1289. Flirtatious

This is a painting of one of many beautiful floral arrangements from La Terre Flower Market in Mequon, Wisconsin.  My friend's daughter graciously granted me permission to use their photos as reference.  This arrangement has all the components of HAPPY with its bright and cheery flowers.  Our Autumn has been beautiful here in Chicago, so HAPPY is the feeling of the days.

 https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1289-flirtatious/1191142

1169. In Due Time

 My class with Louise Fletcher has just ended and I am filled with joy.  During the eight weeks, I have completely submerged myself in all things abstract.  The class was different from anything I'd ever taken before, focusing NOT on method, but figuring out what kind of art I want to make, and then figuring out how to do it, all with the aim of enjoying the process.  The end result was more confidence which helps build a painting I can be proud of.  Louise's premise is that if my art makes me happy, it will make other people happy too--certainly not everyone, but if I'm making art that doesn't make me happy, it will not be authentic, and the viewer will know it.  I've decided to continue on with her follow up class because I have more to learn from Louise and the wonderful coaches.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1169-in-due-time/1014555

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

1106 Afternoon Stroll

 I wanted to give another shot at the white and yellow flowers, as I wasn't thrilled with 1105 Morning Walk.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1106-afternoon-stroll/951015

1104 Forget-Me-Not

 Forget-Me-Nots are one of my very favorite flowers.  They are small and humble, but their beautiful blues capture my heart.  This summer, I grew Chinese Forget-Me-Nots in my rooftop garden, and they brought a beautiful compliment to all the pinks, oranges and yellows of the other flowers.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1104-forget-me-not/948213

1102 PANACEA

 Pink and red and orange flowers can cure just about anything, in my opinion.  These are zinnias.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1102-panacea/945616

1099 Aloha

 I took the reference photo for this painting at the Chicago Botanical Gardens.  There are stairs surrounding the waterfall, and at the top there is a beautiful hibiscus bush.  It's always crowded on this narrow path, so I had one shot, and I think this turned out to be a perfect pose.  I always think of Hawaii when I think of hibiscus, where I've never been, unfortunately.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1099-aloha/941767

1093 Leaning Left

 Today is the last of the 30 day Strada Easel challenge.  I have truly enjoyed the experience and have learned many lessons throughout the 30 paintings.  I really like some of them, and others I am dying to change (or maybe not).

I hope you've enjoyed my progress and I, as always, appreciate you following my artistic journey.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1093-leaning-left/933792

1057 Intoxicating

 A dear friend of mine gave me an empty wine bottle that is an artistic masterpiece all by itself.  It has color blocking and I love incorporating it into my still lifes.  

1055 Get Together

 This color palette is becoming a favorite of mine, possibly because it's summery and happy.  The wine bottle is a piece of artwork in itself, having a color blocked motif.  The turquoise pitcher is difficult to paint realistically so I simplified it.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1055-get-together/906520

1053 Time and Patience

 

This painting started out as an exercise in side lighting as part of the class I took 2 weeks ago.  I have modified it since then.  Learning new things takes a lot of time and patience.  So does painting and just about everything worth anything in life, I think.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1053-time-and-patience/904522

1050 Summer, Straight Up with a Lemon Twist

 Did you miss me last week?  I had an action filled week at a zoom art class 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. every day.  It was wonderful, but very tiring.

This painting really spells summer to me--sunflowers, zinnia, cherries, and lemon(ade).  What more can you ask for?  I hope you like it.

1047 Happy Days Are Here Again

 As usual, backgrounds are my nemesis.  This is the third one I tried.  It will have to do for now.

I grew the bright red dianthus on my roof.  It's so vibrant and it makes me happy.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1047-happy-days-are-here-again/894844

1045 Dynamo

 I love all types of flowers in all colors, but this color geranium has captivated me since I saw it in Florida this past winter.  I promised myself I would hunt it down at home and I found it at my favorite garden center here in Chicago.  I haven't purchased geraniums for several years, so this is a return to past years' garden.  The bright color of the flower was hard to achieve.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1045-dynamo/888443

1043 Look the Other Way

 Still working with these daffodils.  And loving the whole process.

The painting is on Bristol paper, and varnished, so no glass is needed.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1043-look-the-other-way/886085

1041 Tete-`a- Tete

 This was a fun little painting to make, mostly from my recollection.  The tete-a tete daffodils grow two or three flowers per stem, and are only about 6 -8" tall.  One of my neighbors had a clump of these sweet little daffodils in an unlikely place--along the curb at the base of a tree and not very visible.  I couldn't cut them for a still life, so I just added them in my imagination to my tea cup.  

In case you are wondering, the phrase tete-a-tete as a noun means "a private conversation between two people:"  as a verb, "a private conversation between two people," ("a tete-a-tete meal"): and as an adverb "between two people in private"  ("his business was conducted tête-à-tête").

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1041-tete-%60a--tete/884286

1015 Only Time Will Tell

 I am away from home and have had to scrounge for still life props.  Everything in the house we are renting is beach related.  A visit to an antique store proved to be very worthwhile.  Stay tuned.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1015-only-time-will-tell/862816

1014 Love and Affection

I love tulips--they remind me of Spring no matter when they bloom in my home.  It feels like Spring is very far off since Chicago has been buried in snow and the groundhog told me so.

In researching tulips for inspiration, I learned much about this lovely flower.  These orange flowers have elaborate meanings: joy, enthusiasm, longing for rays of sunshine, happiness and excitement.  Also, understanding, mutual connection and appreciation between two people. 

I also learned that tulips are edible, and I'm quite surprised at that. 

           https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1014-love-and-affection/860946 

 

 

1013 Stop and Smell the Flowers

 This is the second time I painted this subject.  The first painting went to my BFF for her birthday.

It's really a good learning experience to paint the same subject many times as the masters did.  It enables a painter to become more intimately involved with the subject.  I've been on the hunt for more pitchers.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1013-stop-and-smell-the-flowers/859786

1011 Grateful For The Simple Things

 You may notice that this painting looks an awful lot like 1011 Copy Cat, which was an online class assignment from Trisha Adams.  While I was very happy with the original, I didn't feel it was "my" painting, so I made some changes to it while still implementing the lessons I learned from Trisha.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1011-grateful-for-the-simple-things/856009