Hob Nobbing

My recent efforts have been directed to painting larger canvases with subjects of collections of vintage or unusual objects, and I am really enjoying this tedious, yet rewarding endeavor.  I have always loved to paint texture and aged objects, so this is very enjoyable for me. 

I can't wait for you to see what's on the easel next.  I'm sure you will think I'm crazy.

"Hob Nobbing"
acrylic -

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/hob-nobbing/481603

dianecampion.blogspot.com

800 Under the Sea (at the Shedd Aquarium)

I always have many paintings in progress, so that if I get stuck on one painting, I have something else to work on.  I find this prevents me from having any excuses for procrastination or frustration.  This painting began long ago as an "ink pour," which is exactly that----random pouring, dripping, squirting, tilting--- black ink onto water color paper.  I wish I had taken a photo of the initial image, but shown below is another in its beginning stage.  In the case of the seascape above, the jellyfish tentacles, the anemones, the long skinny striped fish, and the sea plants were all ink drips, and finally it made sense to me after a very long time of staring at it that it was a sea scape.

The hardest part for me is interpreting this and making it "something," sort of like a Rorschach test, which by the way, I was fascinated by as a child.   I made my own ink blots and tried to psychoanalyze my nieces and nephews by their responses.  That was really fun.  Sorry, I got off track.

Here is what the ink pour above turned into.

Sorry for the poor photo, but it is difficult to photograph glass.  The fun part about this painting is that it could have been turned in any direction.  The buyer liked it best in this orientation, and it looks beautiful in her home.

"800 Under the Sea (at the Shedd Aquarium)"
mixed media- 13x22 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/800-under-the-sea-at-the-shedd-aquarium-/480334

dianecampion.blogspot.com

Atypical

I visited an architectural salvage store where I was lost in subject matter material.  This piece was inspired by a giant mid-century carved wood panel from Italy.  The shapes intrigued me, as did the various shades and grain of wood (definitely a future painting), but for now, just for fun I wanted to paint it with bright colors.  It was challenging, yet fun to mix so many shades of green, and to adapt some of the shapes to be suitable for a painting.  It reminded me so much of my quilting days, which greatly inspired my early paintings.  I think this painting could be hung in four different directions, although this is my preference.

"Atypical"
acrylic - 12x36 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/atypical/479426

dianecampion.blogspot.com

799 Minnie

"Minnie" was a commissioned gift for a special couple's wedding gift.  I thought it was a really creative gift, much better than a sugar bowl.

"799 Minnie"
acrylic - 8x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/799-minnie/478740

dianecampion.blogspot.com

Nuts and Bolts

I really enjoyed painting this, although it was a little tedious.  I've been on the hunt for more still scenes like this one and "Patent Pending."   I love painting all the patina and textures. 

"Nuts and Bolts"
acrylic - 24x24 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/nuts-and-bolts/477951

dianecampion.blogspot.com

798 Marwa

Marwa is an outgoing seven year old Syrian refugee who has lived in one of Lebanon's tent camps since she was two years old.  She and her family left their home in Homs, Syria after it was heavily shelled.  She doesn't remember much of her early life.  Marwa has become an "ambassador" or sorts to visitors, particularly to the ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) folks who bring supplies to her camp.  She goes to school near the camp, and readily admits she isn't fond of school, however she plans to be a teacher one day.  When asked to draw a  house, she replied, "I cannot draw a house.  I will draw a tent instead.  I don't know what a house looks like."

"Marwa" is the fifth refugee child in my "Innocents Project" series.  She is the first and only child whose name I know so far.  It is important to me to see these children as real people with names, not just falling under a heading called "refugees."  I get an idea of what this spunky little girl is like from other photos showing a gap in her big bright smile where two bottom teeth used to be.  She is seen carrying her little brother, and has boasted that she does better in school than her siblings.  How typical for a seven year old, yet her life is far from typical or normal.

ANERA works to improve the lives of all of the refugees, but particularly for the children.  Please consider a donation to anera.org in honor of a special mother, or "just because" and please mention The Innocents Project.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

"798 Marwa"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/798-marwa/477195

dianecampion.blogspot.com

796 Keyless Entry