1259. Thinking of You

Flowers are an important part of my life.  They make challenging times better and happy times happier.  Having flowers in my home makes it a much more welcoming place.  I was raised with vegetable and flower gardens from early childhood and came to appreciate not only the work that goes into those gardens, but the pride and challenges and many rewards.  Every summer for all of my childhood, I spent my school vacation living with my aunts and uncles.  I learned about gardening and grew to appreciate every aspect of it,  My aunt was  president of her Garden Club, and always had fresh flowers that she grew and arranged in gorgeous displays for the house.  I always say she was Martha Stewart before Martha Stewart. 

I grew to need flowers in my yard and in my house.  My husband buys flowers for me every week and includes a note with something pertinent to that week.  I have a shoebox full of those cards to mark our many many years and events together.  

Many thanks to La Terre Market for the photo inspiration.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1259-thinking-of-you/1146661

1258. Love

 We had to say goodbye to our best buddy, Oliver on October 21.  He was 14 years old, but still acted like a puppy until recently.  It has been a very painful loss.  When someone looks at you like this every single day, you feel loved.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1258-love/1145569

1257. Deep in My Heart

 https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1257-deep-in-my-heart/1145025

1256. A Gentleman and a Scholar

 I've been working on this painting for a couple of weeks, but until today, I couldn't come up with a title.  Today, I knew the title had to be in honor and memory of my friend who passed away yesterday.  He was both of my kids' fifth grade teacher.  I was his first parent volunteer in the classroom beginning in 1993, even though he had been teaching for many, many years, and I stayed there long after my kids graduated high school until he retired.  He was a most loved teacher who literally changed lives, according to the many kids-now-adults who credit him with that honor.  His peers at school loved and respected him.  I was privileged to witness him in action in the classroom.  I never heard him raise his voice, but he knew how to approach the unruly fifth grader.  In spare time, he showed his students classic movies like South Pacific.  He had a period every so often where he read from books to the kids, complete with the characters' voices.  Also memorable,  the kids were told they could NOT work on schoolwork, but were encouraged to doodle.  And then there was the green couch that everyone wanted to hang out on.  After some time, I was trusted with correcting some student work.  He treated the kids with such respect and high expectations and they rose to the occasion.  

Every year on my birthday, up until this past February,  I received flowers from this generous man.  My kids and  husband got cards with a little something included and this message: "Have a drink on me."  After Thanksgiving I would receive a poinsettia.  EVERY YEAR. 

I was so lucky to know this man and I will miss him.  "You're a real prince, George Hanneman, a gentleman and a scholar"  J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1256-a-gentleman-and-a-scholar/1143732

1255. Just Peachy

 I painted this once before in a different color way and more realistic.  I'm happy with this one.

It's available for purchase.  Contact me if interested.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1255-just-peachy/1142987

 

1254. Deep in Thought

 I spent a few hours at the Chicago Botanical Gardens this week and made a special point to look closely in the Rose Garden.  There are so many beautiful roses there.  I came home and made several changes to the roses in the painting.  "Research."

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1254-deep-in-thought/1141887

1253. An All Day Affair

 Trying to loosen up.  Will keep trying.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1253--an-all-day-affair/1141183

1252. Personality Plus

 

This painting and the one prior, 1251. Bright Spot were both inspired by the same photos of a bouquet my husband recently bought.  I like this interpretation more and hope to continue on this path.  

My natural method is to paint what I see realistically (a "police report").   But I want to paint a "poem."  I think this is a little closer, somewhere between complete whimsy and realism.  

"Police report/poem" analogy courtesy of Chicago artist, Steve Puttrich.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1252-personality-plus/1140967

1251. Bright Spot

 My husband recently bought an unusual bouquet of flowers for me.  The sunflowers were picked early and hadn't unfurled.  It was really challenging to represent them, and I wasn't successful, so I pretended they were open.  I was trying to loosen up, but the more time I spent, the fussier I got.  The title refers to the flowers, not the painting!  (smile)

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1251--bright-spot/1140507

1250. Untitled

This painting is about the war in Gaza.  I've sat with it for many, many days, staring at my computer screen to try to come up with two things---  one, a title; and two, courage to post.  I have never entered politics or world events to my social media, but the "situation" in Gaza is always on my mind, and disturbingly so.  There are no words that adequately describe the cruelty of this war, hence "untitled."  

Art is a wonderful vehicle for expression.  This pain and emotion has to go somewhere or else it destroys, so I'm attempting to get it out with paint.  I hope you will respect that.

(Can't decide which orientation I like better.)

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1250--untitled/1140088

 

1249. Through It All

 

The last four months have been very challenging for our family, filled with great worry and grief.  Through it all, this painting sat in my studio in a frozen state while I paused my painting practice, there for me to analyze what it needed to become--- something I could be happy with and proud of.  So many times I came close to painting over it.  Now that we are on our way and much improved,  it was time to finally devote energy to finish it..  

It started out as a very different painting with an abundance of apricot and peach colored roses, but it soon evolved into a still life of cheerfully colored flowers like those I have grown and nurtured in my rooftop garden.  It reminds me that nurturing my family and myself through the last few months has brought me to now---the time to bloom and get on with life. 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1249-through-it-all/1137999 

1248. Hind Rajab

 Perhaps you have seen pictures of this beautiful 6 year old girl who was killed in the war in Gaza. Her story is just one of 40,000+ horrific stories.   Hind and her family were traveling by car when their vehicle was bombed.  Hind initially survived and called for help, frightened and trapped.  She was on the phone for three hours with the dispatcher at the Red Crescent Society, begging for help.  An ambulance was deployed with approval from Israel's authorities and a map describing the route to the car, but the two paramedics were killed and never made it to Hind.  She died after 3 hours.   It took 12 days---read that again, 12 days---before paramedics and her family were allowed to get to the site in Gaza City.  Imagine the terror that little girl must've felt despite her bravery.  

Israel denies responsibility, but evidence proves otherwise.  In April,  students at Columbia University renamed Hamilton Hall "Hind's Hall."

This painting is part of my series of portraits of Palestinian refugee children called The Innocent's Project.  Here is a link to the other portraits (see Portraits).  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/diane-campion-3732

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1248--hind-rajab/1134114

1247. Peach Cobbler (Study)

 

I really love the composition of this floral, which is a Farmgirl Floral arrangement, painted with permission.  I will be attempting to paint it  much larger, and I'm hopeful that it will work out.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1247-peach-cobbler-study-/1118441

1246. Juliette and Friends

 This was a real struggle.  I gave up.  There is no way to adequately represent the stunning Juliette rose.  It surely is one of Mother Nature's masterpieces

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1246--juliette-and-friends/1117020

1245. The Poetry of Spring

 It is said that Springtime brings hope and joy.  With Easter just around the corner, I believe that's true.  There is an awakening in our gardens and in our spirits.  

Gratitude to Farmgirl Flowers for the inspiration for this painting.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1245--the-poetry-of-spring/1113636

1244. Pretty in Pink

 This is another LaTerre Market flower arrangement.  I loved the elegance of the arrangement and the simplicity of the colors.  Grateful for permission to use the photo as a reference.    

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1244--pretty-in-pink/1110527

1243. Adoring Spouse

 The daughter of a dear friend of mine recently became the owner of a lovely flower shop/market in Mequon, Wisconsin, La Terre.  Sally, who I've watched grow up and blossom, has an unbelievable talent for flowers and is one of Milwaukee's most gifted wedding florists.  She recently granted me permission to use La Terre's photos of floral arrangements as inspiration for my paintings.

This is Adoring Spouse, one of three floral arrangements sold as a group to celebrate three significant occasions, for instance Mother's Day, Birthday, Anniversary, etc.  I struggled with this painting because the arrangement was simply so beautiful that I felt I just couldn't do it justice.  I struggled because I didn't want to do it an injustice by reducing the detail of the gorgeous blooms, despite that being my goal.  I'll keep trying.

You can visit the website at:  https://www.laterremarket.com/ 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1243-adoring-spouse/1109179

1242. Birthday Confetti

 My birthday was a few days ago, and in between calls from family and friends, I was able to do two favorite activities on my birthday--paint and read.  The splash of white paint or "confetti" was an afterthought to bring good luck in the coming year.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1242--birthday-confetti/1108175

1241. Ingenuity

 Happy Friday! I've been continuing my exploration of simplifing floral paintings. It's very difficult as I am a detail conscious person. In "Ingenuity" I picked an unexpected color for the background--pink and yellow? Also am experimenting with a black glaze wiped back to give an aged look. Must try a sepia color next. Color is a little exaggerated--can't seem to get it right today.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1241-ingenuity/1105235

1240. Farmgirl

 I received a beautiful floral arrangement recently from a friend.  It was from Farmgirl Flowers and full of beautiful pink and red flowers in a pretty pink vase with a ribbon.   It was a very cheery arrangement, and making this painting on a grey and dreary Chicago day really perked up my spirits.  I really don't like winter, and this was fun to paint.

 In case you are wondering, Farmgirl flowers never disappoints!  They ship beautiful arrangements anywhere in the country, sometimes in vases, other times in burlap, and I've never been disappointed on the sending or receiving end. The arrangements are unusual and often exotic and plentiful.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1240-farmgirl/1104171

1239. Serendipity

 A good friend suggested that I make more paintings like 1237 Blissful, which has prompted me to explore (with a little confidence) a more abstracted version of florals, which is enjoyable but challenging.  I particularly like glazing at the very end, which is just simply adding a layer and then removing it, leaving bits of the color.  What do you think?

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1238-encore-performance/1102519

1238. Encore Performance

 If I had to guess, I'd say pears are the items most painted by artists.  Or maybe oranges?  Whatever.  I've painted pears in this bowl made by Jean Wells many times.  I think it's a perfect pearing.  Ha ha.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1238-encore-performance/1102519

1237. Blissful

 This painting is a combination of summer garden flowers and imagination.  It's a little different for me, looser and more free style, and fun to paint.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1237-blissful/1100735

1236. As the Crow Flies

 Sometimes abstracts come together with little effort and this is one of them.  I'm very happy with it, painted in my favorite limited palette.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1236--as-the-crow-flies/1100598

1235. Beach Buoys

 I love painting buoys with all their scrappy paint and bright colors. I'm always looking for good reference photos because there aren't many lobster buoys here in the Midwest.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1235-beach-buoys/1099875