returned from Brewster, Massachusetts Cape Cod where we attended a most beautiful wedding of my god-daughter, Kate and Will, the perfect compliment to Kate.  The wedding was an elegant, yet warm and welcoming celebration of their love and future.   Kate loves succulents, and her wedding was draped with gorgeous flowers, greenery, and of course, succulents.  The above painting was part of my wedding gift and hopefully they will find a place in their home that will remind them of all the love, pride and admiration I have for them, and of all the heartfelt wishes I send for a beautiful life together.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Charlie, the Best Dog looked quite dapper in his tuxedo.
You may remember that I have painted Charlie numerous times.  He is the perfect subject!
Congratulations, Will and Kate, #pairofkings.

865 Blue Roof

I really enjoyed mixing all these greys and I'm happy with this painting after a couple of bombs.  It will be on its way to The Leigh Gallery in Chicago very soon.

By the way, one of my paintings from my Plymouth Beach series was rented for a Lowe's commercial.  I don't watch much television, so I doubt I will see it, but it's lots of fun to get the publicity!

This painting has sold.

864 Family Farm

This post should be called "When Life Gets in the Way."  For the last several weeks, I have been absent on the painting and posting scene because of a commitment to my garden club.  Now that most of the dust has settled, I am eager to get back to painting more regularly.  There are so many paintings in my head just waiting to be put to canvas.

"864 Family Farm"
acrylic - 9x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/864-family-farm/615719

In case you'd like to know about our big "event," read on.  For the last 15 months, The Whitefish Bay Garden Club has been planning our inaugural garden tour of 10 private gardens and 4 public gardens in our little village.  But not just any garden tour--a tour of gardens with quilts made by local quilters, "Quilts in the Garden."  Oh. My.  Our little idea grew and grew and our 10 private gardens were staged with 90 beautiful quilts.  It was spectacular.  We had no idea how many tickets to print, so we initially printed 250.  The number of pre-orders kept growing, and more tickets were printed.  We never expected, nor were we prepared to sell 900 tickets.  But it was a beautiful day and people came and truly enjoyed the quilts and the gardens.  Here are a few photos. Enjoy!

863 Simple Elegance

Most artists I know paint with emotion while trying to capture with paint and canvas a feeling they had about a certain subject.  I am most relaxed and connected to Mother Nature when I am amidst the trees in any given area, woods or neighborhood.  A recent visit to Mackinac Island brought us to that place for me during our horse drawn carriage ride through most of the island.  This tree caught my eye and I was lucky to get a photograph or two on the move.  

I made this painting with a very limited palette.  No green or brown paint, just three blues, three yellows, two reds, a white and a tiny bit of black to mix that olive green on the left.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/863-simple-elegance/598443

This painting has sold.

  

862 Sunset Trail, November

I never seem to tire of painting trees.  I love the strong vertical of these sculptural beauties and decided to make changes to the color of the tree trunks, just for fun.

The Sunset Trail in the Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek Door County provides endless inspiration.  I can't even guess at how many photos of trees I have taken there.

"862 Sunset Trail, November"
acrylic - 14x11 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/862-sunset-trail-november/598017

861 Thirsty for a Better Life

No child should have to live under the conditions in which refuge children exist in Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.  There is not enough of the basic necessities---water, electricity, food, medical supplies, etc. to supply to the refugee families, but because of ANERA's valiant efforts, nearly 134,000 Palestinians have been given access to reliable water supplies, including this little guy.  For four decades, ANERA has worked to manage sewage and give better access to clean water in the Middle East.  You can read more about their efforts to improve the water crisis here:
https://www.anera.org/what-we-do/water/

This is my 15th painting of a refugee child for my personal effort, The Innocents Project.  Please consider making a donation to ANERA to support their efforts on behalf of refugee families and please mention The Innocents Project.
www.anera.org

"861 Thirsty for a Better Life"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/861-thirsty-for-a-better-life/586327

860 Looking East: 6:37 p.m. at Fred & Fuzzy's

Door County has the most breathtaking views of sunsets over Green Bay.  There is a popular restaurant in Sister Bay Door County, Wisconsin called Fred & Fuzzy's where you can sit outside and

enjoy the beautiful sunsets along with good food and a beautiful atmosphere.  

What I have discovered is that when the sun is setting in the west, sometimes the view is even more beautiful if you look to the EAST.  That is the view you are seeing here.  I thought it was spectacular!

I wasn't sure the actual intensity of the colors would be believable, so I modified them a little, so imagine the tree trunks even more vibrant than they are here!  Mother Nature has an amazing color palette!

"860 Looking East: 6:37 p.m. at Fred & Fuzzy's"

acrylic - 16x20 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/860-looking-east-637-pm-at-fred-and-fuzzys/584104

859 Patton

One of the many things I love about being an artist is that I have so many opportunities for learning, not just about painting and art, but about everyday life, nature, history, etc.  For instance, this dog's name was Patton, and since my history knowledge is a little rusty, I thought I would try to learn a little about the World War II General George Patton.  I won't go into anything that I learned about General Patton, other than that he had a white bull terrier named Willie.

This portrait of Patton was commissioned by friends of two fire fighters who loved this dog so much, and initially had hoped Patton would be ferocious.  Instead, Patton was a sweetheart who was a friendly, gentle soul who loved to ride on their boat.  I am pleased to say that these folks named their dog, Patton, and Patton was female.

"859 Patton"
acrylic - 8x10 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/859-patton/583000

858 Ice Cream Social

I bet you are wondering how the title relates to this painting.  The painting is of a small section of a very long (I would guess 8') mid-century Italian ice cream parlor bench--the kind where 10 people can comfortably sit back to back in the little niches.  This beautiful piece was retrieved from Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is quite impressive with it's yellow circular tabletops strategically placed.   I really enjoyed zooming in and finding just the right section to paint, and I loved how the reflections of the lights and other objects in the room bounced off the slats.  I think the painting has an op art feel to it, yes?

You've probably guessed that I love old and unusual artifacts, and painting them has been quite interesting and challenging for me.  The piles of old doorknobs, antique monastery keys, French wine jugs, Czech Republic juggling pins, Italian mid-century wood carvings,  a weathered door, statues and this bench have all interested me in some way, compelling me to paint.  Mostly it's the texture that sings to me---rust and chipped paint, and the concept of preserving the old, knowing where the item came from, in a wabi-sabi sort of way.  Here is Wikipedia's short description of Wabi-sabi.

"Wabi-sabi is a concept in traditional Japanese aesthetics constituting a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete."

"858 Ice Cream Social"
acrylic -

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/858-ice-cream-social/581304

857 Hob Nobbing in Door County

Door County will start to come alive this weekend after a long sleepy winter.  This painting is now being offered for sale at The Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek, Door County, Wisconsin.  It took me quite awhile to complete due to its size and complexity, but I loved every minute of painting it.  Door knobs were so beautiful in years past, and, oh, if only they could talk.  What stories they would tell!

I hope if your travels take you to Door County, you will stop in at the gallery and say hello.  It's a beautiful place with magnificent sculpture gardens, and of course great art inside too!  Please mention you are a friend of mine and snap a photo of my paintings on the wall.  It's always so much fun for me to receive emails/texts from friends who are visiting the gallery.  You can see my work and all the others at www.edgewoodorchard.com

"857 Hob Nobbing in Door County"
acrylic - 43x33 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/857-hob-nobbing-in-door-county/578885

856 Resilience

When I received my Spring issue of ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) News in the mail, it motivated me to finish this little girl's portrait.  So many of the children smile for the ANERA photographers, and I often wonder if, despite their horrible living conditions,  they are simply resilient, or thrilled to have their pictures taken, or happy to see visitors.  Perhaps it's a little of all of those things.  Their smiles give me hope, possibly falsely, because things are looking less and less optimistic for them, despite the Herculean efforts of ANERA and other relief organizations.  Some kids can't seem to muster up a smile, looking either sick or tired (have you noticed they ALL have circles under their eyes?  Is it any wonder?).

This painting is my fifteenth portrait of refugee children in Lebanon and Palestine as part of my effort called The Innocents Project.  I started this project to put faces to those we call "refugees," children who are deserving of all the things we hope to provide to our children, but who cannot receive because of situations beyond their control.  I am hoping not only to raise awareness of these children, but to raise money for ANERA.

The report from the ANERA program manager in Lebanon, Dima Zayat is grimly called, "Refugees Are Losing Hope."   Dima tells a story about a Palestinian refugee from Syria who fled to Lebanon, which makes him twice exiled.  He has five children, and he and his family left everything--their house, garden, school for the children, and his small grocery store in Syria to flee to safety in Lebanon.    The shed they now call home is dilapidated, and the kids have dirty clothes and matted hair.

Dima reports that the refugees are losing hope.  Many of them hoped to resettle to the United States to live normal lives again.  But that won't happen.  Instead they, along with 1.5 Million registered refugees from Syria (who knows how many are not yet registered?) are currently living in Lebanon where the camps are overpopulated, often unsafe, and barely provide the minimum of what they need. Reliable water and electricity don't exist.  Over half of the children do not go to school because they have to work.

ANERA does what they can with the 94% of their revenue spent on programs in Lebanon and Palestine.  They seem to be the only hope in providing dignity and distraction from the dire situation. One of ANERA's programs is called Sports for Peace and Development.  We all know the benefits of sports to children, and the refugees are no exception.  The program is encouraging involvement in soccer, basketball, swimming and yoga for both boys and girls and ANERA is working on getting shoes for the children, who play in socks or bare feet, as well as sports jerseys, which really mean a lot to the children.  

I sincerely hope you will go to their website and read about this fine non-partisan organization.  You can read the newsletter or just this article yourself by going to their website, www.anera.org.  By way of the magnifying glass, enter ANERA News, Spring 2017.  I guarantee you will be impressed and I hope you will be motivated to make a donation to ANERA.  Large or small, any amount is greatly appreciated.

"856 Resilience"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/856-resilience/577237

855 Around the Bend, Sunset Trail, Peninsula State Park

The Sunset Trail has many twists and turns.  The arrow points to the right but what other option is there?

In winter, you can snowmobile on certain paths, but we are not daring enough for this activity.

"855 Around the Bend, Sunset Trail, Peninsula State Park"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/855-around-the-bend-sunset-trail-peninsula-state-park/576853

854 Sunset Trail, Peninsula State Park

The light shining through and on the trees on the Sunset Trail is captivating.  I find the undergrowth almost as interesting as the trees.  In the Spring, there are tiny purple irises that blanket the ground. The felled birches are so beautiful, too.  It's a beautiful place to hike or bike ride.

"854 Sunset Trail, Peninsula State Park"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/854-sunset-trail-peninsula-state-park/576640

853 White Cedar Forest, Sunset Trail, Peninsula State Park

The Sunset Trail in the Peninsula State Park, Door County, Wisconsin is one of my sacred places.  I never miss a chance to walk the path and bask in the glorious light streaming through the trees.  I must have hundreds of photos of trees and light!

The path is 10 miles for the long version or 3 miles for the short one.  When our children were young, it was our tradition to ride bikes for the long trail. There is a spot where a sign urges "Parents, Watch Your Children"  at a steep incline, and our kids would always defiantly speed up and ride hands free. One recent visit, my husband and I took each other's pictures near the sign pretending to be frightened.  Those 10 miles seem much longer now that we are older, and certainly not as much fun without the "kids."

"853 White Cedar Forest, Sunset Trail, Peninsula State Park"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/853-white-cedar-forest-sunset-trail-peninsula-state-park/576474

852 Peek-a-boo

The owl family is moving around a little more now that Baby is somewhat comfortable with leaving "home," mostly because of parental or predator pressure.   He/she prefers to stay close to the trunk of familiar trees, and seems to be more comfortable with keeping Mom or Dad right next to her/him. Having these creatures near has been a great way to observe nature in all its glory and to encourage neighborly friendliness, and everyone seems to enjoy sharing their experiences and observations.

Thanks again to my neighbors,  Steve and Ann Gardiner, for generously sharing their photos with me, along with permission to paint from them.

I have been keeping busy experimenting with abstracts and different media.  Trust me, it is SO much more difficult than it looks.  To me, a good abstract painting is not just slapping paint on a canvas and calling it an abstract, rather, it has all the elements of a good painting,  and it has been a very slow process, but I am really enjoying it.  My #1 critic has given his approval, so I feel I am on the right track, although he doesn't quite understand why I wouldn't want to stick with "my day job."  ho hum.

"852 Peek-a-boo"
acrylic - 8x10 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/852-peek-a-boo/575561

851 Under Her Wing

Once again this year, we are fortunate enough to have a Great Horned Owl family in our neighborhood. We don't know if these are the same owls as those who graced us in two previous years but we are addicted to observing them in this fairly urban setting.

There is only one owlet this year,  hatched earlier than in previous years, we Owl Ladies speculate because of the mild winter.   As an "only child" we have observed that this owlet is larger than expected, and more "pampered."  We have watched him/her stubbornly refuse to fledge, even when tempted with a plump, tasty rabbit dinner.

Today, the owl family was driven from their pine tree by a "murder" of crows.  I'm not making that up, that's what a group of crows is called!

Thanks to my neighbor, Steve Gardiner, for the photo reference for this painting.  He has a camera that can capture the owls in all their glory and is very generous in sharing his photos with all of the Owl Addicts.

"851 Under Her Wing"
acrylic - 20x16 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/851-under-her-wing/574847

850 The Perfect Pair

Soon I will be headed to Door County with a carload of paintings to deliver to the Edgewood Orchard Galleries.  The new season will open in early-May, and will continue until the end of October.  If your vacation takes you to Door County, Wisconsin, please stop by.  Edgewood Orchard Galleries is rated #2 in the top ten galleries in Wisconsin.  I am so grateful and proud to be a part of their family of artists!

"850 The Perfect Pair"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/850-the-perfect-pair/572595

849 Hospitality and Kindness

 I rarely know the names of the refugee children I paint, but here is a little information as ANERA describes him.  "Hossam, 16 is from Homs in Syria.  Nearly 6 years ago, he and his family fled the war and found safety in Halba, Northern Lebanon.  They left everything behind.  Hossam still remembers his school days when he was happy and safe, playing football on the streets of Homs with friends.  Now he says he faces a lot of bullying when playing with kids from Halba.  'Kids run after me saying, You are Syrian.  Go back home!'  But I defend myself saying 'We are all humans and once we go back home, you can all come visit and I will welcome you with hospitality and kindness.' "

Hossam's portrait is part of my "Innocents Project."  ANERA, American Near East Refugee Assistance, a non-political organization in Washington D.C.  helps families like Hossam's by providing shelter, food, clothing, safe water, distribution of donated Tom's shoes, medical supplies, and much, much more.  Please consider making a donation to ANERA.org in honor of someone special, or just because.

P.S.  Perhaps you have noticed that just about every child in my portraits has dark circles under their eyes.  I do not exaggerate the circles, but feel like I must include them.  The children often sleep on cement flooring with a blanket cushion in one "room" of the refugee camp containing their entire family.  No wonder.

"849 Hospitality and Kindness"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/849-hospitality-and-kindness/571553

849 Feeling Jubilant in Door County

I am getting ready and excited for another season in Door County.

"849 Feeling Jubilant in Door County"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/849-feeling-jubilant-in-door-county/569956

848 Teddy, #1 Packer Fan

This is Teddy, a much loved Teddy Bear from the same breeder as my Oliver and several other pooches in my community.  Teddy loves the Packers, and he even has his own Facebook Page!

846 R.I.P. Mahal

I painted this beloved young orangutan long ago, but for some reason never posted it.  His mysterious and sudden death in 2012 made front page news again today, so it is opportune for me to remember him.   Mahal was Milwaukee County Zoo's prize orangutan brought there from Colorado.  I remember it was a shock to all, and today it was published that Mahal died of a virus from a tapeworm which should not have been found in an orangutan, rather a weasel.  The tapeworm has been found in Finland and Japan, but not Milwaukee, Wisconsin so how it got here is a mystery. Scientists are studying this mysterious scenario to find out if this virus can also affect humans.
Followup articles will be in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the next few days.

"R.I.P. Mahal"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/rip-mahal/568642

847 ...With a Cherry on Top

I am getting ready and excited for another season at the beautiful Edgewood Orchard Galleries, and of course,  Door County is known for CHERRIES!

"847 ...With a Cherry on Top"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/847-with-a-cherry-on-top/567424

Love is a Many Splendored Thing

Need I say more?

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you.

"Love is a Many Splendored Thing"
oil - 12x9 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/love-is-a-many-splendored-thing/563047

844 Will You Be My Valentine?

A very wise woman,  my mentor, always said it was the kiss of death to fall in love with your painting.  (It really was a tough lesson to learn.)   But she never said I shouldn't fall in love with my subject.  This little angel stole my heart at first glance.

Her name is Safaa.  I don't always know the child's name when I paint the refugees ANERA serves, and the more information I have about each child, the more intimate the painting experience.  I don't know anything about her, other than she is probably Palestinian or Syrian living in Lebanon, Palestine or Jordan, so I just imagine what her life is like, and what it could be when I am painting her.   She probably lives in a makeshift refugee camp where heat is nonexistent.  If she is lucky, ANERA provides her with a preschool to attend, and warm boots provided by Toms, and emergency lights. Hopefully she has the medical supplies she needs and clean water, all provided by ANERA.

ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) is a non-political non-profit headquartered in Washington, D.C.  They are committed to providing not only aid to families in the Middle East, but to giving them as much dignity as possible.  These ANERA folks are angels too.

If you are so moved, please consider making a donation to ANERA at www.anera.org.

"844 Will You Be My Valentine?"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/844-will-you-be-my-valentine/561749

843 Grace and Beauty

My online class is over and I really enjoyed it.  I still have much to learn.  I will continue to study and will take the lessons with me as I further develop my style and identity as an artist.

Working with oil paints is a much slower process and much more difficult than working with acrylics, in my opinion. I thought I had a lot of patience, but working with oil showed me that I need more.

"843 Grace and Beauty"
oil - 16x20 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/843-grace-and-beauty/560503