851 Under Her Wing

Once again this year, we are fortunate enough to have a Great Horned Owl family in our neighborhood. We don't know if these are the same owls as those who graced us in two previous years but we are addicted to observing them in this fairly urban setting.

There is only one owlet this year,  hatched earlier than in previous years, we Owl Ladies speculate because of the mild winter.   As an "only child" we have observed that this owlet is larger than expected, and more "pampered."  We have watched him/her stubbornly refuse to fledge, even when tempted with a plump, tasty rabbit dinner.

Today, the owl family was driven from their pine tree by a "murder" of crows.  I'm not making that up, that's what a group of crows is called!

Thanks to my neighbor, Steve Gardiner, for the photo reference for this painting.  He has a camera that can capture the owls in all their glory and is very generous in sharing his photos with all of the Owl Addicts.

"851 Under Her Wing"
acrylic - 20x16 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/851-under-her-wing/574847

850 The Perfect Pair

Soon I will be headed to Door County with a carload of paintings to deliver to the Edgewood Orchard Galleries.  The new season will open in early-May, and will continue until the end of October.  If your vacation takes you to Door County, Wisconsin, please stop by.  Edgewood Orchard Galleries is rated #2 in the top ten galleries in Wisconsin.  I am so grateful and proud to be a part of their family of artists!

"850 The Perfect Pair"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/850-the-perfect-pair/572595

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

849 Feeling Jubilant in Door County

I am getting ready and excited for another season in Door County.

"849 Feeling Jubilant in Door County"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/849-feeling-jubilant-in-door-county/569956

848 Teddy, #1 Packer Fan

This is Teddy, a much loved Teddy Bear from the same breeder as my Oliver and several other pooches in my community.  Teddy loves the Packers, and he even has his own Facebook Page!

846 R.I.P. Mahal

I painted this beloved young orangutan long ago, but for some reason never posted it.  His mysterious and sudden death in 2012 made front page news again today, so it is opportune for me to remember him.   Mahal was Milwaukee County Zoo's prize orangutan brought there from Colorado.  I remember it was a shock to all, and today it was published that Mahal died of a virus from a tapeworm which should not have been found in an orangutan, rather a weasel.  The tapeworm has been found in Finland and Japan, but not Milwaukee, Wisconsin so how it got here is a mystery. Scientists are studying this mysterious scenario to find out if this virus can also affect humans.
Followup articles will be in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the next few days.

"R.I.P. Mahal"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/rip-mahal/568642

847 ...With a Cherry on Top

I am getting ready and excited for another season at the beautiful Edgewood Orchard Galleries, and of course,  Door County is known for CHERRIES!

"847 ...With a Cherry on Top"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/847-with-a-cherry-on-top/567424