1153. More Prayers for Peace

I'm not sure this is finished, but I'm going to post it anyway and then look at it for a few days.  I've had Ukraine on my mind and felt I wanted to try a blue and yellow painting.  I even managed to locate another Pray For Peace postage stamp in my stash.  

Regarding 1152. As It So Happens, I finally found my favorite orientation, with help from my trusty husband (he is my best and most honest painting critic, surprisingly because he's color blind).  

Have a wonderful weekend.

 

1152 As It So Happens

 

As it so happens, I was eager to add this brilliant Violet/Magenta color to my palette and a day later we bought the most beautiful orchid at Costco in this same color.  AND as it so happens with many abstract paintings, it can be hung in whatever direction you like.  I painted the picture with the top view, but I kind of like the second better.  There's something more optimistic about the upturned arches.  Which orientation do you prefer?

This painting is for sale, unframed. 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1152-as-it-so-happens/994550

1151. Jack

Jack recently crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and his "mom" is heartbroken.  Jack was a Maltese Poodle mix, and was a very sweet dog.  He will surely be missed.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1151-jack/994214

1050 This, That and the Other Thing

 I finished two paintings this week. My first painting, 1149 An Old Fashioned Girl (pink and red) didn't sit right with me, even after a couple days after posted on my social media. The stenciled part was too contrived and it bugged me. So today I fixed it by eliminating it. I'm still not crazy about the painting, but I'm moving on for now. I'm sure there will be another adjustment, but for now I'm setting it aside. Lesson learned: working on only one abstract painting at a time breeds obsession and fussiness. Posting pics of both.

Second painting is 1150 This, That or the Other Thing, really fun to make. I've had the idea in my head for awhile had to get it out of my system. I was going for a tone on tone and what I think surfaced is remnants of my work in various disciplines: quilting, calligraphy, stencilling.

It's pouring rain today here in Chicago, but tomorrow we are expecting 82 degrees. Time to get out in the garden. Happy painting and enjoy the weekend, All.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1050-this-that-and-the-other-thing/993633

1149 An Old Fashioned Girl

 

I thought I'd try a different color palette this time, not sure it's going to stick around.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1149-an-old-fashioned-girl/993251

1148 Black Beauty

 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1148-black-beauty/992731

This is the first painting that I've been able to really utilize my new sander.  Wow! is it fun.  While painting, I didn't worry so much about what the paint was doing because I felt like the sanding might correct the things I wasn't crazy about.  I'm really happy with this one.  There's a mysterious softness to it.  The hardest part was coming up with a title.  Nothing came to me, so I just used Black Beauty because the collage paper was from the book.  I hope you like it.

1147. Ode to Wordle

 What a week.  I've learned so much with this painting to take forward.  I learned that letters in a painting such as the ones at the top left are no easy feat to achieve.  All but one letter were made with printer's blocks or hand painted.  I learned that going from a small format to a large format is not easy.  Many things don't look appropriate in scale when you size up.  I learned that the technique of sanding back does not work as well on a stretched canvas as it will on a hard surface.  And I learned that men are quite curious about seeing a woman in the power tool aisle. Nothing more to say about that.

Now about Wordle. I'll be honest that I can't get enough of it.  Every morning I work on Wordle, the daily Quordle (4 puzzles at once), and then sometimes I work on practice Quordles later in the day.  I take keeping my mind sharp very seriously, and heck, it feels good to solve the puzzles.

I got my Covid booster this week, and the day after was no picnic in the park.  I get the feeling that there's another uptick here in Chicago, so I am taking every precaution.

Till next time, have a meaningful holiday, whatever you celebrate.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1147--ode-to-wordle/992430

1146 Best Kept Secrets

 A painting like this has so many layers you wouldn't believe it.  Just like secrets!  Time and patience over several days were required.  Cool tools and very few brushes were used to apply paint to give it the scrappy feeling.  I hope you like it.  I'm still experimenting. 

 https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1146-best-kept-secrets/991696

Monday Playtime

 

Today was a fun and very messy day, and the time flew by so quickly.  I find it's very worthwhile to take time to mix colors and that's what the above picture shows.  I really love this new palette I've been working with.  It's so very different from all the still life colors I've employed in the past.  I'm ready for a change, so we shall see where this goes.

1145 Window of Opportunity

 I seem to be drawn to these muted colors, and to work in multiple of threes.  I must remember to expand my mini series.  I am very pleased by the feedback I have received.  I am enjoying this little journey and hope to continue.  Thanks for following.

1144. All Part of the Plan

 

I've been really digging deep in expanding my horizon and my head is swimming from all the information AND the discoveries I've made.  I had some old jars of good quality paint in unusual colors and have been experimenting mixing new hues, as well as giving black paint a second chance.  I've very rarely used black, but have discovered a whole other palette of colors.  I've been scraping and sanding and my hands are covered in paint.  I'm having a ball and am discovering what I like and what I don't.  It's "all part of the plan."

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1144--all-part-of-the-plan/990052

1143 Change of Heart

 There is so much to learn in the abstract painting world.  I've been studying many different techniques, tools, applications, and discovering what I like and what I feel represents "me" as an artist.  One very helpful suggestion is to work on several paintings at once so as not to get too fussy, involved, or obsessive about a single piece.  There are three in this series.  So this week I've made a giant mess, but it's sooooo much fun. 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1143--change-of-heart/989673