1295. Family Gathering

 1295. Family Gathering is a redo of a previous painting.  I am much happier with this one.

My husband bought me a large bunch of beautiful tulips and I photographed them from above for a different perspective.

24 x 24 " gallery wrapped canvas

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1295--family-gathering/1220549

1133. Just What the Doctor Ordered

 Winters here in the Midwest can be long and dreary.  Even though we flew to warmer weather for  a few weeks, returning home to cold, snow, ice and grey skies---in addition to all that is going on in the world--was depressing.  It's funny to think that a bunch of tulips can lift your spirits, giving you the promise of Spring and flowers growing in our own yards.   I can hardly wait.

Artists all over the world are painting sunflowers, which is Ukraine's national flower.  While I have not yet painted sunflowers for Ukraine, I will hope for now that my tulips will represent hope for peace and the end of this savage destruction.  

1040 Unconditional Love

 Tulips are such a happy flower and there is much to learn about them.  Did you know the petals are edible and can be exchanged for onions?  Did you know they did not originally come from the Netherlands, rather from Persia and Turkey.  Did you know that the name tulip is derived from the Persion "turban?" They also have many lovely meanings:  Rebirth (because they are one of the first flowers to come alive after a long winter), Charity (and many charitable organizations use the tulip for their logo), and Unconditional or Deep Love.   I wish tulips lasted longer because they bring so much cheer.

1039 After the Rain, a Rainbow

 

 Yesterday it was 90 degrees here in Chicago and I was wishing for an overnight rain the quench the garden's thirst.  Today it is a cold 45 degrees, rainy and dreary.  I had hoped to find white tulips to paint, but there were none, but I felt lucky to find a huge bunch of mixed tulips, too many to fit in one vase.  I hope you like this one---I'm happy with it and enjoyed watching the tulips grow right before my eyes!!

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1039-after-the-rain-a-rainbow/882479

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 

 

 

1010 Note To Self

 Perhaps you recognize this vase as being from Farmgirl Flowers, and if so, you are correct!  A family member brought a gorgeous arrangement in this vase made entirely from grocery store flowers.  It was exquisite.  I especially like the way tulips cascade over the edge, and my husband's gift of these purple tulips  demanded this vessel.

Maybe you are curious about the title?  I started this painting yesterday and it was mostly complete except for background (which always gives me a problem).  When I resumed today, not only had the darn tulips grown several inches in different configurations, but the colors changed dramatically, becoming more on the red violet side rather than yesterday's purple.  I must remember to complete tulip paintings in one sitting or else.....

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1010-note-to-self/853412

973 Was It Something I Said?

I love tulips almost as much as I love my Jean Wells Smaglik vases and bowls.  If you follow my work, you may recall the blue and white oak leaf bowl or the morning glory bowl in many of my still lifes, which has been a favorite.  Jean is a Milwaukee potter and I love her method of scraping away the negative image of the design, called sgraffito.  Jean customized this bowl for me and it is the first time I've painted it.  It has three different color schemes---the bowl is divided in thirds, employing blue, red or black leaves depending on which way you turn it.  Here is a link to her website:  https://www.jeansclaystudio.com/  Not only is Jean a talented artist, she is one of the nicest people I've met, and she does so much for her community.  I love that about her.

Back to tulips.  I love them but they confuse the heck out of me.  They actually GROW once you put them in the vase.  Some drape over beautifully the way this artist hopes, or they stand at attention like soldiers.  I wish I knew how to predict what they are thinking.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/973-was-it-something-i-said/805708

949 No Place Like Home

It's been quite a while since I've posted a painting, but rest assured I have been busy at the easel.  We escaped the cold to warm and sunny Florida for more than a month, which was glorious.  I played around with paint and experimented with new subjects, just for fun.

We always have fresh flowers in our house, thanks to my thoughtful husband.  These tulips drooped beautifully exactly as I hoped.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/949-no-place-like-home/791510

931 Springtime, Michigan Avenue

One of the things I love about Chicago is the ever-changing public gardens in the city.  Michigan Avenue is so beautiful, with unique displays changing with the seasons.  Springtime gardens are shocked with colorful tulips, and it is not unusual for people to stand in the middle of the boulevard to photograph them, as I did this past May.

I'm still getting acquainted with the oil paints, which force me to loosen up.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/931-springtime-michigan-avenue/752519

792 Art in Bloom

Because I renewed our Milwaukee Art Museum membership at Art in Bloom, I received a complementary bouquet of flowers, which was a pleasant surprise.  As you've probably guessed, I love to paint food and flowers, because to me, they represent the simple essence of home and life.  You may have seen my black and white Mackenzie Childs platter in some of my other paintings, and perhaps you remember that I won it in a charity luncheon raffle. For this painting, I couldn't figure out how to incorporate the platter.......  then, AHA, I remembered that napkins came with that wonderful "Black and White" raffle prize, and HA! one problem was solved.

Do you know that tulips grow after they have been cut?  The tulips in this little arrangement grew 2-3 inches overnight, which really messed with me on the second day of painting.  I loved the way the tulips danced on Day One, but they wouldn't have fit on the canvas had I started on Day Two.

"792 Art in Bloom"
acrylic - 16x20 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/792-art-in-bloom/467482

dianecampion.blogspot.com

776 Thinking Spring

"776 Thinking Spring"
oil on canvas - 12x9 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/776-thinking-spring/446062

dianecampion.blogspot.com

351 Happy X Eight

327 Approach

It is now 53 degrees here in Milwaukee.  I feel hopeful. 

325 Duel

My daughter made this vessel in a high school ceramics class.  It is one of my favorite pieces because of its color and unusual shape.   It was difficult for me to paint.  I love it with these orange tulips, which have many more petals than your run-of-the-mill tulips.  This bunch, from Trader Joe's, had what I call 2 "double Dutch" and one "triple Dutch"---two or three tulips on ONE stem!  How exciting!  (Can you tell I'm a gardener?)

325 Support

At last night's Komen Survivor Dinner, the room was filled with a sea of PINK.  I debated whether I should buy pink flowers for my display, but chose beautiful orange tulips instead. 

289 Needing Spring