12664. Dreaming in Color

 

I absolutely loved painting this.  A happy accident was that I grounded the canvas with  the pinks and reds left over on my palette and when I finished painting the image, I decided to keep it, definitely a practice I will continue.  This painting is for sale, unframed, but shown here to give an idea of how it would look framed. Gratitude to LaTerre Market for use of their photo for inspiration.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/12664-dreaming-in-color/1157711

891 Lemons in a Blue and White Bowl

The colors of blue and white and yellow are so cheery and never seem to go out of style.
This morning glory bowl was made by Milwaukee artist, Jean Smaglik Wells using a technique called sgraffito.  Her bowls are my favorites for still life paintings.

"891 Lemons in a Blue and White Bowl"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/891-lemons-in-a-blue-and-white-bowl/650116

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

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

837 Shining Light

The Campion home was filled with warmth and joy at Christmas and Chanukah.  We had a house full of family--many from a warm climate who loved the cold (go figure) and frolicking in the snow.  We were all bundled up to endure snowball fights, building forts, and the highlight-- snow tubing.  Food and drink were plentiful, and laughter filled the air.  Santa visited and left many gifts for the children after filling his belly with cookies and milk.  We are all so fortunate to have so many blessings.

Painting over the last few weeks was at a minimum, but I was too busy to make it a priority.  I was a little worried that the dreaded painter's block would slip in, but thankfully it didn't.  A giant antique door knob painting called out from the easel, and a beautiful amaryllis gift from a friend is blooming and stirring potential painting ideas.

But at this time yesterday and today, I felt compelled to paint another refugee child pictured on ANERA'S "#Shine Your Light" year-end fundraising campaign (www.ANERA.com) as part of The Innocents Project.  This little girl stole my heart with her big brown eyes and bowed lips.  This will make my 10th portrait in this series,  and I will continue painting until I have a body of work to display and raise awareness (and funds) for the refugee children in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) has a great track record for providing education, shoes, warm clothes, medical supplies, improved water systems, and whatever else is needed to give refugees some dignity and the tools needed to make a better future.  It is very cold in that part of the world, perhaps you didn't know that, and heat is not plentiful even in regular homes, let alone in tents and makeshift cement structures. Imagine sleeping in 40 degrees without heat!  I hope you will check out ANERA's web sight and their Facebook page.  Their focus is on providing better lives for the refugees, NOT politics, so I hope that will further encourage you to read about their good work and to consider a donation.

I would like to express my gratitude to you for following my work and for all your comments, suggestions and encouragement.  I am grateful for the two galleries who represent me, Edgewood Orchard Gallery in Door County, Wisconsin, and The Leigh Gallery in Chicago.  I wish you all good things for 2017--good health, happiness, a heart full of love, and whatever prosperity means to you.

"837 Shining Light"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/837-shining-light/542711

I would like to expand the reach of my blog so please pass it on to someone who may enjoy it.
www.dianecampion.blogspot.com

836. Sticking Together

Today is Giving Tuesday, and it couldn't be a more perfect day to have completed this painting for one of my favorite organizations, ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid).  ANERA states their request more eloquently than I could ever do:  "Today is #GivingTuesday. Your gift can bring warm clothes to a child living in a tent. Your gift can deliver vital medicine to families living in isolated #Palestinian villages. Your gift can give kids and teens access to basic education, so their dreams don't fade. Please #ShineYourLightand give today."   I assume these two darlings are sisters, and I hope I have communicated that resemblance.  Unfortunately, all they have is each other.  

Recently,  I had an open house/open studio to share my artwork, and front and center were my 10 paintings of portraits of refugee children in Palestine and Lebanon as a part what I am calling The Innocents Project.  People donated to the cause and, in addition,  I am donating a percentage of my sales of artwork to ANERA.  I know that the money will be well spent.  As an artist, I feel an obligation to express myself not only in "pretty paintings" but to communicate my passion for the good of these children, who are innocent victims.

I am so proud of this organization, ANERA.  97 percent of their money goes to satisfying their mission. They do great work.  Please consider a donation to the Innocents Project, my effort to raise awareness and money for ANERA, at www.ANERA.org today or any day.  Thank you for your consideration.

"836. Sticking Together"
acrylic - 12x12 in


http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/836-sticking-together/537185

825 Angelic

This is the seventh portrait as part of my series called "The Innocents Project."  This picture is of a one-year old girl named Tala in either Lebanon or Palestine, who wasn't getting enough nutrition. With assistance from ANERA, she received a vitamin fortified powdered milk and very soon grew taller and gained weight.   ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) is an organization headquartered in Washington D.C.,  founded in 1968 with the intention of helping those in refugee camps in Lebanon and Palestine. They never imagined they would be needed all these years later, but the need is still dire to help repair and build water systems, schools, provide food, medicine, clothing and hygiene products to the thousands and thousands who live in horrible conditions in refugee camps.

This image of beautiful little Tala was taken in 2012 when she was just one year old.  Sadly, I doubt that four years later her life is any better.  She has probably never known a "normal" life outside of a refugee camp. ANERA tries to make children's and their families' lives a little more "normal."

If by chance you are so moved, please make a donation to ANERA.org and mention "The Innocents Project."

"825 Angelic"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/825-angelic/515219

803 I Deserve More

 From all outward appearances, this darling little girl looks normal, right?  She's clean,  her hair is combed and she is wearing a nice big smile on a sunny day (not that all of that makes "normal).  But her life is far from normal.  She is one of too many refugees living in makeshift camps devised from tents or old barracks in Lebanon and Palestine.  In the many photos I have seen of the camps, they appear to be cement walls with a tarp used as a "roof" to connect them.  It's very sad for me to think that this is how this little girl lives and it is the only way she knows to live.   Her family has to beg for clean water to cook, drink and bathe in a bucket.  

ANERA is working very hard to help these children who have faced war and displacement in their very short lives.  They have renovated schools, improved on water systems, and provide shelter, medical supplies, clean clothes, blankets, playgrounds and done everything within their power to make the lives of the displaced Syrians and Palestinians more comfortable and "normal."  

This painting is part of my series of refugee children that I am calling "The Innocents Project."  I am very committed to try to raise awareness of the horrific situations that the children face, with the hope that you will check out the good work that ANERA does (American Near East Refugee Assistance) and consider making a donation to help these children.   This project came about for me because I wasn't satisfied with just sending donations to this worthy cause.  I felt I needed to do more.  I sincerely hope you will go to ANERA's web site to see the reality that these people face and will make a donation.  www.anera.org 

"803 I Deserve More"

acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/803-i-deserve-more/483851

dianecampion.blogspot.com

798 Marwa

Marwa is an outgoing seven year old Syrian refugee who has lived in one of Lebanon's tent camps since she was two years old.  She and her family left their home in Homs, Syria after it was heavily shelled.  She doesn't remember much of her early life.  Marwa has become an "ambassador" or sorts to visitors, particularly to the ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) folks who bring supplies to her camp.  She goes to school near the camp, and readily admits she isn't fond of school, however she plans to be a teacher one day.  When asked to draw a  house, she replied, "I cannot draw a house.  I will draw a tent instead.  I don't know what a house looks like."

"Marwa" is the fifth refugee child in my "Innocents Project" series.  She is the first and only child whose name I know so far.  It is important to me to see these children as real people with names, not just falling under a heading called "refugees."  I get an idea of what this spunky little girl is like from other photos showing a gap in her big bright smile where two bottom teeth used to be.  She is seen carrying her little brother, and has boasted that she does better in school than her siblings.  How typical for a seven year old, yet her life is far from typical or normal.

ANERA works to improve the lives of all of the refugees, but particularly for the children.  Please consider a donation to anera.org in honor of a special mother, or "just because" and please mention The Innocents Project.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

"798 Marwa"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/798-marwa/477195

dianecampion.blogspot.com

795 Hopeful

This beautiful little girl lives at the Ein El Helweh Camp and attends kindergarten with the young girl in my previously posted painting, "793 Not Forgotten."  ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) recently renovated the preschool at the camp and is focusing on providing a safe and intellectually stimulating place for these young children so they can find some sense of normalcy in an unstable and sometimes violent area.

To read more about ANERA and their commitment to refugees in Lebanon and Palestine, please visit their web site"  http://anera.org/  and please consider making a donation to "The Innocents Project." Not only do they help with the physical rebuilding/remodeling of schools, but they provide medical supplies, education, distribution of warm clothes and blankets, etc to those in need.

"795 Hopeful"
acrylic - 12x12 in
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/795-hopeful/474261

dianecampion.blogspot.com