812 Peony

I took several photos of beautiful peonies at the Peninsula School of Art this Spring but never thought I'd be compelled to paint any of them so quickly.  I really enjoyed this exercise, and hope you like the product of many, many hours of work.

dianecampion.blogspot.com

"812 Peony"
watercolor - 8.25x11.5 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/812-peony/502133

812 Peony

I took several photos of beautiful peonies at the Peninsula School of Art this Spring but never thought I'd be compelled to paint any of them so quickly.  I really enjoyed this exercise, and hope you like the product of many, many hours of work.

dianecampion.blogspot.com

806 Sunflower

It has been a long time since I last painted with watercolor, probably during my feather/nest series.  The reference photo begged for watercolor interpretation, so I listened.  It was more difficult  than I thought it would be, but I am happy with the result.

"806 Sunflower"
watercolor -

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/806-sunflower/487692

789 Pretty As a Picture

When you go to a restaurant and the server presents you with your food and it is so beautifully arranged as a piece of artwork, what do you say?  I say, "It's pretty as a picture!" or "Too pretty to eat!"  This painting and "787 Still Sunny" really look so nice together.  I'm happy I took the risk and painted it."

Speaking of risks, yesterday's painting "788 But Tell Me, Where Will the Children Play"  received so many wonderful and compassionate comments via Facebook and private email.  I am very happy.  My intent is to raise awareness of the plight of the refugees in Lebanon and Palestine.   Art is supposed to start a dialogue, and I am happy that this painting gave me an opportunity to do just that.
And big thanks to those who commented.

"789 Pretty As a Picture"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/789-pretty-as-a-picture/465880

dianecampion.blogspot.com

355 Misunderstood

"Pansies" get a bad rap.  When I researching this sweet little flower online for title inspiration, I came across the Urban Dictionary.  Didn't know there was such a thing, but pansies didn't fare well there.  Here is a sampling of the 38 definitions on just the first page, of which only two referred to it as a flower:  "One who lacks courage,"  "One who backs down from a challenge."  "girly and sissy-like."
" One who opts out of Calculus for an easier math class like Statistics."

In reality, pansies are very hardy.  They can withstand the colder temperatures of spring when others wouldn't dare.   I once saw pansies in full bloom with a lot of snow on the ground during early winter. Yep, pansies are misunderstood.
 

130 Morning Glory

The morning glory flower is so delicate and only lasts one day, changing quite dramatically throughout the day.  Near late afternoon, the white stripes turn to purple.

126 Orange Cosmos

The 3/4-inch sides of the canvas are painted so that the petals continue onto the sides (the canvas is stapled on the back).  Ready to hang or mount on an easel.

Modest Worth

The delicate violet, which some gardeners consider a weed,  has much written about it from historical and social perspectives.  I really enjoyed  The Language of Flowers, a novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh,  where the violet is referenced as meaning "modest worth,"  with modesty seeming to be the universally accepted meaning in other sources.

I severely underestimated the challenges this painting would present to me,  given that I enlarged the subject so much. 

Looking Up: Blue Sky With Magnolia