Sunday, May 28, 2017

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

Friday, May 19, 2017

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


Saturday, May 6, 2017

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