1003. Did Someone Say "Squirrel?"

 Introducing Tia, a beautiful rescue dog.  She was found wandering the streets of Chicago, and now has a very cushy and loving home.

Have you noticed that many, many dogs have been adopted during Covid?  I think it's a wonderful thing that so many abandoned dogs now have loving homes, and that homebound people now have company,  someone to love, hug and spoil.  The shelters have wait lists, and suddenly it is a very competitive market, which is all good.  It's sometimes seems hard to believe that there have been many positives during Covid, but being a "glass half full" person, I really believe this is one of them.  I see so many young people carrying their pups through the streets of Chicago because they are just too tired to take another step.  I can't help but smile underneath my mask.  It warms my heart

I never seem to tire of painting pooches, and Tia made me a very happy painter.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1003--did-someone-say-squirrel/849811

924 Drop Dead Gorgeous

It was fun to arrange this set up, and certainly to paint it, but NOT to photograph it.  Sometimes that is the hardest part.  I especially enjoyed fanning through the stack of paint chips to find the right one.  I find the names of the paint colors to be so interesting, and often so humorous.  In this case, there really is a paint color in the red family called "Drop Dead Gorgeous," Number 1329 by Benjamin Moore.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/924-drop-dead-gorgeous/742176

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.

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

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

840 Feisty and Sweet

Another painting as part of my Innocent's Project...

This adorable little girl is a student at one of the 165 preschools that ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) has rebuilt/refurbished in the West Bank and Gaza.  ANERA has introduced new creative ways for 600 teachers to teach 30,000 children who attend schools in Palestine.  The new framework developed by ANERA, the Ministry of Education and others nationally and internationally concerned about education involves a creative approach to learning, just as we would see in most American preschools.  Instead of passively playing music in the background, children and teachers play a variety of instruments, incorporating dance, drama and art.  Play time is very important part of development for children in this age group, and so many social skills revolve around playtime.  At first the children didn't know what to do with the various games that were provided to them, therefore they mixed up all the playing pieces.  With time and effort, they learned to keep the games together and how to enjoy them.  We take things like this for granted.  These children live in horrific living conditions, but I am grateful to ANERA for providing them with education in a happy setting.

"ANERA’s ECD program is built on a comprehensive and holistic vision to provide the best learning environment for children in safe and colorful settings with child-appropriate learning materials and furnishings, sanitary facilities and playgrounds."  

You can read more about the wonderful work that ANERA does for refugees in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan here:  www.anera.org   They also have Facebook and Instagram pages.

"840 Feisty and Sweet"
acrylic - 12x12 in


http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/840-feisty-and-sweet/557036

829 Pretending

I have studied this child's face for many months in anticipation of painting his portrait, searching for his true emotion.  In his eyes, I see such sadness, yet he tries to muster up a smile for the camera.  I note that he, like all the other refugee children, have dark circles under their eyes.  Their sleeping conditions are poor at best, and they may be cold or hungry or both.   Fear has to play a part in their emotions, as there is often unrest in the refugee camps.  Many of the children know no life other than in a refugee camp.  These children are The Innocents.  They deserve so much more.

ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) tries to give these the children the "more" --- the things we take for granted:  clean water,  warm clothing, shoes, medical attention, schooling---and all of this requires money.  Please consider a donation to ANERA and  "The Innocents Project," which ismy attempt to bring awareness and monetary support of the good work ANERA does in Lebanon andPalestine.  As you know, Lebanon is inundated with refugees from Syria, and it greatly affects their economy.  ANERA is there to help the Syrian and Palestinian children and families.

Here is ANERA's contact information:  www.ANERA.org
ANERA
1111 14th Street N
#400
Washington, DC 20005

Thank you for your consideration.

"829 Pretending"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/829-pretending/519842